The Articling Program
We use the articling year to introduce students to the practice of intellectual property law. Our articling students are exposed to each of our main areas of practice. At the same time, our program is flexible enough to allow each student to concentrate on his or her own areas of particular interest. Our students often have academic or practical backgrounds that render them well suited to practice in a specific area, such as computer software or biotechnology.
For some areas of our practice, an undergraduate or graduate degree in a scientific discipline is important. At the same time, more than half of the firm's work is in areas for which a scientific background is not required. Since in some areas of our practice a technical background is important and in others it is not needed, it is the policy of the firm to hire both technically trained and non-technically trained professionals.
The articling experience develops practical professional skills in problem recognition, creative problem solving, communications and drafting. We assume that our students are fully capable of managing a significant degree of responsibility, and we ensure that our students have direct client contact from the outset.
Each student is formally assigned to a principal, who provides him or her with guidance and information, and who works with other professionals in the firm to regulate and monitor the student's workload, provide constructive feedback, and ensure that the student is exposed to the required elements of the Law Society Approved Articling Plan. During the course of the articling year the Student Committee will also have discussions with the student regarding his or her progress.
Students will receive work assignments from various lawyers throughout the firm. The assigning lawyer is responsible for advising and supervising the student on his or her work and providing feedback. Our students are encouraged to ask questions and to discuss work in progress with the assigning lawyer and other professionals in the firm such as their principal. We assign two types of work to our students: client work and special project work. Client work involves dealing with specific issues that arise in the context of client files. Special projects may involve research for papers to be presented by firm members, the preparation of reports or summaries on important subjects or developments, or internal case reporting.
We expect our students to take initiative, and through open communication with their principals and the Student Committee, to help us to structure an individual program that will accurately reflect their individual interests and allow them to capitalize on their background and experience. We believe in balance and encourage our students and lawyers to lead a life that is well rounded and multidimensional. It is our belief that life is about more than the practice of law. We encourage our professionals to pursue other interests outside of their work with Bereskin & Parr. We expect our students to assume a reasonable amount of responsibility and to work productively and efficiently. While there are naturally times during which additional hours are required in order to ensure the timely and satisfactory performance of assigned tasks, those are more the exception than the rule, and we do not expect our students to work nights and weekends on a regular basis.
The Firm
Bereskin & Parr is a leader in intellectual property law. We are Toronto's largest IP law firm, with an international reputation for our specialized expertise in the area. Our practice involves the protection of inventions, technology, business information and methods, trade marks, industrial designs, copyright, trade secrets and related areas of information technology and protection. We act for a wide range of clients in well established traditional industries such as pharmaceuticals, electronics, packaged goods and manufacturing, and in highly specialized fast moving industries such as entertainment, biotechnology, advertising and e-commerce. The firm handles both domestic and foreign work. On the international side, we manage matters for foreign clients with business concerns in Canada, and intellectual property matters for our Canadian clients doing business abroad.
Educational Programs
We place a high priority on professional training and continuing legal education. The articling experience is supplemented by our firm designed in-house educational program, which covers a comprehensive range of intellectual property law subjects and issues.
Internal programs designed specifically for students include a series of luncheon seminars presented by various lawyers in the firm on subjects that relate to their areas of expertise. Students are also encouraged to attend regular practice group meetings, which are structured around the issues specific to practice areas and the firm's monthly meetings, which include presentations and the review of intellectual property law developments from the preceding month. In addition, the firm conducts a series of seminars on trade mark law and patent law designed for the purposes of educating lawyers, patent and trade mark agents and students.
Social and Recreational Activities
The firm provides many opportunities for informal interaction through its social and recreational programs and activities including golf, curling, bowling, ultimate frisbee, baseball and our regular Thursday evening social. Our students and associates often get together for informal social outings.
Facilities
Our firm is located in modern, attractive offices in Scotia Plaza, at King and Bay Streets in downtown Toronto.
The firm's facilities include a large library that contains an extensive collection of books, periodicals and case reports, making it one of the most complete libraries in the country in the field of intellectual property law. The library is fully equipped for computer research. We use the latest in computer technology and personal computers are available to each lawyer and each student. Students are provided with an office and shared secretarial assistance.
Compensation and Benefits
Bereskin & Parr offers students a salary and comprehensive benefits comparable to those of other top-tier Toronto law firms. Articling students are paid their salary while attending the bar admission course and a fitness membership subsidy.
Hireback Policy
The firm's growth has been continuous since its inception. In today's business world intellectual property is very much a growth area. We plan and fully anticipate continuing steady growth over the years ahead.
Prospects for advancement and long term career development with Bereskin & Parr are excellent. We believe in growth through internal development. It is our policy to select the firm's new professionals from among our articling students. We hire students with a view to selecting future associates.
For some areas of our practice, an undergraduate or graduate degree in a scientific discipline is important. At the same time, more than half of the firm's work is in areas for which a scientific background is not required. As mentioned, since in some areas of our practice a technical background is important and in others it is not needed, it is the policy of the firm to hire both technically trained and non-technically trained professionals.
Hireback decisions are based on the suitability of the student to the firm and the quality of the work performed.
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