The Program

Duncan Craig LLP has a unique and fulfilling articling student program that has been developed by our Articling Committee and evolved and improved by our students each year. Students are treated as important members of the firm and are supported and encouraged throughout the articling year to help them develop into confident and capable lawyers.

The program consists of a formal rotation in the litigation and solicitors practice areas. These rotations are accompanied by a relocation of the student’s office within the firm. This gives our students not only the benefit of working in different areas, but also having a better understanding of the day to day experience of the lawyers in each practice group. Students can expect to do legal research and writing, draft correspondence and other documents, and attend at various meetings, transaction closings, court applications and questionings.

Students will also be on a rotating schedule for chambers applications and document filing at the law courts. This is intended to provide the students with additional comfort and familiarity with the experience of attending and speaking in court.

Throughout the articling year, students will receive two reviews with the Articling Committee during which they will receive feedback from the partners on their work and can discuss their own experience with their articling year.

Students can also participate in the firm’s various social events which give students an opportunity to meet the partners, associates and staff in a more casual setting.

Hireback Policy

Duncan Craig LLP hires their students with the intention that they will be kept on as associates and eventually become partners at our firm. We do not have a set number of students that we hire each year, though generally it has been between two and three.

Duncan Craig LLP also does not have a set number of associates they hire each year, it depends entirely on the “fit” of the student with the firm and the availability of work in any particular practice area.

Other Benefits of Articling at Duncan Craig LLP

PREP Day

We give each of our students going through the PREP Program a full day off each week where the student is encouraged to dedicate the day to working on their PREP assignments from home.

Principals

In accordance with the Rules of the Law Society of Alberta, each student will also be matched with a principal. The Articling Committee spends a significant amount of time pairing each new articling student with a principal that they feel will have the time, energy and the right personality to be able to assist and support the student. Students and principals are encouraged to meet regularly to discuss the student’s workload, experiences and any questions or issues that may arise.

Salary and Benefits

Duncan Craig LLP provides competitive salary and health benefits to all articling students.

Jimmy Lam

Jimmy obtained his Bachelor of Commerce and Master of Business Administration at the University of Alberta. He completed his Juris Doctor in 2022. He volunteered with the Student Legal Services and Pro Bono Students Canada during his time in law school. Jimmy was born and raised in Edmonton and proudly put himself through post secondary. His newest hobby is learning to play golf.

Ryan Shearer

Ryan obtained his Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Alberta and completed his Juris Doctor in 2022. As a local farm boy from Spruce grove who proudly put himself through school, Ryan enjoys hockey, snowboarding, motorcycles, water-skiing and bouldering - rock climbing stripped down to its raw essentials leaving behind ropes and harnesses.

Etomilade Oduola

Etomilade is a law graduate of of Obafemi Awolowo University and obtained his LLM from University of Lagos, Nigeria and a Certificate in leadership from London Business School. As a practicing lawyer in Nigeria for 14 years and now living in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, Etomilade obtained a Certificate of Qualification from the National Committee on Accreditation of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada. He holds accreditation and membership with the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), the Nigerian Bar Association, and the Association of Corporate Trustees, Nigeria. In his free time, Etomilade likes volunteering, travelling and photography.

Karyna Omelchenko

Karyna graduated from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science (with Distinction) in 2016. In June 2022, she obtained her Juris Doctor (with Distinction). During law school, Karyna volunteered with Student Legal Services and the Edmonton Community Legal Centre, assisting low-income individuals and families. She interned at the Edmonton Community Legal Centre as part of the "Low-Income Individuals and the Law" course. Karyna was also involved in the Alberta Law Review and the Digital Law and Innovation Society. She received the Faculty of Law Undergraduate Scholarship and the Halyna Chomiak Freeland Memorial Award for her academic achievements and community involvement. Karyna's notable accomplishment during law school was winning the 2021 Iron Tech Lawyers Invitational by Georgetown Law for developing an application that improves access to justice. She completed part of her articles with the Court of King's Bench, working closely with Justices to gain insight into the justice system and enhance her research and writing skills. Karyna was born in Ukraine and moved to Canada at the age of 16. She is fluent in Ukrainian and Russian. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and corgi, cooking various Asian cuisines, listening to podcasts, practicing hot yoga, and hiking.

2024/2025 Articling Application Deadline

Duncan Craig LLP will be welcoming applications in the spring of 2023 from students seeking an articling position for the 2024/2025 articling year. The deadline for submitting your application is May 12, 2023. Interviews will take place in June, 2023. Your application should be addressed to Erin Burton, Chair, Articling Committee.

Your application should include a cover letter, a complete resume, copies of official transcripts from both law school and your undergraduate studies, and any letters of reference you wish to submit.

You can submit your application either by regular mail to our Edmonton office or electronically by email as a single attachment to students@dcllp.com. Electronic resumes are preferred.

Please email students@dcllp.com for all questions and inquiries related to the student recruitment process at Duncan Craig LLP. Thanks so much.

2023 Summer Student Application Deadline

Duncan Craig LLP will be welcoming applications from first year law students for 2023 summer student positions. The deadline for submitting your application will be January 31, 2023. Interviews will take place in accordance with the timeframe set by the Law Society of Alberta.

If you are a first year law student interested in applying, please forward your resume to students@dcllp.com by January 31, 2023. Your application should be addressed to Erin Burton, Chair, Articling Committee and should include a cover letter, a complete resume, copies of available undergraduate transcripts and any letters of reference you wish to submit.

Applications may be submitted either by regular mail to our Edmonton office or electronically by email as a single attachment to students@dcllp.com. Electronic resumes are preferred.