Articling Program

Each year, the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta offers articling positions in Calgary and Edmonton to students from any common law faculty in Canada. The Court's articling program offers a unique and valuable opportunity to acquire experience in the fullest possible range of practice areas, to observe all types of court proceedings; and to hone research, analytical, and writing skills.

Successful candidates article for ten consecutive months with the Court of Queen’s Bench, followed by a five month law firm article which the students must arrange. In Edmonton, the Court articling term starts in June. In Calgary, the start dates are staggered. For 2022-2023, there will be three positions in Calgary and three positions in Edmonton.

Articling Program Overview

View the Articling Program Brochure

What does an article with the Court of Queen's Bench offer?
Articling with the Court of Queen’s Bench provides a rare opportunity to participate in, and observe, the administration of justice in Alberta from a unique perspective. Student involvement in the process is active and direct. Students review briefs prior to hearings, and attend applications and trials (jury and non-jury). They are given the opportunity to research, write, and discuss cases with the presiding Justices as they unfold. This allows students to learn directly from the Court's Justices, something no other article in the province can offer. The articling program exposes students to many areas of the law, and virtually all aspects of the judicial process. Students at the Court are encouraged to attend as many hearings, in as many courts, as time permits.

Mentoring
Each student at the Court of Queen’s Bench is articled to a Justice of the Court, and receives further guidance and support from an assigned Legal Counsel. Principals are carefully selected with a view to students’ interests and backgrounds. The Court's Justices and Legal Counsel are dedicated to ensuring that the students’ experience with the Court is rewarding and valuable.

Work Allocation
Legal Counsel to the Court of Queen’s Bench channel work to students in accordance with their interests, and with the aim of ensuring exposure to a broad range of practice areas and as many Justices as possible. Students are valued as an important resource, and the Court's Justices and Legal Counsel take their responsibilities to students very seriously. Students’ workloads are carefully monitored to ensure that their work experience is comprehensive and useful, and that they have time to address their CPLED requirements.

Tours
As part of articling with the Court of Queen’s Bench, students are given the opportunity to tour other facilities, including the Family, Youth, Criminal, Civil, and Traffic divisions of the Provincial Court, where they meet with Judges of the Court and attend hearings and trials. Students are also exposed to the Court of Appeal, and are encouraged to observe proceedings in that Court.

Ongoing Education
In addition to a comprehensive orientation, from experienced Legal Counsel and Court librarians, on the commencement of their articles, students have the unique opportunity to attend a series of seminars, given by Justices and Masters, covering a broad range of practice areas. This opportunity to receive instruction and guidance directly from Justices and Masters, in their fields of expertise, is not available in any non-Court articling program.

Resources
Students at the Court of Queen’s Bench have access to the judicial library, a comprehensive law library for the exclusive use of Justices, Legal Counsel and Court students. In addition, they have the support of the Court’s librarian and complete access to all major online legal resources.

Life at the Court
The Court of Queen’s Bench recognizes the importance of making students feel comfortable and welcome. The Court environment is highly professional, but Legal Counsel and Justices make an effort to foster collegiality. A number of less formal social events are hosted by Justices and Legal Counsel over the course of the year. All students and Legal Counsel meet regularly to review and discuss current assignments, and other matters before the Court. Justices frequently drop by the students' offices to discuss, in an informal caucus setting, particularly interesting or complex matters. Students are encouraged to discuss legal issues amongst themselves, and with Justices and Legal Counsel.

Whether your interests lie in litigation, solicitors’ work or academia, the comprehensive nature of the Court’s jurisdiction ensures valuable articles. The benefits to future litigators are clear. However, our students work on litigation concerning commercial and corporate matters that also are of interest to students intending to work as solicitors. They work on insolvencies, estate matters, family law matters, tort claims, judicial reviews and criminal cases. They observe and review evidence, research law, and are called on to provide sophisticated legal analysis. Articling with the Court of Queen’s Bench is stimulating and rewarding, and provides an excellent transition from law school to practice

Application Procedure

Qualified students from any common law faculty in Canada may apply for these positions.

Your electronic application must include:

1.  a cover letter;
2. a transcript (or copy) of all post-secondary marks;
3. a curriculum vitae;
4. one academic reference letter which refers to your legal research and communication skills, and the names of, and contact information for, two additional references; and
5. an unmarked sample of your legal writing.

If you wish to be considered for positions in Edmonton and Calgary, please send separate applications electronically.

To apply in Edmonton, please send your application by email to:

Mr. Justice Steve D. Hillier
Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta
Law Courts
#1A Sir Winston Churchill Square Edmonton, AB T5J 0R2
ArticlingApplications.QBEdmonton@albertacourts.ca

To apply in Calgary, send the same material by email to:

Madam Justice Anne Kirker
Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta
Calgary Courts Centre Suite 240-N
601 - 5th St. S.W.
Calgary, AB T2P 5P7
ArticlingApplications.QBCalgary@albertacourts.ca

The application deadline is December 1, 2020 at noon. 

Contact Information

For information about the Court of Queen's Bench's articling program, please consult the articling brochure or contact:

Thomas Druyan (Edmonton)
Thomas.Druyan@albertacourts.ca
or
Suzanne Vickers (Calgary)
Suzanne.Vickers@albertacourts.ca

In addition, these current Court articling students are willing to answer questions about the program: