At Singleton Urquhart we provide broad-based, litigation-focussed articles, while allowing our students the freedom to pursue their interests in specific areas.
Applications
The Professional Services Committee at Singleton Urquhart accepts applications for articles throughout the year, although interviews are conducted in August of each year for placement in the subsequent year as set out in the Vancouver Bar Association (“VBA”) guidelines. Successful candidates typically possess excellent academic records, superior writing and communications skills, and other experiences that demonstrate a commitment to excellence, an entrepreneurial spirit, and potential for success as a lawyer.
Pay and Benefits
Student salary and benefits are competitive with firms in downtown Vancouver. Singleton Urquhart pays tuition fees for the Professional Legal Training Course (PLTC) as well as full salary during the course. We try to co-ordinate our students' start dates at PLTC in order to ensure that we are fully staffed at all times. Students also receive full medical and dental benefits, as well as disability and life insurance coverage. Articling students are entitled to two weeks paid vacation during their time at Singleton Urquhart, as permitted by the Law Society guidelines.
Retention Rates
Singleton Urquhart is proud to announce that nearly 100% of its articling students have been hired as associates at the firm over the last 9 years.
2011-2012: 3 of 3
2010-2011: 2 of 3
2009-2010: 3 of 3
2008-2009: 3 of 3
2007-2008: 3 of 3
2006-2007: 2 of 2
2005-2006: 2 of 2
2004-2005: 1 of 1
2003-2004: 2 of 2
Office Arrangements
Students are provided with an office and each student has their own computer, equipped with access to Quicklaw, the Internet and email.
Feedback
We know that feedback is critical in the learning process, and all lawyers who interact with the students are encouraged to give them ongoing critical appraisals regarding their performance. In addition, all students are given a formal performance review at least once a year.
Mentors
Each of our articling students is assigned a principal, who is the partner with the primary responsibility for the quality of that student's articles. If a student has an interest in a particular area of law, his or her principal will assist the student in obtaining exposure to that type of work.
After a student has articled for approximately one month, he or she is asked to choose a junior lawyer to be a mentor. The role of the mentor is to assist the principal in monitoring the student's progress and to give support and guidance to the student throughout the articling year.
A Day in the Life of An Articled Student
What is it like being an Articled Student at Singleton Urquhart for Dan Barber (2009-2010)?
Contact Information
Please forward curriculum vitae, covering letter, and undergraduate and law school transcripts to the following address:
Singleton Urquhart Legal Counsel
Attention: Edie Redl
1200 - 925 West Georgia Street
Vancouver, BC V6C 3L2
or forward the above material via e-mail (in Word or PDF format) to our Professional Services Committee at eredl@singleton.com