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Student Program

Student Program
Daily Routine
Meet Your Mentor
Testimonials
Hire Back Statistics
Our Students
How to Apply

Student Program

Student Program
Daily Routine
Meet Your Mentor
Testimonials
Hire Back Statistics
Our Students
How to Apply

A Great Place to Article

Start your law career with us and have the opportunity to flourish

If you are looking for an exceptional firm to article with and want to specialize in litigation, look no further than Bell Temple LLP.

At Bell Temple, we offer an intensive litigation experience based out of our professional and modern offices located in the heart of downtown Toronto. Articling students can learn, gain rich practical experience and fully develop their legal expertise by working closely on challenging cases with all of our lawyers.

Most of our partners and associates started their careers as articling students with Bell Temple. They are still here today; practicing in a rewarding environment and delivering exceptional results for our clients.

With an outstanding hire-back rate, Bell Temple offers the stability, progressive work environment and growth potential you are seeking.

Here are just a few reasons to make Bell Temple LLP your first choice:

    • Excellent mentoring program
      Get the guidance to plan your career path
    • Court experience, hands-on case work
      Carriage of Small Claims Court matters; from inception to trial
      Argue motions in Superior Court
    • Educational seminars and courses
      We encourage professional development and pay for attendance at legal conferences
      Monthly in-house meetings and educational seminars
      A formal, structured articling training program built around Lunch and Learn seminars
    • Interaction with partners and existing clients
      Learn by working closely with our experienced trial lawyers
      Attend client functions and get direct exposure to business development
    • Technology Support
      Work with the latest technology, including iManage, digital dictation, voice recognition software, Primafact and a VOIP telephone system
    • Healthy work-life balance
      Socialize with other firm members at our Winter Holiday Party, Summer Party, and at other regular events during the year

Daily Routine

Student Program
Daily Routine
Meet Your Mentor
Testimonials
Hire Back Statistics
Our Students
How to Apply

Be challenged in our lively environment

When you come to article at Bell Temple LLP, you can expect an exciting daily routine, packed with a wide range of challenging goals and responsibilities.

You will be exposed to a variety of litigation duties and you will have the opportunity to hone your skills on everything from administrative basics to court work.

Your Bell Temple daily routine will include the following:

  • Drafting of motion materials
  • Attending court to argue motions
  • Conducting legal research
  • Organizing files by reviewing documents and summarizing their contents
  • Consulting with lawyers at all levels regarding strategy and tactics
  • Interviewing witnesses
  • Carriage of Small Claims Court files from inception to trial
  • Attendance at watching briefs for examination for discovery
  • Drafting memos, letters
  • Direct reporting to clients
  • Interaction with partners, associates, law clerks and support staff
  • Participation in client functions

Meet Your Mentor

Student Program
Daily Routine
Meet Your Mentor
Testimonials
Hire Back Statistics
Our Students
How to Apply

Superior Guidance and Expert Coaching

At Bell Temple LLP, not only do you get challenging, hands-on litigation work experience, you also receive superior guidance and expert coaching throughout your term with us.

Our partners and senior associates serve as articling principals and mentors for our students. They are here to guide you, oversee your progress and assist you in meeting and exceeding all of your articling goals. Our students undergo a formal training program comprised of four “Lunch and Learn” seminars that cover topics ranging from how to effectively argue motions in court, and understanding the various insurance regimes and statutes, to practice management issues. Each of these seminars is chaired by a partner and they are invaluable to our students’ development into top-flight litigators.

In addition, regular meetings with your mentor will take place in order to:

    • review your work progress
    • gain valuable feedback on completed assignments; and
    • assess your ongoing performance with Bell Temple lawyers and clients

Our open-door policy also means that you are free to approach any Bell Temple partner or associate for information, guidance or assistance in order to deepen your knowledge and achieve the best results possible on the work you are assigned.

