Articling Student

Relevance; Toronto, Mississauga; Hybrid; CAD 63,000 - 87,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and annual bonus

4 weeks of flexible vacation starting

Defined benefit pension plan

Group insurance including telemedicine

Reimbursement of health and wellness

Telework equipment

Job summary

Desjardins invites applications for an eight-month articling position in its Ontario offices (Aurora, Toronto, Mississauga) within the Property and Casualty In-house Legal team. You will independently manage litigation files from start to finish across auto claims, accident benefits, bodily injury, and insurance defence work.

Gain hands-on experience on Small Claims Court and LAT matters, draft documents, attend proceedings, and shadow lawyers while developing client, file management and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in law or related field required.
• Minimum two years of relevant experience.
• Completion of law degree (LL.B. or J.D.) from a Canadian university or NCAC Certificate required by start date.
• This position is the experiential training component of the Lawyer Licensing Process.
• Must have expert proficiency of English.
• Advanced intermediate knowledge in legal research and computer literacy.
• Intermediate knowledge in civil litigation and advocacy.
• Intermediate knowledge in insurance law.
• Advanced intermediate knowledge in word processing and web-based legal research.
• Willingness to travel to Aurora/Mississauga/Toronto for department events.

Responsibilities

• Independently carry a caseload of litigation files from start to finish.
• Defend auto claims, accident benefits, bodily injury, and property matters.
• Support Small Claims Court and LAT matters; draft documents and attend proceedings.
• Shadow lawyers and collaborate with multiple attorney teams.
• Develop client and file management skills in a fast-paced in-house team.

Skills

English proficiency

Legal research

Civil litigation

Insurance law

Word processing

Travel willingness

Education

Bachelor's degree in law or related field

Completion of LL.B./J.D. from a Canadian university or NCA Certificate of Qualification

Tools

Legal research tools

Job description

Temporary position for 8 months (Sept 13, 2027 - May 12, 2028)

Come join our Property and Casualty Insurance Defence In-house Legal team of over 200 employees across 5 offices, including Toronto, Mississauga, Aurora, Ottawa, and Calgary. Independently carry a case load of litigation files, from start to finish, involving the defence of auto claims, accident benefits, bodily injury, commercial lines, property, subrogation, and coverage work. Our Property and Casualty in‑house legal department has an exciting career opportunity for Articling Students in our Aurora, Toronto, and Mississauga offices. These positions are an excellent fit for students who are interested in litigation and want hands‑on experience working with skilled in‑house counsel on a variety of files, including insurance defence, subrogation, and general civil litigation. Students gain hands‑on experience managing their own files while supporting multiple lawyer teams, working on Small Claims Court and LAT matters, drafting documents, attending proceedings, and shadowing lawyers. The placement builds strong client‑management, file‑management, and legal practice skills while providing meaningful exposure to insurance defence and in‑house work. It’s a chance to build practical skills, contribute to impactful files, and experience the pace of a fast‑moving legal team.

What we offer*

• Competitive salary and annual bonus
• Salary range : $63 499 to $87 311 per year (Toronto suburbs)
• 4 weeks of flexible vacation starting in the first year
• Defined benefit pension plan that provides predictable, stable income throughout retirement
• Group insurance including telemedicine
• Reimbursement of health and wellness expenses and telework equipment

*Benefits apply based on eligibility criteria.

#LI-Hybrid, #ON07*

What you bring to the table

• Bachelor's degree in law or in a related field
• A minimum of two years of relevant experience
• Please note that other combinations of qualifications and relevant experience may be considered
• Completion of law degree (LL.B. or J.D.) from a Canadian University or receipt of a National Committee on Accreditation (NCA) Certificate of Qualification by date of commencement of Articling
• This position must be considered as the experiential training component of the Lawyer Licensing Process for the purpose of being called to the Bar of Ontario
• Expert proficiency of English due to the nature of the duties or work tools or because the position involves interactions with English-speaking partners, members and/or clients
• Advanced intermediate knowledge in legal research and computer literacy
• Intermediate knowledge in civil litigation and advocacy
• Intermediate knowledge in insurance law
• Advanced intermediate knowledge in word processing and legal research using web-based services
• Travel: required to attend another location (Aurora/Mississauga/Toronto) for a department wide event/training

Action oriented, Collaborates, Customer Focus, Decision quality, Differences, Nimble learning, Situational adaptability

Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility

At Desjardins, we believe in equity, diversity and inclusion. We're committed to welcoming, respecting and valuing people for who they are as individuals, learning from their differences, embracing their uniqueness, and providing a positive workplace for all. At Desjardins, we have zero tolerance for discrimination of any kind. We believe our teams should reflect the diversity of the members, clients and communities we serve.

If there's something we can do to help make the recruitment process or the job you're applying for more accessible, let us know. We can provide accommodations at any stage in the recruitment process. Just ask!

Job Family

Administration (FG)