Articling Student, Claims Litigation

Definity Financial; Waterloo; On-site; CAD 58,000 - 107,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial services company in Waterloo is offering a 10-month co-op position. The role involves participating in litigation processes, conducting legal research, and drafting legal documents. Candidates should have strong communication skills and relevant coursework in law. This opportunity provides mentorship and experience while making meaningful contributions to the company and community.

Benefits

Career development opportunities

Meaningful work

Collaborative culture

Scholarship programs

Qualifications

• Candidate should have coursework in law subjects.
• Must possess superior communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office is required.

Responsibilities

• Participate in litigation processes, including affidavit preparation.
• Conduct legal research and analysis.
• Draft legal documents and negotiate.

Skills

High-quality of work

Exceptional analytical skills

Superior communication skills

Ability to work independently

Excellent time management skills

High levels of initiative

Education

Coursework in tort law

Coursework in research and writing

Coursework in advocacy

Coursework in civil procedure

Coursework in evidence

Coursework in insurance law

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Work term: 2026

Work term length: 10-months

From classroom to co-op to career, every step of your journey has an impact on your future. That’s why it makes sense to choose a co-op placement with a company that offers truly rewarding work and real-life experience. At Definity, your contributions, creativity, and energy will be put to good use, and you’ll get to be involved with initiatives that support our strategic goals and use your skills in a supportive team environment.

If you’re looking for a company that takes care of its people — full time, part time, and co-ops alike — and has a track record of doing big things, get ready to love it here.

What We’re Looking For

• High-quality of work and ability to instill confidence in the lawyers with whom you work
• Exceptional analytical skills
• Superior communication skills, both orally and in writing
• Ability to work independently, handling numerous tasks and meeting multiple deadlines
• Excellent time management skills and ability to decisively prioritize tasks and manage sometimes conflicting responsibilities
• High levels of initiative, as well as visible enthusiasm and excitement for advocacy

The ideal candidate will desire challenging tasks and be flexible in terms of assignments.

Your Skills & Experience

• Coursework in some or all of the following areas:
  • tort law
  • research and writing
  • advocacy
  • civil procedure
  • evidence
  • insurance law

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Word and PowerPoint

What You’ll Experience

• Experiential training and mentorship in areas of:
  • professional responsibility
  • fact investigation and legal research
  • drafting and legal writing
  • negotiation
  • advocacy

• Attendance and participation in as many aspects of the litigation process as practicable, including:
  • preparing affidavits
  • developing a theory of the case
  • conducting research on substantive and procedural issues
  • attending motions, examinations for discovery, settlement and negotiation conferences, and mediations
• Opportunities to assist with preparing clients and witnesses for trial and attendance at pre-trial conferences
• Direction in formulating and articulating well-reasoned legal arguments, analyses, and submissions
• Regular feedback and evaluations on a formal and informal basis to hone your skills and become a successful advocate

Your application should include

• Cover letter and Resume
• Law school and post-secondary transcripts
• A short sample of your previous writing (no more than 10 pages double-spaced)
• References

Did you know?

• We care about our co-ops: Definity’s co-op students are considered the best pipeline of talent for our full-time, permanent positions.
• We care about students: Definity distributes $85,000 in scholarships to students across Canada each year.
• We care about our community: Definity donates more than $1 million every year to causes that drive true change in the neighborhoods in which we live and work.

What can Definity offer you?

• Meaningful work forwarding our purpose of building a better world by helping our clients and communities adapt and thrive in their hardest times of need.
• Culture of accountability, empowerment, and collaboration.
• Opportunities to support personal and professional growth through real-life experience and unique learning opportunities.
• Opportunity to join our employee groups - focused on women\'s empowerment, LGBTQ+, anti-racism and cultural equity, and environmental activism
• Determined to create positive change for our environment, our people, and our communities, now and in the future. Check our ESG work!

The salary range indicated for this position—$58,100 - $106,900 CAD—is reflective of a full-time annual compensation. As this role is offered on a 10-month contract basis, the final compensation will be pro-rated to align with the contract duration and will be determined based on the candidate’s qualifications and experience.