Testimonials

Student Program
Daily Routine
Meet Your Mentor
Testimonials
Hire Back Statistics
Our Students
How to Apply

Articling at Bell Temple LLP is a great way to prepare for a litigation career. Do not, however, take our word alone. Here are what a few of our former articling students had to say about their time with us:

    • Bell Temple consistently challenged me to perfect my advocacy skills and knowledge of the law by working closely with and learning from some of the best litigation lawyers in Canada. As an articling student, I was thrust into the heat of aggressive advocacy by arguing opposed motions, handling my own small claims files, dealing with clients, attending examinations for discovery and mediations, sitting in on Court of Appeal proceedings, and negotiating settlements. Choosing Bell Temple is an excellent way to start your legal career. Ryan Truax (2012)
    • My first year at Bell Temple was a whirlwind of top-level litigation experience. From drafting motion records and attending court to working alongside the partners and preparing for trials and arbitrations, I was fully immersed in the job. I gained immeasurable exposure to the litigation process, developed my skills as an advocate, and deepened my knowledge of the law. I can’t imagine a better place to article. Brenda Cuneo (2014)
    • The articling process can be a stressful experience. A positive experience will build a strong foundation for your future as a lawyer. From conversations I’ve had with my peers, articling at Bell Temple is unparalleled. You are delegated meaningful tasks that help develop your critical thinking and analytical skills, with the comfort of having wonderful co-workers (staff, associates and partners alike) that help you every step of the way. Every lawyer at the firm has their own unique method of practicing and, as a student, you have the opportunity to witness a variety of approaches. There is never a shortage of mentorship or guidance. I was also fortunate enough to be exposed to various areas of litigation during my articling experience – from human rights litigation to cybersecurity to product liability litigation. There are countless opportunities for students at Bell Temple. Tina Jian (2019)

Hire Back Statistics

Student Program
Daily Routine
Meet Your Mentor
Testimonials
Hire Back Statistics
Our Students
How to Apply

At Bell Temple LLP, we recognize that students are integral to our future. We are therefore committed to developing our students into becoming strong and effective litigators who will be long-term assets to the firm. Over the past years, approximately 75% of our articling students have been hired back to join Bell Temple as full-time litigators following their articling year.

Here are our current hire back statistics:

Year Number of Students Hired Back
2022-2023 4 2
2021-2022 3 3
2020-2021 4 3
2019-2020 4 3
2018-2019 3 1
2017-2018 3 1
2016-2017 4 3
2015-2016 4 4
2014-2015 4 4
2013-2014 4 4
2012-2013 3 0
2011-2012 3 2
2010-2011 3 3

Our Students

Student Program
Daily Routine
Meet Your Mentor
Testimonials
Hire Back Statistics
Our Students
How to Apply

Our Students

Bell Temple LLP is proud to attract the best and brightest articling candidates from across Ontario and beyond. Our students typically distinguish themselves not only with solid grades in both their undergraduate and law school studies, but also through their involvement with such things as mooting, law reviews, legal clinics, advocacy-related activities, and pertinent work experience. The firm looks for those students who best combine the attributes of having a keen legal mind, confidence and composure in oral advocacy, a commitment to hard work, and an enthusiasm to constantly learn and improve.

Our articling students for 2023-2024 are:

Michael Mason Queen's University
Matthew Murphy Western University
Lanette Klettke Queen's University
Mark Wyatt Queen's University
Owen Cromb The University of Exeter

How to Apply

Student Program
Daily Routine
Meet Your Mentor
Testimonials
Hire Back Statistics
Our Students
How to Apply

Bell Temple LLP follows the guidelines set by the Law Society of Upper Canada when conducting interviews for articling positions in Toronto. All articling applications submitted are reviewed by the articling committee, and those applicants who are granted an interview will meet with one of the committee members.

The firm’s Articling Committee is:

  • Ryan J. Coughlin
  • J. Kendall Cumming
  • Adrian Serpa
  • Trevor Buckley
  • Ryan D. Truax

At the conclusion of the interview, an articling candidate may be introduced to other members of the firm or may be given a quick tour of the office. Bell Temple also hosts a cocktail reception for all articling candidates, which allows candidates to meet and socialize with all of our lawyers and students.

To be considered for an articling position at our firm, please send your cover letter, résumé, undergraduate and law school transcripts, and reference letters, by email, mail or courier to:

    • Bell Temple LLP
      393 University Avenue, Suite 1300 Toronto, Ontario M5G 1E6
      Attn: Trevor Buckley

[email protected]

Interviews with prospective articling candidates for 2024-2025 will be conducted in Fall 2023.