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Articling Changes
There are three ways to change articling locations and/or principals during your articling term. Note that any change must be approved by the Law Society prior to working with your new firm or principal.
- Assignment of Articles
An Assignment of Articles assigns your current Articling Agreement and Education plan to a new principal with no break in the articling term. For example, if you need to transition to a new principal, an assignment is the way the articles are transferred. To do so, you must complete and submit an Assignment of Articles Application in the Lawyer Portal. When your application is submitted, the current and proposed principal will be notified to accept the assignment. Please ensure the application is submitted and approved prior to the assignment taking effect as the Law Society requires advanced notice. Please note that a new principal is subject to the Law Society’s approval process. - Termination of Articles
If you are unable to assign your articles for any reason, you may proceed with terminating your articling agreement. There are two ways to do this:- A mutual termination of articles is when both student and principal mutually agree to terminate the articling agreement. This would require the following:
- Joint letter of termination outlining that both parties agree to terminate and an effective date of termination. This must be emailed to Membership and signed by both student and principal.
- Principal Certification through the Lawyer Portal (your principal must certify that all obligations under the Articling Agreement have been completed as far as possible up until the date of termination).
- Contact Membership by email if you are unable to jointly apply for a termination.
- A mutual termination of articles is when both student and principal mutually agree to terminate the articling agreement. This would require the following:
- Recommencement of Articles
A recommencement of articles allows you to a) resume your articles in the event your articles have been terminated or b) resume your articles once you have reached the end of a composite articling term. To apply for a recommencement of your articles, please submit a new Articling Agreement Application through the Lawyer Portal at least 30-days prior to when you wish to commence work. Membership will email you about your application once it has been reviewed.