Clerkships in 2009-10

Photo by Bernard Clark

Michael Perlin, Law '09, Mathew Good, Law '09, and Lauren Wihak, Law '08 are three students selected for clerkships in 2009-10.

Five students and one alumnus from Queen's Law were selected in 2008 to clerk at various Canadian courts in 2009-10. Maxime Dea, Law '07, and Lauren Wihak, Law '08, will be clerking at the Supreme Court of Canada. Two Law '09 students will be clerking at Courts of Appeal - Michael Perlin in Ontario and Mathew Good in British Columbia. Heather Webb, Law '09, will be clerking at the Superior Court of Justice and Anna Wong, Law '09, will be at the Toronto Branch of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. These students will enjoy the tremendous opportunity to work with some of the most influential jurists in Canada.

A clerkship is served over a period of 10 or 12 months, and may count toward a portion of the student's articling requirements. Students who clerk work directly with one judge, but get the opportunity to contribute to the work of other judges. In addition to the immense prestige associated with these opportunities, clerkships provide an ideal foundation for nearly any career goal.

"I think there is value in learning in a variety of environments," said Michael, who is working at a law firm in Toronto this summer. "Having both private practice and clerking experiences will provide me with a balanced perspective on practice."

Photo Courtesy of Borden Ladner Gervais LLP

Maxime Dea, Law '07

"My main career goal is to one day become a recognized litigation lawyer," said Maxime, who completed both a civil and common law degree and will complete his articles at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP's Montreal office before clerking for Justice Marie Deschamps. "I truly expect that this experience will confirm and strengthen my profound interest for litigation and help me determine which specialized area of law I would like to concentrate my practice in."

Anna, who is interested primarily in commercial litigation, echoed these sentiments. "Clerking offers a unique opportunity to observe good and bad advocacy, and how judges reason," she said. "The hope is that I can sharpen my litigation skills in the process."

In Lauren's case, she is clerking for three judges at the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal in 2008-09 before embarking on her clerkship at the Supreme Court of Canada for Justice Louis LeBel in 2009-10. Laurel is also interested in appellate litigation. However, having served as a research assistant for her professors at Queen's Law, she is also considering pursuing a position as a law professor, so her motivation for clerking varies somewhat from the other candidates. "I am contemplating a future career in academia, so securing a Supreme Court clerkship is extremely valuable to navigating that process," she said.

Mathew, who looks forward to a future career in appellate advocacy, noted that one of the main advantages of clerking cited by students is the opportunity to witness and participate in the process of legal interpretation. "Clerking is a means of understanding the practical, behind-the-scenes mechanics of judicial decision-making," he said.

Other students were enthusiastic about the wide variety of advocacy techniques they will witness as law clerks. "Clerking provides a unique opportunity to see varying levels of advocacy up front," said Heather. "I will also get to see all aspects of the court process, hear cases tried on numerous areas of law, and observe jury selections, sentencing hearings, case conferences, and summary conviction appeals."

Students interested in applying for clerkships are expected to have impeccable academic records with reference letters from several professors. Since students working with judges will be contributing directly to the written decisions of their respective courts, applicants are expected to possess excellent research and writing skills as well.

Only a handful of applicants are selected for interviews, which are conducted in a different manner depending on the court and the student's circumstances. Though the interviews can be difficult - some judges ask challenging, substantive questions - each student agreed the overall process was a good experience. "Ultimately, the day was a very enjoyable one, and I had a rare and privileged opportunity to chat with the country's highest jurists," said Lauren.

Each of these students looks forward to returning to their home provinces, and contributing to the legal process. "I am proud to be going back to my home town to clerk," said Mathew. "It's a chance to show people on the West Coast what I've learned - and to make Queen's Law proud."