A focus on Stikeman Elliott LLP by Michelle Marchuk
- 2024-2025 Issue
Recruitment is one of the most exciting yet challenging experiences a law student faces. To shed light on what large Bay Street firms look for in their candidates and what a summer program at a big firm looks like, I spoke with Stikeman Elliott’s Student Program Director, Rona Ghanbari, and Avery Chisholm, a 3L student in the English Common Law Program who summered at the firm.
“It is a good idea to apply relatively broadly, because you do not know where you stand as a candidate” as Avery pointed out. While you may limit your scope in terms of type of practice or size of firm, it is good to keep your options open.
“They can get a good sense of
when someone is being real and
authentic with you”-Rona Ghanbari
Their insights underscore that there is no single path to being a successful candidate; firms value diverse strengths, including academic excellence, the ability to get things done, interpersonal skills, analytical thinking, and a genuine interest in the work the firm does. Although the process is stressful, the goal of recruitment is to find a firm where you will be most at home and will be able to grow as a professional, and looking for a firm that meets your unique needs is important.
Your first official interaction with a firm is through your application, and a well crafted cover letter is crucial. As Avery explained, a strong cover letter allows you to craft your narrative and set yourself apart as a candidate. You have the ability to craft your story to showcase your unique skills, and give firms a first glimpse into how you meet their key criteria. Though generally speaking firms tend to look for some version of the key features mentioned, each will have different priorities. When applying to different firms
It is no surprise that having good grades helps a great deal in being a successful candidate during recruitment. “If you have good grades, that always helps things out, but that’s not the end of the story,” Rona shared. She discussed how firms recognize that there are factors that can impact grades, and your application can be bolstered by the value of strengths in other areas. If your grades are not the strongest aspect of your application, there is no need for discouragement.
Though grades are important, they can be somewhat offset by what Rona called “the ability to get things done”, describing this as your ability to juggle school with extracurriculars, a part-time job or even a full-time job for some. She explained that doing multiple things and balancing competing priorities during school shows the firm that you have the ability to manage the workload in the office. Demonstrating your ability to balance law school with other priorities is crucial, as legal practice often involves competing demands.
Interviews are your chance to showcase your interpersonal skills. Rona explained that this is displayed through your “ability to articulate yourself and come off polished and professional during your interview”. While nerves are natural, Rona emphasized the importance of being authentic. “The interviewer may not know you personally but generally they can get a good sense of when someone is being real and authentic with you… it has a tendency to shine through in the interview,” she said. When preparing for interviews, ensure you are being authentic and true to yourself in your answers.
Effectively articulating yourself allows you to showcase your analytical abilities — a key factor firms consider. Displaying your analytical thinking can take shape in many ways as Rona described, giving examples such as explaining a moot you engaged in or a major research paper you did during your undergraduate degree. She emphasized that her biggest piece of advice to candidates is to remember to brag about your achievements, “the biggest mistake that candidates make is not saying enough about their accomplishments or minimizing them”. This is to say you should be able to go into detail about what your accomplishment involved, the research and work you did, the arguments you made, and any other details to show off your analytical abilities. The experience does not have to be legal in nature, and Rona explained that firms expect to train you in how to be a lawyer, but want to see your analytical skills. As Avery pointed out, even non-legal experiences can be framed to highlight the valuable skills you’ve developed.
Beyond academics and skills, firms want to see that a candidate is genuinely interested in their practice. Rona articulated that being a lawyer is a tough job; “it is not easy to ‘leave everything at work’ the way other professions might be able to,.. [and] it has a tendency to pop up at inopportune times so really being interested in what you do is important”. She emphasized the importance of enjoying your work, as long hours or weekend commitments are more sustainable when you’re genuinely invested. She went on to explain that while a business background isn’t required, demonstrating interest in the field is important as firms want their practice area to align with your vision for yourself. So as a candidate it is crucial to reflect on what you want from your legal career to ensure you are happy with your career in the long-term.
“So, really considering what is important to you and what you want your legal practice to look like can be helpful in guiding you to a firm that will fit your needs.”
After the initial interviews, you gain the opportunity to assess the firms, explore the structure of their summer programs, and determine how well your desired legal practice aligns with them. Avery explained that his choice to join Stikeman Elliott was shaped by the firm’s approach to hire-backs, the flexibility of its summer program, and its commitment to mentorship and student development. Specifically, the flexibility in practice areas that Stikeman Elliott allows is what he says really drew him into the firm. So, really considering what is important to you and what you want your legal practice to look like can be helpful in guiding you to a firm that will fit your needs.
Firms vary in their approach to summer programs; some offer rotational schemes, while others let students choose their areas of focus. Stikeman Elliott provides a non-rotational summer program. As Rona described it, they do not place you in a practice group, rather you can try anything and everything that you want to. The firm emphasizes giving students agency in shaping their summer experience. To achieve this, Rona explained that the program begins with a survey covering a wide range of questions, including preferred practice areas, mentorship priorities, and other factors to understand each student’s goals and personalities. This allows students to explore their areas of interest and gain valuable experience to identify what they enjoy and what is not for them.
