Articling Program
Each year, the Court of King's Bench of Alberta offers articling positions in Calgary and Edmonton to students from any common law faculty in Canada or an equivalent qualification recognized by the Law Society of Alberta. The Court's articling program offers a unique and valuable opportunity to acquire experience in the fullest possible range of practice areas, to observe all types of court proceedings; and to hone research, analytical, and writing skills.
Successful candidates article for ten consecutive months with the Court of King's Bench, followed by a five month law firm article which the students must arrange. In Edmonton, the Court articling term starts in June. In Calgary, the start dates are staggered. For 2025-2026, there will be four positions in Calgary and four positions in Edmonton.
Articling Program Overview
What does an article with the Court of King's Bench offer?
Articling with the Court of King's Bench provides a rare opportunity to participate in, and observe, the administration of justice in Alberta from a unique perspective. Student involvement in the process is active and direct. Students review briefs prior to hearings, and attend applications and trials (jury and non-jury). They are given the opportunity to research, write, and discuss cases with the presiding Justices as they unfold. This allows students to learn directly from the Court's Justices, something no other article in the province can offer. The articling program exposes students to many areas of the law, and virtually all aspects of the judicial process. Students at the Court are encouraged to attend as many hearings, in as many courts, as time permits.
Mentoring
Each student at the Court of King's Bench is articled to a Justice of the Court, and receives further guidance and support from an assigned Legal Counsel. Principals are carefully selected with a view to students’ interests and backgrounds. The Court's Justices and Legal Counsel are dedicated to ensuring that the students’ experience with the Court is rewarding and valuable.
Work Allocation
Legal Counsel to the Court of King's Bench channel work to students in accordance with their interests, and with the aim of ensuring exposure to a broad range of practice areas and as many Justices as possible. Students are valued as an important resource, and the Court's Justices and Legal Counsel take their responsibilities to students very seriously. Students’ workloads are carefully monitored to ensure that their work experience is comprehensive and useful, and that they have time to address their CPLED requirements.
Tours
As part of articling with the Court of King's Bench, students are given the opportunity to tour other facilities, including the Family, Youth, Criminal, Civil, and Traffic divisions of the Court of Justice, where they meet with Judges of the Court and attend hearings and trials. Students are also exposed to the Court of Appeal, and are encouraged to observe proceedings in that Court.
Ongoing Education
In addition to a comprehensive orientation, from experienced Legal Counsel and Court librarians, on the commencement of their articles, students have the unique opportunity to attend a series of seminars, given by Justices and Applications Judges, covering a broad range of practice areas. This opportunity to receive instruction and guidance directly from Justices and Applications Judges, in their fields of expertise, is not available in any non-Court articling program.
Resources
Students at the Court of King's Bench have access to the judicial library, a comprehensive law library for the exclusive use of Justices, Legal Counsel and Court students. In addition, they have the support of the Court’s librarian and complete access to all major online legal resources.
Life at the Court
The Court of King's Bench recognizes the importance of making students feel comfortable and welcome. The Court environment is highly professional, but Legal Counsel and Justices make an effort to foster collegiality. A number of less formal social events are hosted by Justices and Legal Counsel over the course of the year. All students and Legal Counsel meet regularly to review and discuss current assignments, and other matters before the Court. Justices frequently drop by the students' offices to discuss, in an informal caucus setting, particularly interesting or complex matters. Students are encouraged to discuss legal issues amongst themselves, and with Justices and Legal Counsel.
Whether your interests lie in litigation, solicitors’ work or academia, the comprehensive nature of the Court’s jurisdiction ensures valuable articles. The benefits to future litigators are clear. However, our students work on litigation concerning commercial and corporate matters that also are of interest to students intending to work as solicitors. They work on insolvencies, estate matters, family law matters, tort claims, judicial reviews and criminal cases. They observe and review evidence, research law, and are called on to provide sophisticated legal analysis. Articling with the Court of King's Bench is stimulating and rewarding, and provides an excellent transition from law school to practice
Application Procedure
Articling students must have a Canadian common law degree or an equivalent qualification recognized by the Law Society of Alberta.
Your electronic application must include:
- a cover letter;
- a transcript (or copy) of all post-secondary marks;
- a curriculum vitae;
- one academic reference letter which refers to your legal research and communication skills, and the names of, and contact information for, two additional references; and
- an unmarked sample of your legal writing.
If you wish to be considered for positions in Edmonton and Calgary, please send separate applications electronically.
To apply in Edmonton, please send your application by email to:
Justice G. Kendell
Court of King's Bench of Alberta
Law Courts
#1A Sir Winston Churchill Square Edmonton, AB T5J 0R2
ArticlingApplications.QBEdmonton@albertacourts.ca
To apply in Calgary, send the same material by email to:
Justice D. Labrenz
Court of King's Bench of Alberta
Calgary Courts Centre Suite 2401N
601 - 5th St. S.W.
Calgary, AB T2P 5P7
ArticlingApplications.QBCalgary@albertacourts.ca
The application deadline is December 1, 2023 at 4:00 pm.
Contact Information
For information about the Court of King's Bench's articling program, please consult the articling brochure. For further information, contact Robyn Mitchell, (Legal Counsel) in Edmonton, or Suzanne Vickers (Legal Counsel) in Calgary.
In addition, these current Court articling students are willing to answer questions about the program:
Calgary