In Their Own Words – Summer StudentsCurrent and former students are one of the best resources for you to find out what a firm is really like. Here’s what our summer students have to say about us and their experience at Aird & Berlis LLP:
Ceili Andrew, 2012 Second Year Summer Student (Queen’s University)
“I really enjoyed working at Aird & Berlis this summer. I had no idea what to expect and I was unsure whether I would fit in at a large firm in downtown Toronto. The Toronto interview process was overwhelming to say the least, but well worth it. My summer at Aird & Berlis was educational, challenging and exciting all at the same time. My summer was enjoyable because I had the opportunity to work with such great people. All of the students got along tremendously and were more than willing to help one another out. It was refreshing to work in an environment that was supportive rather than competitive. The summer program is extremely flexible and I was able to get work from many different practice groups. This was especially valuable because it took me out of my comfort zone and really allowed me to see which areas of law I could one day see myself practicing. The summer flew by and I am looking forward to articling next year.”
Aaron Baer, 2012 Second Year Summer Student (Western University)
“The culture at Aird & Berlis is phenomenal. It has an extremely laid-back atmosphere, and all the partners and associates with whom I worked were extremely supportive and helpful. Because Aird & Berlis allows you to determine your areas of focus, I was able to work on files in a number of different areas throughout the summer, including corporate finance, corporate commercial, real estate, municipal, and litigation. My mentors (both formal and informal) willingly provided their valuable time for weekly conversations. As a summer student, I worked directly with senior partners on over half of the files—something that is unheard of at most large firms. Choosing to work at Aird & Berlis was a great decision.”
Brian Chung, 2012 Second Year Summer Student (University of Windsor)
“My summer at Aird & Berlis has been an incredible learning experience. Being able to structure my own summer gave me an opportunity to discover practice areas that I have never considered in the past. As a student, I was given training and guidance but also an incredible amount of responsibility on files. The amount of resources available to me at Aird & Berlis allowed me to focus my time and energy on substantive and interesting work assignments. Apart from work, Aird & Berlis actively encouraged participation in firm social events, which ranged from beach volleyball and ping pong tournaments to a cocktail tasting night. Aird & Berlis constantly strives to provide students with the best experience and focuses on our development as young lawyers. Needless to say, I am very excited to return as an articling student.”
Laura Dean, 2012 First Year Summer Student (University of Windsor)
“Many people have asked me how I enjoyed my summer at Aird & Berlis. In large part owing to the people who work here, the answer is that it has been a fantastic experience. I have felt extremely supported by the lawyers at the firm. Starting at the interview phase, I was encouraged to discuss my interests and future aspirations. Once I began work, lawyers really made an effort to provide me with assignments in those areas that I wished to learn more about. My student mentors made themselves available to answer any questions I had along the way and were also always willing to discuss their own professional experiences with me. Lawyers consistently took the time to really explain files and provide context for work assignments. This definitely enhanced my learning experience this summer. I have benefitted from the fact that Aird & Berlis offers summer positions to first year students. This will allow me to return having already experienced what it is like to work at the firm and I will feel prepared to jump right back in next summer. The firm fosters a friendly environment and over the summer it put on some terrific social events. At no point however did I feel encumbered by organized activities. I feel very lucky to have spent this summer with Aird & Berlis and look forward to what next summer has in store.”
Daniel Everall, 2012 First Year Summer Student (University of Toronto)
“I am truly grateful for having the opportunity to work at Aird & Berlis after my first year of law school. The flexible nature of the student program and team-oriented group of students with which I summered created an environment where each student could tailor their work experience in a manner suiting their own needs. Personally, I sought diversity, working with several unrelated practice groups throughout the summer. My varied experiences included working on a leveraged share purchase transaction, attending an Ontario Labour Relation Board hearing, and completing many interesting research projects. Going forward, I have now gained perspective into the variety of career paths available and am excited about narrowing my focus next summer to those groups with which I shared an affinity. However, perhaps most valuable after my recent move from Alberta, the collegial culture and open-door policy of Aird & Berlis along with its population of approachable and amiable individuals made me feel at home both at the firm and in Toronto.”
Jarrod Hone, 2012 First Year Summer Student (University of Toronto)
“Working at Aird & Berlis has been a spectacular experience and one that I would recommend to anyone. The firm is unique amongst its Bay Street counterparts in that it provides a close-knit working environment where lawyers, students, and support staff quickly become familiar with each other. This produces a relaxed and professional work environment which truly makes it a pleasure to come to work every day. From the first day of summer to the last, the firm fosters a sense of community through social events, both in-firm and out, and supports the students through an outstanding system in which the student is free to pursue a variety of work. I was able to pursue my interest in litigation while gaining some exposure to other areas of the law. Throughout the summer, I was involved with numerous civil litigation files and learned a great deal by being able to engage with the various evidentiary, procedural, and substantive aspects. This experience was improved by the firm’s size, which allowed me to become involved in work that, were I at a larger firm, would likely not have come my way until articling or associateship. The depth and breadth of my experience at Aird & Berlis has allowed me to gain priceless insight that will guide my remaining years in law school and practice. In my opinion, Aird & Berlis is, through its balance of environment, work, and clientele, the perfect Bay Street firm.”
