Edward Johnston, Partner, Toronto
I think it's no exaggeration to say that mentorship is the single greatest reason why I've been
at Gowling WLG since I started as a summer student.
I've been tremendously fortunate to have people who legitimately care about me, care about
my development and will stand up for me in situations where I've needed them to do that.
That's something that I feel, because it's propelled me forward, I feel it's my obligation
to try to do what I can as a mentor for mentees who are coming into the firm and who are coming
into what can be an intimidating work environment.
Emily Hayes, Summer Student, Toronto
In terms of my experience with the mentorship program I have absolutely nothing negative
to say about it.
I've had a really wonderful experience with my mentor.
I go to her all the time and I ask her a million questions and she never gets sick of me or
tells me to go away or closes her door.
She always puts down her work and makes me feel like my questions are important and my
time is important.
Which I've really appreciated.
Aaron, Goldstein, Articling Student, Hamilton
Not only does Gowling WLG give you a lot of opportunity as a summer student to tackle
things that I don't think you would get the opportunity to do at other firms but they're
willing, also, to provide a lot of guidance when they're giving you these tasks.
You weren't just thrown to the wolves.
You're actually guided along the way so it made me feel very comfortable with the firm.
It made it a place that I really wanted to come back to in the future.
Angelica Wilamowicz, Summer Student, Toronto
Gowling WLG supported my ongoing learning development.
First, I think, through the formal training that they provide when you get here.
It's training unlike anything else I've ever experienced.
From how to use the phone, to how to interact with lawyers, to how to work on very specific
tasks.
But also, once you get out and have some opportunity to do work on files, every lawyer is very
attentive to giving you instructions to help you succeed and also making it very clear
that they're available for questions.
Natasha Carew, Associate, Toronto
Each student has a mentor and every year, about halfway through the articling terms,
the mentors will start emailing around to each other saying, "My student has not been
to a mediation yet."
or, "My student hasn't been in court yet."
or, "My student has not been to a discovery yet.
Can anybody bring them along so they can have this opportunity before the end of the term?"
Harvey Lim, Summer Student, Toronto
What I got out of the Mentorship Program was a lot of practical tips.
One of the small claims files that I had went to trial.
I spent a lot of time with my mentor sitting down with him and going over the file.
Just running questions with him, cross examination, practicing my opening statement, my closing
arguments.
I thought that, with the mentorship, I got a lot of practical tips.
Jennifer Bowser, Summer Student, Toronto
Most law firms offer mentorship programs, and so, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a
bit skeptical about what that actually looked like in practice.
But my mentor made herself extremely available to me.
I can think of one specific instance where a partner had given me work, and at the time
I thought I understood what I had to do, and then getting back to my office quickly realized
that I wasn't entirely sure where to even begin.
I called my mentor and she came down to my desk and she brought me examples of what she
had previously done and she spent a solid hour with me just going through, step by step,
what I should do and I was so impressed that someone would make, someone who is so busy
themselves, would make themselves so available to me.
Chris Hummel, Summer Student, Toronto
The Gowling WLG Mentorship Program was great for me.
I had an especially good mentor who was really generous with her time and her feedback and
gave me useful advice.
Not just for specific things with legal work but also for my role within the group, within
the firm, bigger picture career advice, even life advice.
Yeah, she was a really great help to me through this whole process.