Summer Associates at Toronto Firm Blog About their Experience

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Summer Associates at Toronto Firm Blog About their Experience

Posted Jun 23, 2008, 06:54 am CDT
By Debra Cassens Weiss

Life as a summer associate may include editing footnotes, juggling multiple due dates, writing memos and, at least at one Toronto law firm, recording your experiences on a blog.

Summer associates at Cassels Brock & Blackwell express their nervousness and the lessons they are learning on a daily basis on the blog, called Cassels Brock and Blogwell. Here’s one humorous post from an associate known as Craig P. who was asked to research the legal issues surrounding a client’s new business idea:

“I accept the assignment, and he tells me that if I fail, he will disavow any knowledge of my actions, which I thought was a tad odd. The unfortunate thing for him is that he didn't give me a page limit (as is often the case in the real world). Eleven pages plus appendices later, I am done. Not only have I explored and (hopefully) addressed the legal issues, but I also have a full-fledge business plan compiled. When I presented it to him, using hand gestures and talking, he tells me that I had done a very ‘thorough’ job. I'm still working on my honing skills, and I think I will be for a little while longer. But as Alanis once said, ‘You live, you learn.’ God I miss her so much. Come back, please.”

At least the summer associate can go home and listen to a new CD to relieve the pressures of law firm life.

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