Jami Makan, 2012 First Year Summer Student (Queen’s University)
“I was very impressed with Aird & Berlis from the time I interviewed with the firm for a first-year summer position. The lawyers at Aird & Berlis had taken time out of their schedules to read through my application materials beforehand, and were already familiar with my background and past achievements. As a result, the interviews were an opportunity for me to ask lots and lots of questions—something I have continued to do as a summer student here. The lawyers at Aird & Berlis are friendly, approachable and willing to help us do great work and thrive at the firm. The absence of a structured rotation system means that you can approach any lawyer and inquire about the availability of student work. The firm has extremely high standards, and gives us a great deal of responsibility. Yet it also provides all the right tools and resources, such as legal research training, weekly lunch seminars and a fantastic internal law library. The summer students here are a wonderful group, and I have enjoyed bonding with them at social events. We are comfortable asking each other for assistance, and the atmosphere is not a competitive one, since there is plenty of work available for us all. Whether I was helping a lawyer prepare for a court appearance, writing a research memo, drafting material for a forthcoming book or corresponding with a government agency on behalf of the firm, I have enjoyed every moment of my summer at Aird & Berlis and look forward to returning!”
Jeremy Nemers, 2012 Second Year Summer Student (University of Toronto)
“I knew from my research during the application process that Aird & Berlis would be on my short-list, but it wasn’t until my first day of interviews that I sensed how special the firm is. Working here has proven to be as enjoyable as interviewing here: The people are genuine across the board, from first-year associates to veteran partners, and the ambitious entrepreneurial spirit fosters a fun, supportive, and well-grounded environment. I particularly enjoyed the weekly lunch seminars, where I could explore different areas of the law, some of which I may not have otherwise considered as potential career options. Not confined to a fixed rotation, I was then free to accept work from these ‘new areas’ without sacrificing those in which I had an interest from the outset. I am very much looking forward to returning as an articling student!”
Aisha Ramakrishnan, 2012 Second Year Summer Student (Osgoode Hall)
“I was thrilled to come back to Aird & Berlis for a second summer! During my first summer at the firm, I appreciated the flexible nature of the summer student program since it gave me the opportunity to get exposure to a variety of legal practice areas. During my second summer, I was able to get more experience in areas in which I had developed an interest. Throughout my experience, I have been impressed with the collegial and inclusive firm environment. Lawyers at Aird & Berlis take a real interest in providing students with quality, substantive work assignments and training. Additionally, my mentors were a great resource throughout the summer in providing guidance and assistance when I needed it. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time as a summer student and I’m looking forward to returning as an articling student next year!”
Sam Schachner, 2012 Second Year Summer Student (University of Ottawa)
“During the recruitment process, Aird & Berlis came across as a friendly, professional, and well-rounded law firm with a genuine interest in student learning. Having gone through the summer program, I can say that the firm definitely lives up to the impression. Aird & Berlis gives students a great introduction to the practice of law through diverse work assignments, ongoing training, and a positive work culture. The lawyers here know how to incorporate students into their practice and this routinely results in meaningful, interesting work. On many files, students are given a high degree of responsibility. The environment is cooperative and lawyers are always available to answer questions. The flexible nature of the summer program – there is no set rotation – means students are free to explore their interests. Over the summer, I worked on projects related to civil litigation, municipal law, corporate law, and real estate. For a student getting a first exposure to the practice of law, Aird & Berlis offers a rewarding experience. I am very happy with the summer program and highly recommend it.”
Graham Topa, 2012 Second Year Summer Student (Queen’s University)
“I have had a wonderful experience working with the talented Aird & Berlis team this past summer. The flexible structure of the summer program exposed me to diverse areas of the law, which would not have been possible with fixed rotations. Being able to work directly with partners and associates afforded me many opportunities to broaden my knowledge base and better understand the intricacies of working in the legal profession. I found my assignments to be both challenging and rewarding. As a summer student I was treated with respect and given a great deal of responsibility. I was expected to offer analysis and perspective on many files and was provided valuable feedback that accelerated my pace of learning. The inclusive and welcoming environment of Aird & Berlis made for a truly enjoyable experience. For me, choosing to join Aird & Berlis as a summer student was an excellent decision and I am very much looking forward to returning next year as an articling student!”