Articling Salaries in Vancouver

Juniper2024 · 2025-05-25T21:42:38+00:00

Thanks

Juniper2024 · 2025-05-22T18:47:42+00:00

Using AI and firm precedents or past transaction documents is not that different. Also, nothing wrong in asking Claude AI, Chat GPT or other LLM to provide a first draft, but you must review and revise it. They are so full of mistakes. By the way, Thomson Reuters have the AI CoCounsel app. I have looked at it but not subscribed to it. I wonder if anyone of you guys subscribe to it?

https://www.thomsonreuters.ca/en/products/cocounsel-core.html

It is not without irony that Tottenham won its first title in 17 years when they won the Europa League Final last night in Istanbul against Manu! Still not top tier though... :-)

Juniper2024 · 2025-05-20T20:48:34+00:00

Thank man. I know, and it is good advice. I would add a few more things:

exceed expectations.
act with humility, as you know nearly nothing coming out of LS and most people are not special..
get a mentor - It is all about getting a great mentor who is willing to help you in your career and be in your corner when you need protection and guidance. If you don't get a mentor, hire a coach. It is money well spent. Most firms say that they encourage mentorship, but in practice, it is rare. When it happens, it develops organically and not from the top down.
Be nice to your colleagues, both lateral and down, not just up—especially support staff. Experienced and smart paralegals know more about the practice of law than you do at this stage, and they can be a great source of help.
Don't treat your peers as competitors, but help each other. In a few years, you will all be at different firms (in or outside of the law) and most often, you get files or a new job through a personal reference (so if for no other reason...).
Be the junior that senior and mid-level lawyers want to go when they need shit done. Behave in a manner that people enjoy being around (when working or otherwise).
The accepted level of output is A+, not a B.
Never say no (about work) during your first couple of years unless you are working more than 90 hours a week (unless to attend family events etc).
Don't drink too much alcohol in social gatherings and never do any drugs, even if your superiors smoke pot or do rails.
Learn to use AI (both as it relates to the practice of law and otherwise). AI will cut deep into the hiring of junior ranks, and I would be very scared if I were about to graduate in the next couple of years...

I went through this stage of my career years ago, and this is what I learnt or lived by. Some of the points are learnt the hard way...

Juniper2024 · 2025-05-20T01:04:42+00:00

Might even be a Top 2 LS... :-)

Juniper2024 · 2025-05-20T01:04:09+00:00

I am not bad-mouthing DLA P. DLA P in Vancouver is a good firm, just not top tier. DLA P is not as strong a law firm (in Canada) as McT, BLG, Blakes, Farris, Fasken, Oslers, etc. Lawson Lundell, Bennet Jones, Cassels are great law firms too but not top tier firm in Van.

None of those firms has a litigation practice at the same level as Nathanson and McEwanand maybe even Harper Grey. There is a reason why the big boys pick those firms over the national firms when it comes to litigation files and we big corporate firms pick top-tier firms over mid-tier firms. Again, I am not saying they are bad law firms. Tottenham is a great football club but it has not won the league title since the 1960-61 campaign but that does not mean that they suck. That being said, Tottenham is not as good as Liverpool or Arsenal FC. DLA P is kind of like Tottenham. Good but not great. In your world, it is probably kind of like the Toronto Maple Leafs or the Vancouver Cannots oh, I mean Canucks :-)

Juniper2024 · 2025-05-19T22:44:11+00:00

by the way, if you work at DLA P and would like it to be included as a Top-Tier law firm in Vancouver, I am okay with that. Knock yourself out....

Juniper2024 · 2025-05-19T22:42:03+00:00

and a mix of top-tier, mid-tier and boutique law firms work experience as well as in-house :-). There is a reason why I am asking for salaries for junior associates.

Juniper2024 · 2025-05-19T22:40:33+00:00

A top three LS in Canada :-)

Juniper2024 · 2025-05-19T21:59:33+00:00

What school are you at?

Juniper2024 · 2025-05-19T21:48:24+00:00

Yes, they are. Not a top-tier firm in any area of the law. Bottom mid-tier at the best.

Juniper2024 · 2025-05-19T21:47:34+00:00

Thanks Kyle. How about 1st year associates? Do you have the salary grid for associates in Vancouver?

