Black@Blakes Internship
The Black@Blakes Internship continues our mission to promote diversity and inclusion in the legal profession and contribute to the long-term career success of Black legal professionals. This internship will make law school more financially accessible for Black-identifying law students who are members of the Black Law Students’ Association of Canada (BLSA Canada) or a BLSA chapter at a Canadian law school.
This internship recognizes and seeks to help remedy the long-standing inequities and barriers Black-identifying students face in accessing and completing a law school program. This is accomplished by reducing the financial hardship of pursuing a legal education, while at the same time providing the students with access to a law firm environment and mentorship from legal professionals within the Firm.
The internship will be awarded to two Black-identifying students in their second year of a J.D. program or third year of a combined program at a Canadian law school.
The internship will commence in the fall and run for approximately four months. We expect that the program will be done as a hybrid between remote work and some in person, consistent with current policies at Blakes.
The Black@Blakes Internship includes:
- A welcome reception
- A personalized firm tour
- Job-shadowing opportunities
- An opportunity to work on different initiatives at the firm such as:
- Diversity-related initiatives
- Pro bono matters
- Other projects that give further insight into the practice of law in a business context (marketing, research, etc.)
- Training to develop recruitment and interviewing skills (including résumé review and interview-prep coaching)
- Various professional development programs at the Firm
The time commitment is flexible around school and other personal obligations as this is intended to help support students in their success at law school. The intention is that students will not be required to do more than one business day/eight hours per month.
The total value of the internship is C$5,000 for each student. The Firm will also cover the cost for students to attend the BLSA Canada Annual Conference.
To be eligible for the internship, you must be:
- A member of BLSA Canada or a BLSA chapter at a Canadian law school
- A second-year J.D. student, in the third year of a combined four-year program
- or an international student completing an LL.M. at a Canadian law school, in good standing
You must also submit an application that includes:
- A résumé
- Undergraduate transcripts
- Law school transcripts
- A 500-word statement outlining why you are interested and what you hope to gain from participating in the internship program
How to Apply:
Please submit your application directly to our online portal by clicking submit application. Applications should be submitted no later than May 13, 2024. Applications can be addressed to Kyle Elliott, Counsel, Diversity & Inclusion.
Who We Are
At Blakes, we care about our people. We are committed to providing exceptional experiences for not only our clients but also our employees. As a winner of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers and Greater Toronto’s Top Employers awards, we understand the importance of fostering an inclusive workplace environment that brings out the best in each person. Our success as a firm starts with the hiring and retaining top talent and then helping them succeed/thrive.
Blakes welcomes applications from all qualified applicants. The Firm is committed to maintaining an inclusive work environment composed of people with diverse perspectives, backgrounds, identities and cultures.
The Firm provides accommodation for applicants with disabilities and in respect of other protected grounds during the recruitment process in accordance with applicable laws. Please contact us to request accommodation.
All applications will be reviewed by a Selection Committee comprised of representatives from Black@Blakes and the Firm’s Diversity and Inclusion and Professional Resources teams. Only successful candidates will be contacted for an interview.