Law Student Volunteer

About Side Door Law Side Door Law is a virtual, flat fee legal practice serving British Columbia and Ontario, with family and immigration law at our core and six more practice areas alongside them. We set our prices up front, so clients always know the cost before we begin. Our model is deliberate. Revenue from our flat fee and corporate work helps fund sliding scale and pro bono services, which means every paying client helps keep the door open for someone who could not otherwise afford a lawyer. That is the idea behind our name: when the front door is closed, we are the side door. Please read this first: this is not an open articling position We want to be completely honest with you from the very first line, because that honesty is the whole reason this posting exists. This is not an open articling position. We are not able to hire an articling student today. We are inviting you to join a roster so that we can contact you the moment we can. In both British Columbia and Ontario, an articling student must be supervised by a qualified principal. We will only open articling positions once we have volunteer lawyers who are qualified and willing to serve as articling principals. Until that is in place, we cannot responsibly take on an articled student, and we would rather say so plainly than post a role we cannot yet deliver. Why we are posting now Training and hiring articling students is one of our long term goals, and we are building toward it in earnest. We are opening this roster today so that the moment supervision is in place, we can move quickly. The people who believed in this early are the first ones we will call. Who should join the roster This is for you if you are a future or current articling candidate who wants a mission driven start. In particular, we would love to hear from: People who want to article with an access to justice focused practice. People comfortable with remote work across British Columbia or Ontario. People interested in family law, immigration, or general practice at a flat fee firm. What joining means Joining is simple and low pressure. Here is exactly what it does and does not mean: You are added to our articling roster and contacted first when a supervised position opens. There is no obligation on either side, and no fixed timeline we can promise yet. We will keep you honestly informed about where things stand, good news or not. Are you a lawyer who could supervise? The fastest way to turn coming soon into open is more qualified principals. If you are a lawyer in British Columbia or Ontario who could supervise an articling student, please take a look at our Volunteer Lawyer posting. Every principal who steps forward brings a real articling seat closer to reality, and helps us keep our promise to everyone on this roster.

About Side Door Law Side Door Law is a virtual, flat fee legal practice serving British Columbia and Ontario, with family and immigration law at our core and six more practice areas alongside them. We set our prices up front, so clients always know the cost before we begin. Our model is deliberate. Revenue from our flat fee and corporate work helps fund sliding scale and pro bono services, which means every paying client helps keep the door open for someone who could not otherwise afford a lawyer. That is the idea behind our name: when the front door is closed, we are the side door. About this role This is an unpaid volunteer opportunity. We want to be upfront about that from the start. What we offer instead is work that matters, on your own terms, alongside people who care about the same thing you do: making good legal help reachable for those who have been shut out of it. We are looking for lawyers who are licensed and in good standing in British Columbia or Ontario. The role is fully remote, so you can contribute from anywhere in either province. You choose the files you take and the schedule that fits your life, whether that is one matter a quarter or a steady handful. What you would do Take on structured pro bono or flat fee files within your practice area, with clear scope and support behind them. Serve clients remotely on a caseload you help shape, so the work stays aligned with your strengths and your availability. Optionally mentor an internationally trained (NCA) candidate or law student on your files, passing on your judgement and helping build the next wave of access to justice lawyers. What you receive Meaningful work that directly helps people who could not otherwise afford a lawyer. A documented record of your volunteer hours, which you may self report toward continuing professional development where your law society allows it. The flexibility to contribute as much or as little as your practice permits, with no pressure to commit beyond what feels right. A warm, collegial community of lawyers, NCA candidates, and students who are genuinely glad to have you. Who this suits This role is a natural fit for lawyers who want to give back without giving up control of their time. Maybe you are between roles and want your skills to stay sharp and useful. Maybe you are semi retired and looking for work that still means something. Or maybe you simply want your experience to reach further than a single practice can carry it. Wherever you are, there is a place here for you. How to apply We accept volunteers on a rolling basis, so there is no deadline to worry about. When you reach out, tell us your practice area and a little about what draws you to this work. We read every note, and we would love to hear yours.

About Side Door Law Side Door Law is a virtual, flat fee legal practice serving British Columbia and Ontario, with family and immigration law at our core and six more practice areas alongside them. We set our prices up front, so clients always know the cost before we begin. Our model is deliberate. Revenue from our flat fee and corporate work helps fund sliding scale and pro bono services, which means every paying client helps keep the door open for someone who could not otherwise afford a lawyer. That is the idea behind our name: when the front door is closed, we are the side door. Please read this first We want to be completely honest with you before you read any further. This is an unpaid, volunteer placement. It is not an accredited articling position, and it does not fulfill your articling requirements. We are not able to sign you off as your principal. What it is, plainly, is a genuine chance to build real, supervised Canadian legal experience while you work through the NCA path. If that is what you are looking for right now, please keep reading. If you need a paid or accredited role, we completely understand, and we wish you the very best in your search. About this placement This placement is designed for internationally trained lawyers working through the National Committee on Accreditation (NCA) process. It is fully remote, and open to candidates based in British Columbia or Ontario. You do not need to be far along in your NCA journey to apply. Wherever you are in the process, we would love to hear from you. What you would do You would work alongside our team on real Canadian client files, always under the supervision of a licensed lawyer. It is hands on, and it is meant to help you understand how a Canadian practice actually runs, day to day. Support live client matters under the guidance of a licensed lawyer. Gain exposure across several practice areas, including family and immigration. Draft documents and carry out legal research on genuine files. Join team discussions and see how decisions get made in a working practice. What you would receive We remember what this stage of the journey feels like, and we built this placement to give something back. Mentorship from a lawyer who completed the NCA path themselves and remembers exactly what it takes. Practical, supervised Canadian experience you can speak to with confidence in interviews and articling applications. A documented record of your volunteer hours. A welcoming community of lawyers, candidates, and students who genuinely want you to succeed. Who this suits This placement is a strong fit for NCA candidates who want supervised, hands on exposure to Canadian practice while completing their requirements. If you care about access to justice and you are ready to learn, you will feel at home here. How to apply We accept applications on a rolling basis, so there is no deadline to worry about. Please apply even if you are early in your NCA journey. We would rather hear from you sooner and grow with you than have you wait.