Steps to Starting the Application Process
Like all law firms, Minden Gross LLP aims to hire the best students. Not surprisingly, our hiring decisions for our student positions are based on assessments of each candidate as a prospective associate and, ultimately, as a partner in the firm. Students hired will share our long-term view and thrive in a relationship-building environment where their efforts and talent figure directly in their progress at Minden Gross LLP. We place great importance on attracting students to all areas of our practice in order to renew our expertise and ensure the continuing ability of Minden Gross LLP to offer a full range of complementary legal services to clients.
How can I make my application stand out?
Your cover letter should be one page and should tell us how what you have accomplished will make you an ideal candidate for our firm. Once you have prepared your letter, please PROOFREAD it carefully. And we don’t mean just spell check. As you know, that won’t uncover all of the errors. For instance, we occasionally get letters where students have improperly done a mail merge and have referred to us as a different firm. Not only is this embarrassing for the student, but it shows us that the student didn’t proofread their letter. Is this an indication of the legal work they will produce? Who knows? But it certainly doesn’t help the application. So make sure you take the extra time to really look your letter over well.
In your resume, be truthful. If it is in your resume, we are likely to ask you questions about it. So be prepared to give details. In our view, fewer and more detailed experiences are better than a long list of one-off experiences.
Check out our Application Tips for some more comments on improving your application.
What is Minden Gross LLP looking for in a student?
Here are some of the characteristics that we look for:
Leadership – Someone who can sit at the head of the table.
Entrepreneurial Experience or Client Service – someone who has shown initiative and will be sensitive to client needs.
Hard Work – Someone who has shown that they can stick to a project/job and get it done.
Smarts – Yes, those marks do play a role!
Responsible Jobs - Someone who has moved through an organization, or several organizations, in progressively more responsible positions.
Relationship Builder – Someone who will get along well with others.
Achievement – Someone who has achieved something outside of work or school that makes us say “WOW"!
Does Minden Gross LLP participate in the On Campus Interview process for summer recruitment?
Minden Gross LLP does not participate in the OCI process or the Law Society of Ontario’s recruitment process. We typically conduct our summer student recruit in February of each year (e.g., in February 2023 for Summer 2023 positions). For up-to-date information on our requirements, check out our Welcome page.
Does Minden Gross LLP participate in the Articling Recruitment process?
We have completed our hiring for the 2023-2024 articling term. For the 2024-2025 term, we don’t anticipate having any positions available in addition to those we will offer to our 2023 Summer students.
What can you expect during the Interview process?
Usually sore feet or screen fatigue! We are unsure at this time if our interview process will be virtual, in-person, or hybrid. For virtual, be sure to have a comfortable spot, secure internet connection, and good lighting.
On a more serious note, our first piece of advice is to relax. We understand that the interview process is nerve-wracking. Be prepared. Know your resume well so when we ask questions, you will be able to provide some further information or a related story. Know something about our firm and even the lawyers you will be meeting with, if that information is available. Tell us what makes you stand out from others. We typically ask questions and have a bit of a discussion at the beginning of the interview, but then it’s your turn to ask – so be ready with your questions. By asking questions that you have researched about our firm, you’ll demonstrate that you cared enough to look us up! Impressive.
If we are in the Law Society recruitment process and you are really interested in our firm, make sure you interview with us on the first day of interviews or in the morning of the second day. During the interview process, we normally host a dinner for invited candidates. Almost all of our successful candidates have come out for dinner with us. As we extend these dinner invitations during or just after the interview, it is important for you to see us early. Dinners are normally during the evening of the second interview day so keep that in mind when you are planning your nights.
Leave two hours for an interview with us so you have enough time to see everyone you need to see and still get to your next interview on time.
You will typically spend between 1 and 1.5 hours with us and will meet four to six members of our Student Committee. You will also be given an opportunity to meet our current articling students who can answer your questions and give you their perspective.
We do our best to let you know in advance who you are interviewing with so be sure to research the lawyer and read about their practice. If we will be taking a next step with you, we would typically invite you back for a second round of interviews with members of the student committee that you haven’t yet met. In “normal” times, we would typically invite a select number of candidates for dinner on the first evening. With a virtual process being necessary again this year, we may hold a final round of interviews on Tuesday morning in order for us to make our final decisions. The decision of whether you are moving to the next stage of the process will be communicated after your first interview.
If you're genuinely interested in our firm, don't be afraid to tell us! Emails and voicemails are the best way to communicate genuine interest outside of the interview itself.
How do I find out more about the firm?
Review our website or call and speak to one of our current students (keep in mind, our current articling students are finished at the beginning of June and our new articling students won't start until mid-August). See what we're up to and follow us on social media. We're @MindenGross on Twitter, we're on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MindenGrossLaw/, and on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/minden-gross-llp.
Who do I send my application to?
Nicole Salama
Director of Legal Talent
Minden Gross LLP
145 King Street West, Suite 2200
Toronto, ON M5H 4G2
Fax: (416) 864-9223
studentinfo@mindengross.com