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Contact Information
Fauteux Hall
57 Louis Pasteur St
Ottawa, Ontario
K1N 6N5

General Information:
clawgen@uOttawa.ca
Tel.:
(613) 562-5794
Fax:
(613) 562-5124

Admissions:
comlaw@uOttawa.ca
Tel.:
(613) 562-5800 ext.3270
Fax:
(613) 562-5124

Student-Proposed Internships

IMPORTANT!!! A MAXIMUM OF TWO (2) STUDENT-PROPOSED INTERNSHIPS MAY BE COMPLETED BY STUDENTS DURING THEIR LAW SCHOOL CAREER.

 

The second internship will only be approved if you show that you will be learning new skills and competencies in your second internship compared to your first one.  This must be clearly indicated in your proposal.  Please find the new Internship Proposal Form under Application procedures. 

*** Make sure to submit your application well in advance of your internship start date in order for it to be approved before you begin your internship. Your hours will only count towards your 125 hours once your internship has been approved.

Description 

Common Law students have the opportunity to pursue self-proposed internships during their studies at the University of Ottawa.  They allow students to learn in a more practical setting and to explore different legal fields and work environments.  These internships can be done during any academic term after 1st year.  Internships during the summer terms (credits applied in the following fall or winter term) or the January term may be undertaken abroad.

Requirements

Students must complete 125 hours of work.  The work cannot be remunerated as the Faculty cannot give credits for part-time employment.

All students will receive 3 credits upon completion of their internship (graded on a “Satisfactory/Non-Satisfactory” basis).  These credits will be awarded only if:

  1. The supervisor is either a practicing lawyer or someone who has received legal training (holds a J.D. or an LL.B.) who works at the organization or the form in which you will be completing your internship and who is responsible for supervising your work.
  2. The proposal submitted by the student was approved by both the supervisor and the Professional Development Counsellor of the Common Law Section before beginning the internship.
  3. The student has completed 125 hours of unpaid work; the work must be law-related.
  4. The mid-term and final reports submitted by the student have been approved by both the supervisor and the Professional Development Counsellor.  
  5. The student has submitted the Internship Evaluation Form which must be filled out and completed by the internship supervisor.  Both the supervisor and the student must sign and date the Form.
Furthermore, to avoid possible conflicts of interest, internships cannot be undertaken under the supervision of a student’s past, present or future employer.  This means that you cannot do an internship with an organization or firm that has already offered you full-time or part-time work, a summer position or an articling position prior to you applying for the internship.  If you have accepted a job offer from an organization or firm to work part-time during the academic year, or as a summer student or an articling student, you cannot complete your internship there. 

However, if the organization or firm you are doing a Student-Proposed Internship with offers you a job during your internship or after you have completed your internship, that's wonderful!  This is what we support and it is one of the internship program's objectives. 

Application procedures

Students must submit their applications to the Professional Development Counsellor in the Student Services Office (FTX 233).  All forms are available on line or at the Academic Affairs Office (FTX 237).  The package must include these four forms, completed and signed:
  1. Read the Information on Student-Proposed Internships page and the Student-Proposed Internships FAQ page 
  2. The Student-Proposed Internship Registration Form (Pink Form)
  3. Internship Proposal Form 
  4. The Modification of Registration form (add-drop form)
  5. A WSIB Form signed by the student and the student’s proposed supervisor.  This form is mandatory and insures that the Ministry of Education of Ontario is taking the appropriate measures to insure students.  Sections A, B and E as well as C or D of the WSIB form must be completed.
    • Section A: Parties to the Agreement
      • the student’s information;
      • the supervisor’s information;
      • the Faculty’s contact person’s information (see below)
    • Section B: Specific Time at Training Station
      • the duration of the student's internship: from the specific day, month and year to the specific day, month and year;
      • after discussing this with their supervisors, students will write the approximate hours they intend to work during the week;
      • after discussing this with their supervisors, students will write the days they intend to work during the week.
    • Section C: Workplace Safety and Insurance Board Coverage
      • If the placement takes place in Ontario, the supervisor will check the box C-1.
      • C-2 will only be completed after completion of work placement component.
    • Section D: Private Insurance Coverage
      • If the placement takes place outside Ontario, the supervisor will check the box D-1.  D-2 will only be completed after completion of work placement component.
    • Section E: Signatures of Parties to the Agreement
      • After both the supervisor and the student have signed the form, the student will hand in the form in person to the Professional Development Counsellor in order to get the final signature and the copies for both him/her and his/her supervisor.

Once the student’s proposal is reviewed and approved by the Professional Development Counsellor, she will send an email approving the internship to both the supervisor and the student.  The student’s internship will then be officially registered.

Internship Reports

During the internship, the student will have to prepare two reports (each 3 pages double-spaced in length, minimum)* indicating what he or she has actually been doing.  This portion of the reports should tie into the objectives stated in his or her proposal.  The final portion of each report should be a self-assessment of his or her performance.  Although it is the student’s responsibility to draft these reports, the supervisor is free to request changes to them.

The purpose of the reports is to ensure the students receive feedback on their performances, to assist the Faculty in assigning a final grade, and to ensure students are being asked to do pedagogically meaningful legal work.

*NB: If you are doing your internship in the January or in the summer (for a duration of 4 weeks or less) term, you are required to submit a 6-page report at the end of your internship (rather than submit a 3-page mid-term report and a 3-page final report).

Internship Evaluation Form

Your internship supervisor must complete the Internship Evaluation Form and evaluate your performance.  Both you and your supervisor must sign and date the Form.  You must submit this form along with your final report. In order to avoid any confusion, please send documents only once they are duly signed.

Deadlines

To submit internship applications:

  • Fall 2011 Term: September 16, 2011
  • January 2012 Term: December 12, 2011
  • Winter 2012 Term: January 27, 2012
  • Summer 2012 Term: May 14, 2012, (April 16, 2012 for PDC students)
       
To submit reports for the January 2013 Term: 
  • Mid-term report: None 
     
  • Final report: TBD 

Contact Person:

Lorraine Lacroix 
Student Services Program Officer 
Common Law Section, FTX 233
(613) 562-5800 (1491)
lorraine.lacroix@uottawa.ca

 

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For additional information, consult our list of contacts.
Last updated: 2009.12.15