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Student Programs

Overview:

Cunningham Swan is the region's premier full-service law firm. Established in 1894, our firm has been a trusted member and contributor to the Kingston and area community for over 115 years. With our roots solidly planted in the past, Cunningham Swan is looking toward the future. We continue to excel in providing services in both traditional and evolving practice areas and are seeking dedicated and dynamic people to join us in our growth.

Our Philosophy

Learn by Doing. You can only expect to become a skilled and competent lawyer by experiencing what skilled and competent lawyers actually do. That is why students at Cunningham Swan become directly involved in everything we do. From discussions on strategy development, to attendance at client meetings, examinations for discovery, administrative hearings, arbitrations and court appearances, this real experience helps you decide where your interests and skills may lie.

Gain Exposure. Cunningham Swan is unique. It offers the opportunities and exposure that a student would expect at a larger law firm in a larger centre, but with the hands on experience and collegiality that can only be achieved in a small firm environment. As a student at Cunningham Swan you will be exposed to a broad range of practice areas, with close supervision and mentorship, while having the encouragement to focus on your areas of interest as they develop.

Room to Grow. We aim to hire associate lawyers who we hope will grow into future partners. With this goal in mind we look for intelligent and enthusiastic individuals who will contribute their unique skills and interests to our diverse group of lawyers. We seek to identify individuals that demonstrate professionalism, strong analytic, academic and interpersonal skills and who have an interest and commitment to the local and regional community.

Enjoy Life. As lawyers, we are only as successful as the networks that surround us. With this in mind, our families, colleagues, friends and community are all important to us. Our commitment to the Kingston community extends beyond our office walls and we encourage every member of our firm to nurture the relationships and interests that allow us to excel both personally and professionally.

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Articling Students

Cunningham Swan typically hires two articling students.

The articling program involves two rotations: one half of the articling term is spent in litigation and the other half assisting with solicitor-oriented work. The litigation rotation will allow each student exposure in the practice areas of civil litigation, labour & employment, and family law, among others. The solicitor rotation provides students the opportunity to engage in various types of deals and transactions in business and corporate law, real estate, wills & estates and municipal law.

Despite the formal rotation, students are not prevented from engaging in work outside their rotation when need or interest pulls them. The firm supports a flexible approach to the articling term where students are encouraged to explore the areas that interest them most.

Students are included in our continuing education program for lawyers and are invited to attend in-house seminars organized by each practice group. In addition, Cunningham Swan encourages its students to attend additional out-of-town educational opportunities throughout the year.

Each articling student at Cunningham Swan is assigned a partner as a mentor who will provide regular feedback and guidance. Your mentor will also meet with you for the formal assessments required by the Law Society of Upper Canada. Of course we encourage our students to seek feedback and guidance from every member of our firm and nurture an environment where no one should feel intimidated to ask questions, get involved, and learn. From day one all doors are open to you and every member of the firm will assist you in your growth and development.

For more information, or to apply, please contact our Office Administrator, Patience McLeod at pmcleod@cswan.com or 613.544.0211.

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Important Dates For Articling Students

Cunningham Swan adheres to the Law Society of Upper Canada's Articling Recruitment Procedures, and more particularly, the deadlines set by the Law Society of Upper Canada for firms located outside of Toronto and Ottawa. It is anticipated that the application deadline for articling positions will be in the Spring of 2012. Further information regarding the deadline for submissions will be provided closer to the time of recruitment.

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Summer Students

If we aim to hire future lawyers, then the place to start is with our summer students. A summer student position with our firm can possibly lead to a position as an articling student, an associate lawyer and even a future partner.

Summer students are hired to fulfill roles in either litigation or solicitor practice areas. For this reason there is no formal rotation. However, the firm supports a flexible approach that allows our summer students to work and learn from different partners with different and complementary legal practices.

As with articling students, each summer student at Cunningham Swan is assigned to a lawyer who can provide mentorship, feedback and guidance.

For more information, or to apply, please contact our Office Administrator, Patience McLeod by email at pmcleod@cswan.com or by telephone at 613.544.0211.

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Important Dates For Summer Students

Cunningham Swan is participating in the Ottawa Summer Student recruitment process. The application deadline for summer student positions is January 31st, 2012.

