Law Student Clerkships
Queen’s offers a unique for-credit program of student clerkships, allowing selected senior students to work with judges from the Ontario Superior Court and the Ontario Court of Justice in Kingston. Students gain invaluable research and writing experience and an insider’s understanding of the court system, while being mentored by experienced judges. Student clerkships are prestigious positions involving a minimum of 120 hours work per term; students must take an oath of a confidentiality to maintain the integrity of the court.
Family Law Placements
The Family Law Placements course is offered each term, giving upper-year students invaluable insight and experience in the practice of family and children’s law, and the roles and responsibilities of lawyers and other professionals in the legal system. Students have a choice of being placed with family law practitioners, the Children’s Aid Society, and Family Court Duty Counsel. Students earn academic credit while they learn about the complex legal, ethical and moral decisions involved in the practice of family law.
Experiential Placements
Upper-year students earn academic credit while working for a community legal aid clinic, criminal defence lawyer, public interest organization, or government agency, helping students develop skill and confidence as legal professionals. Under close supervision by lawyers, law students may interview and counsel clients, research legal issues, draft legal memoranda, provide legal opinions, prepare pleadings, negotiate settlements and participate in hearings in courts and before administrative tribunals.
Federal Government Internships
Queen’s Law offers a series of internships in partnership with offices of the federal Department of Justice in Ottawa. Each term, upper-year students earn academic credit while gaining practical experience. The internship would develop skills in legal research, communication skills, orally and in writing, through work such as preparation and presentation of legal opinions, briefing notes, policy memoranda or litigation reports.