Rasmussen Starr Ruddy is committed to developing and maintaining programs which enable students to experience a variety of specialties while pursuing their own interests in a particular area of practice.

We hire one second-year summer student, and one or two articling students each year. RSR does not have a formal rotation system, but does allow students to work in all of the firm’s practice areas during their summer or articling term. We encourage our students to develop decision-making skills and assume progressively greater responsibility, and we help them develop the practical skills required to become respected members of the Bar. We take our commitment to our students very seriously, and consider every student a potential future member of our firm.

RSR students are assigned a mentor to ensure they are receiving feedback on their progress and appropriate, well-rounded experience. Our mentors consult with the students on a regular basis to address any concerns and provide opportunities for career growth.

LITIGATION

Students gain civil litigation experience with an emphasis on insurance, construction, business and corporate/commercial law, labour/employment, construction liens, and wills and estates.  Students assist RSR’s litigators with the preparation and drafting of documents and pleadings, attending motions, meeting with clients and witnesses in preparation for trials, and attending examinations for discovery, trials and appeals. Students undertake all Small Claims Court matters under the supervision of more senior lawyers, and appear on certain motions in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.

BUSINESS LAW, REAL ESTATE, AND WILLS AND ESTATES

While assisting lawyers in the Business and Corporate, Real Estate, and Wills & Estates areas, students are involved in all aspects of transactions. They meet with clients, draft wills and powers of attorney, draft articles of incorporation and related documentation, assist in the purchase and sale of businesses and the inter-generational transfer of businesses. Students also draft and review agreements, draft and answer requisitions, prepare closing documents, and attend the closing of transactions.

We review the salary of our students annually to ensure that it is competitive.  The level of responsibility afforded to our students reflects directly on their initiative and capabilities. Articling students are covered under the firm’s group health, medical, and dental insurance plans at no cost to the student, and are entitled to vacation in accordance with the Law Society of Ontario guidelines during their articling term. The firm also pays our articling student’s tuition for the Bar Admission Course and provides two weeks of paid study time for Bar Admission exam preparation.

We encourage all firm members to participate in community and various firm social activities, including our annual winter and summer parties. RSR also participates annually in the Ottawa Construction Association Golf Tournament.

SUMMER STUDENTS

RSR follows the Ottawa Summer Recruitment Process as established with the Law Society of Ontario. Information on current Summer Student Positions can be found on the viLawPortal.

ARTICLING STUDENTS

In accordance with the guidelines established by the Law Society of Ontario, RSR conducts articling interviews after students have completed final examinations in their second year of law school.

Rasmussen Starr Ruddy has always looked to its students as the primary source of new lawyers for the firm.