Articling Student Position
Full-Time, 2027-28 Ten-Month Term (commencing from mid-July)
Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA) is a legal aid clinic dedicated to environmental equity, justice, and health. Founded in 1970, CELA is one of the oldest environmental advocates for environmental protection in the country. With funding from Legal Aid Ontario (LAO), CELA provides free legal services relating to environmental justice in Ontario, including representing qualifying low-income and vulnerable or disadvantaged communities in litigation. CELA also works on environmental legal education and reform initiatives.
CELA is accepting applications for a full-time Articling Student for the 2027-28 articling term commencing between mid-July and early August 2027.
CELA encourages applicants from equity‐seeking groups, including but not limited to individuals who are of Indigenous descent, members of LGBTQI2S+, persons with disabilities, members of racialized communities and women. The articling student deals directly with individuals seeking legal information, giving the student valuable practice in dealing with the public and potential clients. The articling student also gains background with respect to the process of developing policy as part of CELA’s law reform activities.
Experience and Competencies Required:
•Eligible to undertake articles in Ontario, meaning the articling student is enrolled in or has completed law school, or is registered with the National Committee on Accreditation and reasonably expects and is scheduled to commence articling in 2027.
•Demonstrated commitment to environmental justice, social justice, or public interest work.
•Demonstrated excellent writing and oral communication skills.
•Strong interpersonal skills and sound judgment.
•French language fluency, both written and oral, is an asset.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
•Case Work, Legal Research and Litigation: Case work activities include legal research, writingmemos and draft opinion letters, drafting motion records, affidavits and facta, meeting withclients, attending motions court, assisting lawyers at discoveries and hearings, and conductingcorporate and title searches.
•Legal Analysis and Law Reform: Students are given the opportunity to participate in researchingand writing articles, position papers, and submissions under the supervision of CELA staff. Thereare also opportunities to appear before standing committees, city councils or commissions, and togive presentations at conferences.
CELA Job Posting
•Public Outreach: Most legal inquiries from the public are initially directed to the articling studentwho is responsible for researching the issue and providing an answer in consultation with one ofthe lawyers. Students may also write articles for the CELA website, give interviews, or delivertalks to school and community groups.
CELA values, but does not require, language capacities in addition to English, as well as lived experience relevant to environmental legal needs of equity-seeking groups. For example, CELA values persons with lived experience in local and Indigenous knowledge systems, as well as experience working with racialized, vulnerable and diverse communities who CELA serves.
CELA offers a competitive salary and a generous benefits package. The salary is pro-rated to an equivalent of $65,863 per year for a ten month term. CELA will be adhering to the Law Society of Ontario’s procedures for articling recruitment.
To be considered, please submit your cover letter, resumé, transcripts and references, in a single .pdf file by Friday, June 26, 2026 at 5:00 pm EDT to Tracy Tucker at tracy@cela.ca.
CELA is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. CELA will provide accommodations throughout the recruitment process, upon request. If you require accommodation, please notify us and we will work with you to meet your needs.
CELA thanks all candidates in advance for your interest. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
This position description can also be downloaded here.
Articling Student 2027-2028
Articling Student Position
Full-Time, 2027-28 Ten-Month Term (commencing from mid-July)
Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA) is a legal aid clinic dedicated to environmental equity, justice, and health. Founded in 1970, CELA is one of the oldest environmental advocates for environmental protection in the country. With funding from Legal Aid Ontario (LAO), CELA provides free legal services relating to environmental justice in Ontario, including representing qualifying low-income and vulnerable or disadvantaged communities in litigation. CELA also works on environmental legal education and reform initiatives.
CELA is accepting applications for a full-time Articling Student for the 2027-28 articling term commencing between mid-July and early August 2027.
CELA encourages applicants from equity‐seeking groups, including but not limited to individuals who are of Indigenous descent, members of LGBTQI2S+, persons with disabilities, members of racialized communities and women. The articling student deals directly with individuals seeking legal information, giving the student valuable practice in dealing with the public and potential clients. The articling student also gains background with respect to the process of developing policy as part of CELA’s law reform activities.
Experience and Competencies Required:
•Eligible to undertake articles in Ontario, meaning the articling student is enrolled in or has completed law school, or is registered with the National Committee on Accreditation and reasonably expects and is scheduled to commence articling in 2027.
•Demonstrated commitment to environmental justice, social justice, or public interest work.
•Demonstrated excellent writing and oral communication skills.
•Strong interpersonal skills and sound judgment.
•French language fluency, both written and oral, is an asset.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
•Case Work, Legal Research and Litigation: Case work activities include legal research, writingmemos and draft opinion letters, drafting motion records, affidavits and facta, meeting withclients, attending motions court, assisting lawyers at discoveries and hearings, and conductingcorporate and title searches.
•Legal Analysis and Law Reform: Students are given the opportunity to participate in researchingand writing articles, position papers, and submissions under the supervision of CELA staff. Thereare also opportunities to appear before standing committees, city councils or commissions, and togive presentations at conferences.
CELA Job Posting
•Public Outreach: Most legal inquiries from the public are initially directed to the articling studentwho is responsible for researching the issue and providing an answer in consultation with one ofthe lawyers. Students may also write articles for the CELA website, give interviews, or delivertalks to school and community groups.
CELA values, but does not require, language capacities in addition to English, as well as lived experience relevant to environmental legal needs of equity-seeking groups. For example, CELA values persons with lived experience in local and Indigenous knowledge systems, as well as experience working with racialized, vulnerable and diverse communities who CELA serves.
CELA offers a competitive salary and a generous benefits package. The salary is pro-rated to an equivalent of $65,863 per year for a ten month term. CELA will be adhering to the Law Society of Ontario’s procedures for articling recruitment.
To be considered, please submit your cover letter, resumé, transcripts and references, in a single .pdf file by Friday, June 26, 2026 at 5:00 pm EDT to Tracy Tucker at tracy@cela.ca.
CELA is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. CELA will provide accommodations throughout the recruitment process, upon request. If you require accommodation, please notify us and we will work with you to meet your needs.
CELA thanks all candidates in advance for your interest. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
This position description can also be downloaded here.
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