Historical 2L Class Sizes:
Summer 2023 – 24
Summer 2024 – 23
Summer 2025 – 26
Autonomy,
Workflows, and
Adjustments Made
In discussing his summer, Avery shared that Stikeman Elliott’s program provides students with autonomy to choose the areas they are exposed to. He stated that going in he knew he was not interested in litigation due to previous experience, but aimed to try a bit of everything to see what he enjoyed. Rona explained that if a student comes in knowing what area they really enjoy that is great and they will give the student work specifically in that area but often students come in curious about a wide range of areas. She said that this can help you find not only what you like but what you don’t like, which is also incredibly valuable. The program’s flexibility is highly valuable, as it allows students to explore a variety of practice areas and tailor their experience to their interests. However, some students may prefer the structure and predictability of a rotational program, where they are assigned to specific practice groups and gain focused exposure to particular areas over a set period.
Due to the nature of the program, the workload can vary depending on the practice area. Rona explained that at times there can be a lot of variation in workload from week to week and that depends in part on the area you are working in. She said that there may be weeks that are really busy with long hours prior to a deal going through, while other weeks may be more relaxed and feel like a 9-5. When considering areas of interest, it’s important to think about the type of schedule that both suits you and is sustainable. As Avery noted, workflows can vary significantly by practice area. For instance, litigation tends to involve a steadier pace, while areas like corporate securities may feature sprints of working a lot for a while then having a bit of time to relax and recuperate.
Adjusting to working at a firm can be somewhat difficult due to the unpredictable workload and changing schedule. Rona points out that there is a bit of a learning curve because “as law students we are often very routine oriented,… but in practice it might feel like your routine is falling apart at times”. She says that while this may be scary, it is normal, and everyone goes through some version of this and has times of uncertainty and feeling like they do not know what they are doing.
Avery also pointed out that in practice, “you have a significant amount of autonomy that you don’t necessarily have in law school as you don’t have the structured blocks of classes or tutorials.” You must be able to allocate your time accordingly to meet deadlines, and while this is not incredibly challenging, it is something to be mindful of.
Mentorship is an invaluable tool for young lawyers entering the field as the feedback and guidance can help you to shape your career. Rona explained that Stikeman Elliott’s mentorship program pairs you with five different mentors in the firm; a partner mentor, a senior associate, a mid-level associate and two buddy mentors which are closest to your stage which could be a first-year or second year associate. They try to ensure that your mentors are in the different practice groups you showed interest in during the survey, allowing you to gain valuable insight and experience in the various areas.
However, it is important to recognize that taking initiative and actively seeking help when you need it is important. Both individuals I interviewed spoke to the value of the mentorship program not only with regard to learning but for the sense of community it helps to facilitate.
While it may seem daunting, putting yourself out there and building connections is essential for your professional growth. Rona suggested that during the quieter periods students should try to be present in the office making connections with the other associates and use every opportunity to learn from them when they can. The connections you make during your summer will last the rest of your career and you gain from the experience what you put into it. There will be challenges and growing pains, but you have the skills necessary to excel and a community of support. There are always going to be challenges so it is important to know that the people you work with are there to support you and help you grow in your career if you are willing to receive the help.
Recruitment in Big Law is a complex and often overwhelming process, but it is also an opportunity for personal and professional discovery. Drawing on insights from Stikeman Elliott’s Student Program Director, Rona Ghanbari, and 3L Avery Chisholm, I have been able to highlight some of the key elements of what firms value, how students can navigate the process, and what to expect from a summer at a leading Bay Street firm. Beyond securing a position, the recruit is about finding a firm where you can thrive and grow. Above all, authenticity is paramount. If you take one thing away, it should be to be yourself. Trying to fit into a version of what you think a firm wants may get you in the door, but it might not lead to a career that fits your needs. The right firm will value your strengths and invest in your success. The challenges are real, but so are the opportunities for growth—if you’re willing to embrace them.
STIKEMAN ELLIOTT LLP
Toronto
Interviewee Profile
Rona Ghanbari
Director, Student Programs; Knowledge Management Lawyer, AI & Technology
Avery Chislom
3L Student, University of Ottawa
Stikeman Elliott is a global leader in Canadian business law, offering creative solutions to clients across Canada and around the world. The firm provides the highest quality counsel, decisive advice, and workable solutions through offices located in Montréal, Toronto, Ottawa, Calgary, Vancouver, New York, and London.
When Heward Stikeman and Fraser Elliott first opened the firm’s doors in 1952, they were united in their pledge to do things differently to help clients meet their Canadian business objectives. They made it their mission to deliver only the highest quality counsel and most efficient services.
Leading Practice Areas (Chambers Canada)
Mergers & Acquisitions
Capital Markets
Banking & Lending
Restructuring & Insolvency