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Application Process

Learn more about the programs we offer at our Vancouver Office and see if it’s right for you.

At McCarthy Tétrault, we look for students who are genuinely interested in our practice and our clients, who can work in a team-based environment, who have a strong desire to learn, who are highly motivated, and who demonstrate initiative and judgment.

We have learned, however, that the skills and character traits needed to practise law at a high level do not come in uniform packages and our students and lawyers have diverse backgrounds, personalities and interests.

We pride ourselves on our professionalism, client focus, innovation and ability to work as a team. If you think you might enjoy working with us, please send us your application.

Learn more about applying for a position in Vancouver.

Applications

Your application should include a cover letter, a complete résumé, and copies of all official transcripts of law school, undergraduate and graduate grades, as well as a list anticipated upper year courses. Writing samples and reference letters are not required.

Please submit your completed application through the viLawPortal. Attention: Charlotte Belliveau, Director, Student Programs.  All of our recruitment procedures are carried out in accordance with the VBA guidelines. 
For dates, please see the VBA website, https://www.vancouverbar.ca.

Please note that the Vancouver office hires its Articling Student complement from its Summer Student class, as a result, does not typically participate in the Articling Student recruitment process.

If you are applying from any of the schools where we will be participating in OCIs, please adhere to the application deadlines set by your law school.

Recruitment Process

You may be wondering how the recruitment process works at McCarthy Tétrault. When we receive your application, we will acknowledge receipt of your application by e-mail. Then the process will occur as follows:
 

  1. On-Campus Interviews 
    Interviews are conducted on the dates set by the law schools for on-campus interviews.  After the OCIs have been completed, we will select students to attend in-firm interviews and will notify all students by email of the outcome of their OCI.
  2. Call Day
    Interviews are conducted in accordance with the Vancouver Bar Association Guidelines which set out an interview call date. If you are granted an in-firm interview, you will be contacted at that time.
  3. Interviews at our firm
    Students will meet with at least two of our lawyers during the course of the interview. Our interviews are generally an hour long. After the interview, you will be given the opportunity to meet with our current students to ask candid questions about their experience at McCarthy Tétrault. 

 

Hints and Tips

We appreciate that the recruitment process can be a stressful time for students. To make sure the process goes as smoothly as possible, here are few tips:

Application process

  • Preparation is key to a successful recruitment experience, so take time to reflect about who you are and what you want. 
  • A cover letter should be concise (no more than one page) and indicate briefly  why you are applying to McCarthy Tétrault.
  • Use examples in your cover letter to demonstrate your key skills. Specific examples are often most compelling!
  • Your cover letter should leave the reader thinking, "I want to learn more about this person." 
  • Gaps in a candidate's personal history may be puzzling and should be explained in your cover letter. 
  • Your résumé should allow its reader to determine what you have done and should highlight your education, extracurricular activities, leadership, work and community service. 
  • Don't forget to proofread! Lawyers and clients are very detail-conscious.

Interview process

 

  • When interviewing you, we want to learn more about your skills and interests, and, most importantly, about who you are. 
  • During the interview, you should be prepared to answer questions about anything in your cover letter and résumé, about yourself and your career ambitions. We want to learn about your interests, motivations, passions, strengths and developmental goals.
  • Listen carefully to the questions, and don't be afraid to ask for clarification. 
  • Practise answering questions with a family member or a friend or participate in mock interviews. 
  • Try to be on top of everything that is in your control in order to help ease the stress of interviews. 
  • Get to the interview with a few minutes to spare and be prepared with questions for your interviewers. 
  • Breathe, relax, smile: and, most importantly, be yourself.