Articling F.A.Q.'s [PDF Document] - Reynolds Mirth Richards ...
Articling F.A.Q.'s [PDF Document] - Reynolds Mirth Richards ... Articling F.A.Q.'s [PDF Document] - Reynolds Mirth Richards ...
Our Answers to Your Questions
- Page 2 and 3: Your articling year is a busy and e
- Page 4 and 5: What are my chances of staying on w
- Page 6 and 7: Will I be expected to bring my own
- Page 8: 3200 Manulife Place, 10180 - 101 St
Our Answers to Your Questions
Your articling year is a busy and exciting time,<br />
full of new and challenging experiences. <strong>Articling</strong><br />
with <strong>Reynolds</strong> <strong>Mirth</strong> <strong>Richards</strong> & Farmer llp offers<br />
students the opportunity to work in a full service law<br />
firm with knowledgeable and experienced lawyers.<br />
RMRFllp has a reputation for excellence. Our<br />
articling program is no exception. At RMRFllp you<br />
will receive a well rounded articling experience,<br />
while allowing you the flexibility to explore the<br />
areas of law which interest you the most – whatever<br />
they may be.<br />
What is the articling structure<br />
of RMRFllp?<br />
Traditionally, our firm will take two to three students per year,<br />
including court students. We do not use a rotation system.<br />
At RMRFllp you will be assigned a principal who will ensure<br />
that you have the opportunity to gain experience in all areas<br />
of a general law practice. You will, in essence, article with<br />
our entire firm, working with all of the associates and<br />
partners, ensuring you receive a complete and varied article.
What is the working atmosphere like?<br />
RMRFllp is committed to providing quality legal service<br />
using all of our firm resources. Our partners believe in an<br />
open door policy and a cooperative approach is in place to<br />
provide ongoing support to lawyers and their clients. A<br />
student is treated as a professional from his or her first day<br />
with our firm. Students and junior lawyers will have the<br />
opportunity to be exposed to a variety of clients, areas of<br />
law, and to work with lawyers who are experts in their field.<br />
How many billable hours are students<br />
and lawyers expected to log per year?<br />
RMRFllp has no minimum billable hours expectation for<br />
articling students as our firm encourages the educational<br />
process during the articling year. Students are required<br />
to track their time so they can become familiar with the<br />
process and for billing purposes. In the first two years,<br />
associates receive an educational credit towards their<br />
billable hours target.<br />
What about ongoing education?<br />
All students and lawyers are encouraged to attend<br />
educational seminars at RMRFllp’s expense. Professional<br />
development seminars are offered within our firm<br />
for students and junior lawyers, as well as business<br />
development training. When appropriate, lawyers and<br />
students may also attend relevant seminars or conferences<br />
held outside of Edmonton.
What are my chances of staying on with<br />
RMRFllp after completing my articles?<br />
Very good. While we view the articling process as a serious<br />
commitment to you, it is also an opportunity for us to<br />
select future associates and partners for our firm.<br />
How does one become a partner<br />
at RMRFllp?<br />
Associates who have been with our firm for five or six<br />
years after being admitted to the bar are considered for<br />
partnership. RMRFllp does not have a two-tier system<br />
whereby lawyers stay with our firm indefinitely as<br />
associates (although in appropriate circumstances that<br />
could happen). If, for whatever reason, you are not<br />
suitable for partnership in RMRFllp, our firm will let<br />
you know as soon as reasonably possible so you can<br />
plan your future accordingly.<br />
What is the starting salary for articling<br />
students and associates?<br />
RMRFllp offers salaries and benefits that are very<br />
competitive, comparable to or slightly above most others<br />
in the Edmonton market. Our benefits package includes<br />
medical, dental, life insurance and long term disability.<br />
Our firm’s parental leave policy is dependent on length of<br />
employment and whether one is a partner or associate.
What is the vacation package for<br />
students, associates and partners?<br />
As an articling student you can expect two weeks vacation<br />
after being admitted to the bar. As a new associate, you<br />
will be entitled to four weeks vacation. Upon entering the<br />
partnership, you will have six weeks annual vacation. In<br />
addition, RMRFllp has a sabbatical policy of three months<br />
leave for partners and has granted education leave and<br />
other leaves of absence to associates and partners upon<br />
request. Our policy on leaves is to remain as flexible as<br />
possible in order to respond to your individual needs.<br />
Does RMRFllp pay student and lawyer<br />
fees for the Law Society of Alberta, the<br />
Canadian Bar Association and Bar<br />
Admission fees?<br />
Yes, RMRFllp pays Law Society fees, Bar Admission and<br />
your Canadian Bar Association fees.<br />
Will I have contact with clients?<br />
Absolutely. The ability to relate to clients is an important<br />
skill. You will have opportunities to both meet clients with<br />
other lawyers from our firm and on your own.
Will I be expected to bring my own<br />
clients to RMRFllp?<br />
RMRFllp does not expect you, as a student or junior<br />
associate, to bring clients to our firm. You will, however<br />
be expected to learn about and participate in client<br />
development activities.<br />
What other expectations are placed on<br />
associates and partners?<br />
RMRFllp encourages lawyers to become active in the<br />
community and in their profession. You may choose to<br />
be active in various community, political, business or<br />
charitable associations or you may want to teach courses<br />
in the future.<br />
Is it all work and no play?<br />
Firm activities include a variety of social and sporting<br />
activities. Associates and students enjoy lunch on RMRFllp<br />
once a month. Students and lawyers are encouraged to<br />
attend informal get-togethers including barbeques, our<br />
annual golf tournament, and Friday “socials”.
Firm Administration:<br />
In our goal to provide service that exceeds our clients’<br />
needs, RMRFllp has assembled a staff of approximately 60,<br />
including trained paralegals, legal assistants, our Chief<br />
Operating Officer, Human Resources Manager, Systems<br />
Manager and Business Development Manager. All members<br />
of our team work closely with our lawyers and students to<br />
provide support and services to our clients. Each lawyer<br />
and student has his or her own office. Our office is fully<br />
operational in a web-based environment and computers<br />
are fully networked, allowing access to our document<br />
management system, electronic mail, the accounting<br />
department and internet.
3200 Manulife Place, 10180 - 101 St. Edmonton AB T5J 3W8<br />
Phone: 780.425.9510 Toll Free: 1.800.661.7673 Fax: 780.429.3044<br />
mail@rmrf.com<br />
www.rmrf.com