Articling Student - UBC, Vancouver

The opportunity

The Peter A. Allard School of Law, Indigenous Community Legal Clinic (ICLC) was founded in 1994 and has provided legal assistance to over 18,000 Indigenous peoples in BC. The ICLC exists to provide free legal services to the Indigenous community in British Columbia and to provide legal education to law students in the Allard School of Law. By enrolling in the ICLC program, students interested in advocacy, social justice and working with and for Indigenous peoples can gain practical hands-on experience, build competencies, and make a meaningful contribution to a historically underserved and marginalized community.

The ICLC is seeking to hire one articling student for 2027-28 for a 12-month term. Applicants must be a graduate of the Allard School of Law (previously UBC Law), with preference given to applicants who have successfully completed the ICLC program. Understanding Indigenous history, including but not limited to the impacts of Residential School, legislation, and legal issues is an asset. Please note that due to the nature of this role, this is an on-site position with no hybrid work opportunities.

Key duties

The Articling Student reports to the ICLC Academic Director and works on client matters under the supervision of the ICLC supervising lawyers. Responsibilities span across legal client services, advocacy, research, document preparation, and administrative support:

• Explain the function of the ICLC to people who contact the clinic by telephone or walk in.
• Interview potential clients by phone or in person, and triage Indigenous peoples into the legal support services offered within the program.
• Compile and review client intake forms with supervising lawyers to help determine if the ICLC can offer assistance, should open a client file, and the scope of work that will be involved.
• Research and organize information, and help prepare letters for clients containing instructions on obtaining adjournments from the Court.
• Provide legal services for clients on all court matters under the direct supervision of the ICLC supervising lawyers.
• Compile legal research on files at the ICLC by researching appropriate case law and legislation, as well as searching and compiling through relevant legal research manuals and databases.
• Prepare legal factums, legal opinion letters, and research memoranda based on legal research for review of the supervising lawyers.
• Understand how to properly review reports to Crown Counsel and police disclosure for maximum advocacy.
• Prepare, file, and serve where necessary, legal documents including, but not limited to affidavits, Applications, Civil Pleadings, Letters of Administration, Notices of Motion, Powers of Attorney, Representation Agreements, and Requisitions.
• Prepare documents for courts including, but not limited to written submissions, trial books, books of authorities, and books of evidence.
• Prepare and deliver correspondence on client matters, and diarize dates while remaining vigilant on any upcoming deadlines.
• Organize ICLC calendars, meetings, internal databases, legal precedents, and templates as necessary.
• Support clinical intakes and provide back-up support to Legal Assistants as required.

Qualifications

Candidates must meet specific minimum requirements and preferred criteria to be considered for this position:

• Must have completed a Canadian J.D. or LL.B. degree or obtained a Certificate of Qualification from the National Committee on Accreditation (NCA).
• Must be eligible to enroll as an articled student with the Law Society of British Columbia.
• Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own.
• Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• Applicants must be a graduate of Allard School of Law (or UBC Law in the past), with preference given to applicants who have successfully completed the ICLC program.
• Candidate should be able to demonstrate superior research and writing skills, with a strong preference for PREP to be completed within Vancouver.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, with minimal supervision.
• Ability to communicate and relate to Indigenous people and their communities.
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment, handling multiple, simultaneous tasks, prioritizing and meeting deadlines effectively.
• Ability to work in a team environment and to take instructions.
• Ability to use own initiative and make independent decisions.
• Ability to draft routine correspondence, organize workload, identify urgent work items, and set priorities.
• Ability to cope with a heavy workload, exercise discretion, and maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to deal with distressed, demanding and/or hostile clients.
• Ability to work effectively with a wide range of people including those with low incomes, physical/emotional disabilities, limited literacy, or otherwise disadvantaged.
• Ability to exercise empathy and to assist disadvantaged clients, including those with mental disabilities, those with low income, or those whose first language is not English.
• Ability to exercise sensitivity to Aboriginal peoples issues and a demonstrated awareness of the Indigenous community's cultural diversity.
• Ability to exercise a high level of professionalism based off the expectations of the ICLC in tandem with the Code of Conduct and Law Society Rules.