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Meet Our Students

My experience at Cunningham Swan has been exceptional. Even in the early stages of the articling process, it was obvious to me that the firm is interested in knowing you as a person. From the moment that I was offered an articling position, I was included in firm functions and immediately felt welcome. The firm is the perfect size because it is small enough that you get to know all of the members of the firm and you end up working with all of them, but the diversity of their practice areas really gives you an opportunity to explore your own interests and find the practice area that you really like. The atmosphere at the firm is collegial and the lawyers' doors are always open. Lawyers and staff alike are approachable and are always willing to offer guidance when it is needed. It was not long after the start of articling that I started to feel like part of the team. I found myself being given interesting work from the outset and was often encouraged to become involved from the early stages of a file and to really take part in every aspect of it. Everyone is very mindful of the fact that, as articling students, we are learning not only about the law but also about how the practice works. The firm really gives you a chance to learn as much as you can during the articling term, whether it is through working on files, taking part in practical aspects or attending continuing education seminars or conferences. I have had a great experience at Cunningham Swan so far and I am looking forward to my future here as an Associate.

Greg DobneyArticling Student 2010/2011

It was my experience that Cunningham Swan provides a comfortable, supportive, and collegial environment in which articling students are encouraged to participate fully in all areas of the firm's practice. The firm's partners, associates, and staff are friendly, approachable, and take a genuine interest in promoting learning and professional development. I was regularly provided with the opportunity to engage in hands-on work that added value to client files, and allowed me not only to learn, but also to feel that I was making a valid contribution to the firm's work product. Cunningham Swan offers the sort of challenging and rewarding work experience that is often associated with firms in big city centres, but offers the added benefit of a balanced, cooperative, and team-oriented work environment that is characteristic of smaller firms. I thoroughly enjoyed my articling term with Cunningham Swan, and am very much looking forward to joining the firm as an associate.

Ashley Brown Articling Student 2009/2010

My experience as an articling student at Cunningham Swan was extremely positive and exceeded my expectations. Even though the firm consists of 20+ busy lawyers practicing in a wide range of areas, it was easy to get to know all the lawyers and staff because the environment of the firm is very friendly and collegial. From the moment I began the articling term, the firm included me in all of its social events and educational seminars, which allowed me to meet and become familiar with my future colleagues and the firm's diverse clientele. Everyone at the firm is sincerely excited about the practice of law, which results in challenging, interesting, hands-on work, rather than spending the majority of your time doing the same things over and over again. "Why don't you take the first crack at it?" is a phrase you'll hear frequently as an articling student at Cunningham Swan. I received a remarkable amount of encouragement and guidance and was thoroughly impressed by the firm's dedication to student development and the outstanding mentors I had the opportunity to work with. I had no hesitation in accepting the invitation to join the firm when my articles were complete.

David Munday Articling Student 2009/2010

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many articling students does Cunningham Swan typically employ?

Cunningham Swan typically seeks to fill two articling positions each year. In addition, we also hire two summer students for the period between May 15 and August 15.

How much can I expect to make?

Student compensation is on par with other similarly sized law firms in the Eastern Ontario region.

Are articling students typically hired back as associates?

Our goal is to train future partners. For this reason we strive to provide students with the opportunities and training they need to continue with our firm as associates and then junior partners. To this end, where a student demonstrates their commitment to excellence and to the shared goals and values of our firm, we are pleased to invite them to continue to grow with us.

Can I talk to current students at the firm?

Absolutely. One of the best ways to determine if Cunningham Swan is right for you is to speak to as many people from the firm as possible, including current students, associates and partners. You can find information about our current students, including their contact information here or you can feel free to contact any of our lawyers by telephone or email.

Our current Associates are:
Lisa Asbreuk lasbreuk@cswan.com 613-546-8080
Ashley Brown abrown@cswan.com 613-546-8099
James McDonald jmcdonald@cswan.com 613.546.8088
David Munday dmunday@cswan.com 613-546-8091
Carolyn Shelley cshelley@cswan.com 613.546.8093
Greg Dobney gdobney@cswan.com 613.546.8078
Our current Articling students are:
Sean Miller smiller@cswan.com 613.544.0211
Brian Gillingham bgillingham@cswan.com 613.544.0211

What should my application include?

Your application should include a cover letter, your resume, a photocopy of your academic record at law school and in your most recent undergraduate degree and any reference information you feel we might find useful.

Where do I send my application?

Please send applications for summer student or articling student positions to:

Attention: Patience McLeod, Office Administrator

Email:		pmcleod@cswan.com
Tel:			613.544.0211
Mail: 		Cunningham Swan LLP
			1473 John Counter Blvd
			City Place II, Suite 201
			Kingston, ON
			K7M 8Z6
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