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Law Clerk Program


APPLICATION FOR CLERKSHIP - 2026-2027

Candidates are invited to apply for the position of law clerk to the Chief Justice of the Court Martial Appeal Court of Canada. (“CMACC”), and/or to a judge of the Federal Court of Appeal and/or the Federal Court.

There are 63 positions available: 1 with the CMACC, 18 with the Federal Court of Appeal, and 44 with the Federal Court.

PLACE OF WORK

Ottawa, Ontario.

PERIOD OF EMPLOYMENT

August 4, 2026 to July 23, 2027

SALARY AND BENEFITS

The current salary is $76,415 per annum.

  1. Leave
  2. Other benefits
    • Relocation allowance (amount depends on distance and number of dependents)
    • Dental Plan
      (premiums presently covered by employer)
    • Public Service Health Care Plan (optional - employee and employer contribute)
    • Long Term Disability Insurance (mandatory)
    • Death Benefits (mandatory)
    • Pension Plan (mandatory)

DUTIES

Under the direction of the judge to whom they have been assigned, law clerks research points of law, prepare legal memoranda, edit draft reasons for judgment and generally assist the judges. At the Federal Court, law clerks also assist the associate judges.

Working beyond 5pm and weekends may sometimes be required.

QUALIFICATIONS

  1. Education
    Bachelor of Laws or Juris Doctor or equivalent completed before August 4, 2026. If you went to law school outside of Canada, please visit the following site: www.cicic.ca.
  2. Essential Qualifications
    • Analytical skills
    • Ability to synthesize
    • Ability to conduct research
    • Ability to communicate effectively in writing
  3. Varying language requirements
    Proficiency in one of Canada's official language is mandatory. Proficiency in both official languages is required for certain positions.
  4. Assets
    See Annex A.
  5. Pool
    A pool of qualified candidates may be established as a result of this selection process.
  6. Valid email
    Our preference is to communicate with candidates by e-mail. Therefore, you must include in your application a valid e-mail address that is functional at all times and accepts messages from unknown users.
  7. Employment Equity
    The Public Service of Canada is committed to building a skilled, diverse workforce reflective of Canadian society. As a result, it promotes employment equity and encourages you to indicate voluntarily on your application if you are a woman, an Aboriginal person, a person with a disability or a member of a visible minority group.

    The Public Service of Canada is also committed to developing inclusive, barrier-free selection processes and work environments. If contacted in relation to a job opportunity or testing (including interview), you should advise us in a timely fashion of the accommodation measures which must be taken to enable you to be assessed in a fair and equitable manner. Information received relating to accommodation measures will be addressed confidentially.
  8. Conflict of Interest
    Outside employment or function during the clerkship will be reviewed by a Member of the Court via the Executive Legal Counsel and their consent is necessary in order to continue or accept outside employment. This information should be disclosed prior to signing the letter of offer. By accepting the job offer, you agree to abide by this condition.
  9. Operational Requirements
    • Willing and able to work overtime on short notice.
    • Willing and able to work outside of core hours.
  10. Conditions of Employment
    • The work may require overtime on short notice.
    • The work may require to work outside of core hours.
    • Enhanced secret security clearance. Some positions require top security clearance.
    • Law clerks must reside in the National Capital Region during the clerkship term.

WHO CAN APPLY

Persons residing in Canada, and Canadian citizens and Permanent residents abroad.

HOW TO APPLY

Applicants must use the on-line application system which will be available as of November 25, 2024 on the Courts’ websites:

www.cmac-cacm.ca

www.fca-caf.ca

www.fct-cf.gc.ca

Candidates must submit their application by 5pm EST on January 14, 2025.

The application must include:

  1. A curriculum vitae;
  2. Copies of transcripts for all your post-secondary studies (except the law school transcript);
  3. A letter explaining why you are seeking the position; and
  4. One sample of legal writing which you have entirely written yourself (maximum of 15 pages). At their option, candidates may submit two writing samples (one in English and the other in French).

