Articling and Summer Students

The talent and fresh perspectives of Bishop & McKenzie students fascinate and inspire us.  Bishop & McKenzie LLP Edmonton office is seeking applicants for a 2026 Summer Student position.  At Bishop & McKenzie, we look to hire students who are dedicated to their work and are keen to expand on what they are learning about in law school. We look for individuals who exhibit a high level of excellence, diligence, respect, and effort.

Ultimately, we look for students who we see with potential as a long-term part of our firm.
Students will be assigned a mentor lawyer for the duration of their summer employment, who will serve to offer ongoing support and ensure workflow. Summer students can expect to receive a wide variety of work from all areas of practice at Bishop & McKenzie. Some of these tasks may include attending client meetings, observing questionings, drafting court documents, and conducting research.

We look forward to reviewing your application and are eager to learn more about you!
Applications can be submitted starting Wednesday January 21, 2026 through viLawPortal. Applications will close on Wednesday, January 28, 2026. Applications should include cover letter, resume, post-secondary transcripts, mid-term marks (if available) and potential references.
Inquiries relating to applications can be submitted to Rachelle Alyward at
We would like to thank all applicants: however only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
Here are the questions we most frequently receive regarding articling at Bishop & McKenzie. If you have a question that you don’t see answered on this page, please get in touch.
How many students do you hire?  We usually hire two students each year.
What benefits are included?  We provide:
Dental, extended medical, life insurance and maternity benefits
Fees for Bar Admission courses, articling admission, Canadian Bar Association and local Bar Association memberships
What is your hire-back ratio?  We hire two students and expect that both students will remain with the firm as associates. Our retention rate for students is very high.
Does the firm give days off for CPLED?  Our policy is to allow our students to manage their own time for CPLED, and to give it as much time and attention as they need. Having a set CPLED day can cause problems if the student is busy on that day. We think our students should manage their CPLED assignments as they would any other file and take the time that they need to complete their assignments.

The firm takes our student’s CPLED studies seriously and wants to give our students all the support they need to complete their assignments.
Does your firm dosecond interviews as part of the interview process?  We will often invite strong candidates for at least a second meeting of some sort. This second meeting can take the form of a second informal interview with different members of our firm, a luncheon or dinner with a group of candidates or a reception at our offices. We strive to tailor our second interview process to suit the strong candidate’s availability.

The second meeting is in a more relaxed, social atmosphere.
Do you have billable hour expectations for students?  While we expect our students to keep track of their time (as this is an important skill to learn) we do not have billable hour expectations for our students.
Student Experience   There is no formal rotation over the summer. Instead, students tackle a variety of work and assignments from all areas of our practice. This is a great way to see what articling for the firm is like. We invite our students to attend legal proceedings and client meetings. When you’re a summer student at Bishop & McKenzie, you’ll gain valuable experience in advocacy and client relations.
Evaluation   At the end of your summer experience at Bishop & McKenzie, we’ll provide you with a formal evaluation. However, throughout your time here, you’ll receive ongoing feedback from the lawyers mentoring you.
What are your future goals? How will you get there? Bishop & McKenzie summer students work under an assigned mentor and meet throughout the term to discuss their paths to success.
Social Activities   As part of experiencing the firm atmosphere, we invite our summer students to our firm’s formal and informal functions. Summer students also assist the articling students in planning our Summer Party, a family friendly event for staff and lawyers.

Salary and Benefits   Bishop & McKenzie summer students receive a compensation package competitive with other mid-sized Edmonton firms.

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