Our Commitment
As law students you will encounter challenges throughout your career. We are committed to making your experience at Cassels Brock as rewarding as possible - providing guidance, support and, when necessary, diversions. It is our shared commitment to excellence that will ensure our firm's success.
Professional Development
No Bar Admission Course - No Worries!
Some students have expressed a concern that the Law Society has done away with the teaching portion of the Bar Admission Course (BAC). If you're a Cassels Brock student, you can relax. We are well-equipped to provide you with all of the support you need to pass the licensing exams.
Prior to joining Cassels Brock, our Director of Professional Development, Deborah Glatter, worked at the Law Society of Upper Canada for six years, where she designed courses for the BAC, wrote course materials and designed licensing examinations. She taught lawyers how to teach the course and guided students through the BAC.
Deborah and other lawyers at the firm will be using their combined backgrounds and skills to ease Cassels Brock students through the licensing requirements. Our Cassels Brock lawyers will be on hand to provide you with timely and in-depth answers to whatever question you might have, in whatever area of law is confounding you.
So relax. Cassels Brock will be there for you.
Get Oriented
All students go through Cassels Brock Orientation which includes:
- meeting the firm's senior management
- learning about the wide range of services that the firm offers to its clients via its practice areas
- an introduction to the skilled professionals, such as the Director of Legal Research and the Director of Practice Support, who are available to assist students with their work
- training on the firm's technology from our IT professionals
- a presentation on our brand and culture from our Director of Business Development
- substantive legal topics (e.g., "Business Law Basics", "Motions")
- skills-based topics (e.g., negotiation skills, legal research, memo writing).
Students can also request customized one-on-one professional educational assistance to meet their needs.
Professional development does not stop once you become a lawyer. Cassels Brock lawyers are offered a range of learning opportunities throughout their careers, such as our mini-MBA course.
Mentors
Articling students and summer students are all assigned mentors. Mentors ensure that each student receives a balanced and rewarding learning experience. They also serve as the students' personal sounding board. Members of the Student Committee keep in touch with students on an ongoing, informal basis as well.
At the end of each articling year, our articling students nominate lawyers for the "Best Mentor of the Year" award. The winners can be any lawyer in the firm, not just the formal mentors.
Recent Winners of "Best Mentor of the Year" Award
Jayne Westlake - Business/Franchise
"She is extremely approachable and is open to talking about anything I needed help with no matter how busy her schedule is. She is proactive in her mentoring role and constantly reaches out to me - by inviting me for lunch, sending me a friendly email or making a quick phone call to see if things are going well. I also love working with Jayne. Her instructions are clear and she always provides feedback that helps me develop my analytical skills."
Colin Ground - Business
"He takes the time to provide background information, explains the significance of each document and includes me in all aspects of a deal in order to fully appreciate the "big picture," which ultimately improves the quality of work I submit. Colin gives a significant amount of responsibility along with ample support and feedback to provide an extremely satisfying work experience. Lastly, he never forgets to chat, laugh and voice his appreciation no matter how busy he is."
Tilly Gray - Financial Services
"Tilly is a great teacher. She takes the time to sit down with me and explain clearly my assignment and its purpose/relevance in relation to the larger context. She takes that extra time to give meaning to my work so that I get more satisfaction and learn more from my assignment. She has a genuine concern for the welfare of the students and assists us in any way she can. She was a willing participant in our holiday skit, even giving up her Saturday to help us out. She comes out to all the student events and brings her great energy and enthusiasm. Tilly is extremely approachable and friendly and makes you feel as though no question is a stupid question. She is very easy-going, has a great sense of humour and never seems stressed out - even when she's really busy."