What a law clerk does
A law clerk handles much of the substantive support work on a lawyer's files. Depending on the practice area, that can mean drafting pleadings and affidavits, preparing corporate resolutions and minute books, assembling estate documents, tracking limitation periods and court dates, and corresponding with clients and opposing counsel. Law clerks work under a lawyer's supervision, and an experienced clerk lets lawyers focus on advice and advocacy while files keep moving.
In Ontario, law clerks are not licensed by the Law Society, so experience and practice-area knowledge are what set candidates apart. Some hold certification through the Institute of Law Clerks of Ontario, which shows a commitment to the profession. Finch screens for the specific files and procedures a candidate has handled, the software they know and how independently they work, so the clerks you interview can take on your files with minimal retraining.
Typical responsibilities
- Draft pleadings, affidavits, motion records, agreements and correspondence for lawyer review
- Maintain files, tickler systems, limitation periods and court or filing deadlines
- Prepare and file documents with courts, government registries and other bodies
- Communicate with clients, opposing counsel and court staff on routine matters
- Organize disclosure, productions and briefs
- Docket time and support billing processes
Qualifications and credentials
- A law clerk diploma from an Ontario college program, or equivalent experience
- Experience in the relevant practice area, such as civil litigation, corporate, real estate, family or estates
- Knowledge of the Ontario court rules and procedures that apply to the practice area
- Certification through the Institute of Law Clerks of Ontario (ILCO) is an asset for some firms
- Proficiency with legal practice management, document and accounting software
Who hires a law clerk
- Full-service and boutique law firms
- Sole practitioners and small firms
- In-house legal departments at corporations
- Municipalities and public sector organizations
- Insurance companies with internal claims or litigation teams
Where we recruit law clerk candidates
We fill law clerk roles for employers across Toronto and the GTA, including North York, Scarborough, Etobicoke, Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill, Mississauga, Brampton, Oakville, Burlington, Oshawa and Pickering, and for employers across Canada. GTA employers can meet us at our North York office by appointment.
What Finch checks before you meet a candidate
- Practice-area experience and the types of files they have managed
- Drafting accuracy, reviewed through work samples or a short exercise when appropriate
- Familiarity with the court, e-filing and registry procedures your files involve
- How independently they manage deadlines and how they have handled a near miss
- Reliability and discretion, confirmed with supervising lawyers through references
Interview questions to ask
- Describe how you track limitation periods and court deadlines across a full caseload.
- Which documents in our practice area can you draft from start to finish with minimal instruction?
- Tell me about a time you caught an error before it reached the client or the court.