In addition, we must receive:

  1. Official law school transcripts - the university must send them directly to the administrators of the law clerk program.
  2. Three letters of reference - Applicants will be prompted within the online application system to enter the contact coordinates for their three referees. The referees will then be emailed with instructions on how to upload their reference letter. Reference letters should not be emailed or mailed to the administrators of the law clerk program unless referees are unable to use the online system.

You will not be penalized if your official law school transcript or letters of reference are received after the application deadline. However, we cannot process your application until we have received all necessary documentation.

We are committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, starting with the hiring process. If you need to be accommodated during any phase of the evaluation process, please use the Contact information below to request specialized accommodation. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.

NOTE: Law school transcripts and letters of recommendation submitted by applicants will not be accepted. Only the first three reference letters received will be accepted.

VISITS AND INTERVIEWS

Judges of the CMACC may visit the law schools to promote the law clerk program in the Fall of 2024. Interviews will take place in February and March 2025.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only the candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

For further inquiries regarding clerkships, please contact: Witold Tymowski at (613) 897-8534 or by e-mail at clerkship-clericature@cas-satj.gc.ca.

You are also welcome to visit the following websites:

ARTICLING REQUIREMENT

Certain law societies recognize the law clerkship as fulfilling all or part of their articling requirements. Candidates should verify this with the law society of the jurisdiction in which they will seek admission to practice. Being called to the Bar in any jurisdiction is NOT a requirement for the positions.

FAQ

1. Do I submit all my documents online?

As an applicant, you are required to upload the following directly within the online application: cover letter, C.V., writing sample and undergraduate/graduate transcripts. Special characters (à, é, ç, ê, etc.) should not be used in document titles.

You can upload your undergraduate/graduate transcripts in the online application. However, your law school transcript MUST be forwarded to us directly by the University Registrar, at the following address:

Mylène Tremblay
CAS - 11th floor
90 Sparks Street
Ottawa Ontario
K1A 0H9

The University may also email your law school transcript to clerkship-clericature@cas-satj.gc.ca.

2. What are the expectations for reference letters?

The law clerk program will be using a new online application system this year. Among the changes, applicants will now be prompted within the online application system to enter the contact coordinates for their three referees. The referees will then be emailed with instructions on how to upload their reference letter. Reference letters should not be emailed or mailed to the administrators of the law clerk program unless referees are unable to use the online system.

If you are applying only to the CMACC, reference letters should be addressed to “the Honourable Chief Justice.” Otherwise, reference letters should be addressed to “the Honourable Justices."

They should be signed and, if possible, submitted on official letterhead. Preferably, your letters of reference will be submitted by professors of law or legal professionals who have supervised your work.

If applying to more than one Court, be aware that the same reference letter will be shared among the Courts. Multiple reference letters written to individual Courts by the same person will not be accepted.

3. If my references or law transcript are received after the deadline, am I disqualified?

You are responsible for submitting a complete online application by 5pm EST on January 14, 2025. This includes the documents you are responsible for - cover letter, C.V., writing sample and undergraduate transcripts. You will not be penalized if your official law school transcript or letters of reference are late. However, be aware that your application cannot be processed until all necessary documentation has been received, including the official law school transcript and reference letters. Judges will only access applications that contain all of the necessary documents.

4. Can I, and should I, submit more than one writing sample?

Submitting two writing samples is warranted only if you submit a sample in each official language.

5. Once my application is complete, what happens next?

Once all the necessary documents have been received and it has been determined that you possess all essential qualifications, your application will appear in a database accessible to the Judges. They will make a selection of interviewees, and interviews will be held from February to April. Once the Supreme Court of Canada has made all of its clerkship offers, the Federal Courts proceed with their offers. There is an agreement with courts in Ontario and British Columbia to issue simultaneous offers. In the event that you receive several offers, you will have time to decide between the Courts.

6. Will I be informed if I am not hired?

Once all the law clerks have been hired, you will be informed that the process is complete.

7. Should I take particular courses if I want to clerk at the CMACC?

The CMACC does not require that clerks take any particular courses. However, given the jurisdiction of the Court, it is helpful to have taken a range of courses in criminal law and/or military law.

ANNEX A

ASSETS

Some positions may require one or more assets.

Interest, knowledge or experience in one or several of the following areas of law could be an asset:


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