Public service experience

Each year, we recruit students to complete our exceptional 12-month articling program. We may also recruit one court student to complete their article with us.

This unique program provides you with an opportunity to gain comprehensive and rewarding public service experience as well as considerable courtroom experience.

The articling experience

We offer 2 distinct streams of articles:

  1. Alberta Crown Prosecution Service (ACPS) regional-focused positions.
  2. Combined ACPS and Legal Services positions in Edmonton or Calgary.

ACPS Regional-focused positions

Prosecutions-focused articles that offer significant courtroom and file experience as a Crown prosecutor while working in a smaller regional office. You may be able to complete a portion of your article in a private firm for a period of up to 2 months. Where possible, you may also remotely assist ACPS appellate counsel.

The majority of our articling positions will be placed in one of 13 regional ACPS offices:

  • Calgary Rural and Regional Response Office
  • Edmonton Rural and Regional Response Office
  • Fort McMurray
  • Fort Saskatchewan
  • Grande Prairie
  • Hinton
  • Lethbridge
  • Medicine Hat
  • Peace River
  • Red Deer
  • Slave Lake
  • St. Paul
  • Wetaskiwin

Combined ACPS and Legal Services positions – Edmonton, Calgary

A combined criminal / civil law article in either Edmonton or Calgary consisting of rotations in the following core practice areas.

Alberta Crown Prosecution Service (ACPS)

You conduct summary conviction prosecutions, primarily in Traffic Court and Provincial Court.

You also help senior Crown prosecutors prepare for trials involving indictable offences.

ACPS, Appeals

You help prepare appeals, including:

  • legal research
  • drafting factums and memoranda

Civil Litigation

You gain exposure to all aspects of civil litigation involving the Crown, including:

  • drafting pleadings and other court documents
  • preparing for and attending chambers applications
  • questioning
  • preparing legal opinions

Family and Surrogate Court Litigation

You appear in court and participate in alternative and judicial dispute resolution on matters relating to:

  • trusteeship
  • estate administration
  • settlements for minors
  • child protection
  • maintenance enforcement

Legal Services, Solicitors or Combined – Edmonton only

You help deliver advice to Alberta government ministries on a variety of matters, including:

  • corporate / commercial transactions
  • information and privacy
  • statutory interpretation
  • governance
  • regulatory compliance

You may work with a specialized team that provides solicitor services and conducts unique litigation.

Optional rotations

You are also allotted time for an optional rotation where you choose an area that may be unique to government and our practice such as:

  • constitutional and Aboriginal law
  • court services
  • energy law
  • environmental law
  • health law
  • Justice and Solicitor General legal team
  • human rights
  • labour and employment law
  • legislative counsel (drafting)
  • municipal law
  • regional prosecutions
  • specialized prosecutions

Locations of combined positions

Most positions will be in the Edmonton or Regional areas. Please note that articling positions in Calgary are very limited.

Mentorship and supervision

Along with informal guidance, you will benefit from mentorship and supervision provided by:

  • a primary principal
  • surrogate principals in each rotation – if in the combined article
  • articling program coordinators

Time for PREP

We are aware of the new Practice Readiness Education Program (PREP) offered by the Canadian Centre for Professional Legal Education. We will provide our students with time away from day-to-day articling responsibilities to complete the PREP requirements.

Future legal career

Not only do you receive an excellent articling experience, we hire you with a view to long-term team building – we have a solid history of retaining our articling students.

Our ministry has one of Canada’s biggest and most diverse law groups. Your opportunities for an exciting legal career with Justice and Solicitor General are exceptional.

Apply

Attention: 2nd Year Law Students
2021-2022 Student-at-Law Program
Salary: $51,894.64
Closing date: May 19, 2020

We are hiring up to 20 articling students divided between Edmonton, Calgary and a number of Alberta Crown Prosecution Service (ACPS) Regional offices. We may also accommodate one Court student for the completion of articles.

First interviews will be in Edmonton and Calgary on June 1 and 2, 2020. Second interviews will be on June 4 and 5, 2020. We will be evaluating in May whether interviews will be held in person or via teleconference.

Candidates who are selected for interviews will be asked to rank, in order of preference, the office location(s) where they would be prepared to work.

Successful candidates demonstrate academic excellence, superior advocacy skills, and eligibility to article in Alberta for the 2021-2022 articling year. Previous government experience is an asset.

Final candidates undergo a security screening.

Due to the large volume of applicants, we cannot confirm that our office has received resumes. Applicants who apply online will receive an email acknowledging receipt of their application.

We thank all candidates for their interest, though only individuals selected for interviews will be contacted.

Required documents

Applications submitted without all of the following documents will not be considered, with no exceptions.

  1. Your academic transcripts for undergraduate / pre-law and law school grades.
    1. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable though photocopies of official transcripts will be requested in the interview.
    2. For foreign law schools, we recommend you provide grade equivalency information from your academic institution. Your application may not be considered if academic excellence cannot be assessed based on information you provide.
  2. A one-page cover letter (no less than 12 pt font) including:
    1. Statement of candidate’s interest in articling with Alberta Justice and Solicitor General.
    2. Preferred work locations (Regional office, Edmonton or Calgary). If applying for a regional office, state which regional office location.
  3. Your resume.

Apply online

Website: viLawPortal
Competition number: 1056752
Closing date: May 19, 2020

Only one document can be uploaded, so your cover letter, transcripts and resume must be submitted as one.

If you are unable to apply online, apply by mail or email.

Apply by mail or email

Competition number: 1056752
Closing date: May 19, 2020

If you cannot apply online, submit your cover letter, transcripts and resume to:

Amy Fernandes, Workforce Planning
3rd Floor, Bowker Building
9833 109 Street NW
Edmonton, Alberta  T5K 2E8

Phone: 780-643-0889
Email: amy.fernandes@gov.ab.ca

Contact

For questions regarding our articling program, contact one of our articling program coordinators:

Ivanna Perozak (ACPS)
Email: ivanna.perozak@gov.ab.ca

Rob Beck (ACPS)
Email: rob.beck@gov.ab.ca

Jodie Hierlmeier (Legal Services)
Email: jodie.hierlmeier@gov.ab.ca