If a firm or organization has an employment agreement in place with a 1L or 2L summer student, the exemption under the recruiting Rules to offer that student an articling position outside of the prescribed recruitment period applies.

Even if the start date of the 1L or 2L student is delayed due to the circumstances around the COVID-19 pandemic, the firm or organization can still offer that student an articling position before the articling recruitment period if an employment agreement exists .

The 2020 recruitment period is from June 1 – June 12, 2020. Employers may only make offers of employment after 8 a.m. on the second Tuesday of the recruitment period (June 9). The Law Society is not considering moving the articling student recruitment period. Employers are encouraged to abide by social distancing orders in place during the recruitment period and use video conferencing and other digital services to facilitate the interview and recruitment process.

We have more information on how to support articling students working remotely here.

Please note that the Law Society has made  recent changes to articling requirements due to COVID-19 that were announced on April 6.