It was a daunting task, but Ryerson University managed to secure work placements for all 250 students in the first class of its Law Practice Program (which law grads can now complete instead of articling). As it turns out, law offices of every ilk — from banks (TD Bank, RBC, BMO and CIBC) to Bay Street firms (such as Goodmans and Lenczner Slaght ) — hired students this past winter for four-month stints.
At the same time, Ryerson failed to secure paid placements for each student — a lofty goal it assigned itself at the outset of the program. In the end, about 30 percent of the work placements were unpaid.
This story is from our Summer 2015 issue.
Illustration by Alina Skyson