TRANSITION TRUTHS: Articling Success is a Two-Way Street
Hanaa Ameer-Uddin provides pointers for students and supervising lawyers about how to ease the important transition into an articling placement and ensure a positive learning experience, valuable contribution and collaboration that benefits all involved.
From the first day of law school many of us walk in with the same goal in mind: secure an articling position. We study into the night to get good grades, join student clubs and moot competitions, all in the hopes of standing out during interviews. But once you finally land your articling position, a new question arises: How do you actually prepare for the transition from law student to articling student? Based on my own experience in navigating the shift, I’m offering some practical advice for both students and supervising lawyers to help make the articling term successful and meaningful.
Advice for students
Show up prepared
There are many similarities between life as a law student and as articling student. In both roles you take on the tasks assigned and seek advice or support from your professor or supervising lawyer as needed. In doing so, you want to not simply convey where you’re confused but to demonstrate the attempts you’ve made to solve problems and find answers. It’s especially important as an articling student to come to meetings like this prepared to show the lawyer the steps you’ve taken to resolve the issue and explain how exactly they can help you.
Take initiative
The best piece of advice I have for students is to take initiative. In school, we are given a course outline with a list of assignments and due dates. When working, you may be directly assigned a task, but work can – and should – also come from your own initiative if you want to make the most of your articling experience. During my articling term, I developed an interest in employment law. I did not take any employment law courses during school, so I sought opportunities to learn. I noticed that changes to the Employment Standards Act came into effect in January 2026, so I informed my manager of this and prepared a memorandum for our human resources department on the changes. Taking initiative outside your assigned tasks shows your manager that you are eager to learn and passionate about your job.
Get involved in the organization
During law school, I was very involved in extracurricular activities. Notably, I was co-president of the Muslim Law Students Association. Getting involved in a student organization was one of the best decisions I made in law school. Similarly, during my articling term, I got involved by joining the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee and planning social events for interns at my office. I would recommend joining committees outside of work because you can expand your network beyond your colleagues. This may also lead to opportunities that can help your legal career. For example, one of the interns at my work invited me to be a speaker at her university’s law school panel where I shared my experience attending the University of Ottawa.
Advice for supervising lawyers
Set clear expectations for your student from the beginning
My advice for supervising lawyers is to ensure that your articling student understands what you expect from them and to schedule a regular time to meet with them. During my summer internship, my supervising lawyer made clear to me that before asking her for help I needed to try to resolve the problem on my own for 30 minutes. This helped me as a student because I knew when to ask for assistance and when to work independently. In addition to establishing baseline expectations at the beginning of the term, I recommend telling students what they can do above and beyond that standard to help them stand out. For instance, if the policy of the organization is to come into the office twice a week, but it could help them get hired back if they come in 4-5 times a week, let them know.
Expose students to the business aspects of law
While it is crucial for students to be well versed in legal research and writing, they should also be given exposure to the business side and broader impact of the law. Students may one day decide to run their own practice or serve on a board, so exposure at an early stage is extremely valuable. I volunteered at the National GC Network Conference in fall 2025, in which the lawyers at my office were involved, and I had an incredible time meeting other articling students and in-house lawyers. Most recently, I attended the Canadian International AutoShow where I viewed the newest Mercedes-Benz vehicles and learned more about the products we offer. Bringing students along to conferences, socials or business meetings helps them understand the role of the lawyer outside their day-to-day tasks. Some of my most memorable experiences during my articling term happened away from my desk.
The transition from law student to articling student is not always easy but is a tremendously rewarding experience filled with challenges and new learning. My final piece of advice to students is to develop a growth mindset and use every opportunity as a way to learn. Your articling term is your chance to gain new skills, discover new areas of law and most importantly create new memories. I am more than halfway through my articling term and this has been a transformative experience. I am deeply grateful to all the lawyers at Mercedes-Benz for making my placement so enjoyable.