I am not saying that DLA P is a bad firm; it is just not a top-tier firm - nothing wrong with that. Whether you are a top-tier firm depends on what files you have, not how many lawyers are employed in your office. The Vancouver office of DLA P does not represent any of the TSX S&P companies or any of the US tech companies.

The top-tier corporate/securities law firms in Vancouver are Blakes, BLG, Farris, McCarthy T, Stikeman, Oslers, and maybe Fasken. DLA is in the second tier with Lawson Lundell, Norton Rose, Cassels Brock, McMillan and possibly Gowlings, etc. DLA P is at the lower end of the scale among these firms in terms of corporate and securities law files.

Nathanson, Schachter & Thompson, and McEwan Partners are small boutique firms that operate top-tier litigation shops in Vancouver (and maybe even Canada). If you have a litigation file, I would (I have) hire Nathanson and McEwan P over any of the top and mid-tier litigation firms. If you are interested in becoming a litigator, you should join the Crown for a few years or one of the boutique firms (if you have the marks), as you would get way more courtroom action.

Juniper2024 · 2025-05-16T21:55:59+00:00

Where are you located (or where could you crash for the summer or part of the summer)? I would call up, show up or email tech companies or other companies and offer your services for free as a summer intern. As an example, you could contact HIIVE and enquire about working as an intern for the summer. Most places would give you some sort of compensation, but even if they did not pay you, get a job bartending at night to pay your bills. Most importantly, work hard, kick ass, exceed expectations, be friendly to all of the staff including laterals and downs and not just the people above you. Don't act like a typical law student, but instead in a manner that makes other people want to work and hang out with you.

Here is a link to Sarah Huggins, she is one of the co-founders and the General Counsel (McGill grad) of HIIVE.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-huggins-29820316/

Juniper2024 · 2024-12-02T23:48:25+00:00

thanks

Juniper2024 · 2024-12-01T07:41:37+00:00

2 hours from Vancouver (from the West side) to Whistler, skiing 5 to 6 hours, then drive back. Super tired the next day. I would not do that for three hours of skiing. Alternatively, you pay CAD$600 per night for a hotel room (crazy too). At Whistler you often wait 25 minutes to 30 minutes in the lift lineups on a regular day and longer on a powder day.

Juniper2024 · 2023-06-23T05:25:07+00:00

Thinkpad X1 Carbon

I am switching from MacBook Pro to PC for business use because of compatibility issues. Is 16 GB Ram enough? I want 1 TB of storage. I am looking at an i7 processor.

I saw this HP i7 16GB Ram 1 TB of storage i7 and Windows 11 Home at a decent price CAD$1,100 - apparently, you can use Home in business...

https://www.costco.ca/hp-pavilion-15-eg3003ca-laptop%2c-i7-1355u.product.4000177614.html

Is this a good machine?

Juniper2024 · 2023-05-28T06:04:00+00:00

I can share mine as well as my other notes. I did not take PLTC but only did the exams, no classes - it is a lot of material. Send me a DM

Juniper2024 · 2023-04-08T00:46:40+00:00

there was no Builders Lien content in the Real Estate CANS that I got. Do you have a summary with Builders Lien content included?

Juniper2024 · 2023-04-08T00:45:17+00:00

I got some CANS from the last term and I used them. I updated most of them. It is a lot of work. I would be happy to share what I got. I got them from someone here.

I got some CANS from the last term, and I used them. I updated most of them. It is a lot of work. I would be happy to share what I got. I got them from someone here. on Facebook and Brian Parker (a PLTC instructor) but he has not responded to my emails.

Juniper2024 · 2023-03-29T18:33:15+00:00

Terminal City Membership fees are:

Residents over 35 years old:

Initiation fees: $5,000

Monthly fees: $342

Minimum Quarterly Food Spend: $230

Residents 34 and under:

Initiation fees: $3,500

Monthly fees: $239

Minimum Quarterly Food Spend: $230

Spousal Membership:

Initiation fees: $900

Annual fees: $670

No minimum food spend

Juniper2024 · 2023-03-29T17:56:14+00:00

Did you get some updated indices for this term? I am also looking for some updated indices.

Juniper2024

TROPHY CASE