Thank you for your interest in the summer program at Dentons Edmonton.
Our program
The summer program at Dentons Edmonton is designed to give law students the exposure to real work and real clients necessary to transitioning from student to practising lawyer. In addition to the rewarding experience of working in a dynamic legal environment, summering at our office increases your chances of securing an articling position with us following your graduation from law school.
We believe it is important that our summer students are part of the team from the start. Spending a summer working in the Edmonton office exposes a student to some of the province’s best lawyers and most complex legal work. From an integration perspective, summer students are part of the team and are of course invited to all Firm functions and social events. Each summer student is assigned a mentor for the summer and will also take part in our student orientation program.
Evaluation
Evaluations are fundamental to your summering experience. While you can expect to receive informal evaluations from the lawyers you will be working with daily, you will also be formally evaluated on your various assignments.
Interview
Before returning to school in the fall, students will receive individual feedback during a formal interview. This will provide an opportunity for you to share any comments and suggestions you might have.
What it’s like to summer at Dentons Edmonton
What our students say
Lena Durrani, University of Alberta, 2025 1L Summer Law Student
“My 1L summer experience at Dentons has been nothing but rewarding, fulfilling, and educational. Dentons is a firm that leads on collaboration and growth. From day one, I was welcomed by a supportive and team-oriented group who not only provided the tools and guidance to help me grow, but also made themselves available to answer questions and offer insight throughout the summer. After our in-depth two week training wrapped up, I had the opportunity to work on files and prepare research projects across a wide range of practice areas. Each project was engaging and challenging in the best way, from individualized projects to summer student group projects. Additionally, the social side of the summer was just as memorable. Whether it was partners, associates, other team members, or fellow summer students, everyone was approachable and eager to connect, creating an environment where I genuinely wanted to be. From organized events to spontaneous lunches and coffee-runs, getting to know the members of Dentons was truly a highlight of my time at the firm. The amazing team at Dentons, along with the opportunity to contribute to meaningful and varied legal work, gave me the confidence to take initiative and pursue projects that genuinely sparked my interest. I’m excited to return as an articling student in 2027, and while I’ll miss being at Dentons in the meantime, I’m looking forward to what’s ahead!”
Mahnoor Khan, University of Alberta, 2025 1L Summer Law Student
“I could not have had a better summer than the one I spent at Dentons. From the very beginning, the student recruitment committee went above and beyond to ensure a seamless onboarding process and continued to provide support throughout the program. Our mentors were invaluable resources who were always ready to answer questions, offer advice over coffees and lunches, connect us with lawyers we wanted to work with, and involve us in meaningful work that contributed to our growth. These efforts created a strong foundation for our professional development and confidence as future lawyers. The work we received spanned multiple departments, providing us with meaningful exposure to a wide range of legal areas. We prepared research memos, drafted documents, and had the opportunity to attend court, mediations, and questionings, among other experiences. This breadth of work allowed us to explore different areas of practice and better understand our interests. Lawyers at Dentons consistently provided thoughtful feedback on our assignments and made a genuine effort to involve summer students in as many opportunities as possible so we could make the most of our time at the firm. This well-rounded experience was invaluable to my learning and growth as a summer student. The incredible support at Dentons aside, what truly sets the firm apart is its culture. Initiatives like Candy Mondays and Fruit Wednesdays made it easy to connect with lawyers and staff in a relaxed way, while Lawyers Lounge on Fridays gave us the chance to have meaningful conversations beyond day-to-day work. Through these touchpoints, I was able to build relationships not only with most lawyers at the firm but also with legal assistants and paralegals, all of whom were incredibly supportive and welcoming. One of the things I value most about Dentons is that it offers all the advantages of a global law firm: extensive resources, a wide network, and top-tier lawyers and staff, without the drawbacks often associated with big law. Instead, it fosters an environment that is inclusive, collaborative, and growth-oriented. I am so grateful for my summer experience and truly excited to be returning to Dentons in 2027 as an articling student.”
Jasmine Krawchuk, University of Alberta, 2025 1L Summer Law Student
“Dentons is the firm to choose if you are willing to learn, grow and foster genuine professional relationships. From networking events, to recruitment interviews, and onboarding training, the Student Committee ensured we were always kept informed, supported, and truly prioritized our legal careers. The summer experience itself has been the most rewarding time in which we have been able to step out of the four walls of law school and apply our knowledge and learnings to real-life legal scenarios. Beyond the practical experience we gained during our term, we were also provided various opportunities to attend client meetings, questionings, court applications, and networking events. These were extremely valuable in that we were able to build working relationships with lawyers in a more hands-on manner. Every assignment resulted in an additional piece of knowledge or skill which we hadn’t yet discovered. This firm wants you to grow and succeed, and the environment allows you to do exactly that. Lastly, and arguably most importantly, this summer has given me a strong group of colleagues and friends on which I can lean over the next two years of law school and beyond. The entire Dentons team is charismatic, smart, and kind and I am eager to return as an Articling Student in 2027!”
Niel Jansen Van Rensburg, University of Alberta, 2025 1L Summer Law Student
“My experience as a summer student at Dentons Edmonton has really affirmed my decision to enter into the legal profession, and moreover, that Dentons is where I want to grow my legal career. As summer students, we were given ample training at the beginning of the summer, which helped us hit the ground running as we began to receive tasks from lawyers. Despite being such a large international firm, Dentons prioritized making us feel like valued members of the team. This included multiple introductory events, invitations to various practice group lunches, firm events, mentor lunches, and many other opportunities to get to know people on a more casual basis. The Dentons hospitality and support staff took great care of us, leaving us ample time to focus on learning about the law. We were given a wide range of interesting tasks touching almost every practice area. The assigning lawyers always made sure we were comfortable with the tasks given, and we were always encouraged to ask questions and learn. While we always felt supported, we were given challenging and stimulating work that made us feel like we were making an impact. The partners and associates at the firm were incredibly welcoming – we were always welcomed to their offices for mentorship or a question about an assignment. It was sometimes easy to forget that these lawyers are at the forefront of their respective fields, with extremely busy schedules, but they were always happy to lend their time to summer students.”
Simran Sandhu, Thompson Rivers University, 2025 2L Summer Law Student
“My summer experience at Dentons was nothing short of remarkable. From my very first day, I was met with genuine encouragement and support from everyone in the office from legal assistants, paralegals, articling students, to lawyers alike. The Student Committee did an excellent job in ensuring the summer students had a smooth transition into the firm and invested in our growth as of the first day. They truly ensured that we had access to and understood all of the tools available to us, whether they be local, national or global. Dentons open-door policy allowed me to connect with lawyers at all stages of their careers and to receive assignments from a wide range of practice areas. The mentorship I received was exceptional. Associates to partners were always willing to offer guidance, share insights, and help me navigate new challenges. I was also encouraged to contribute ideas, step outside my comfort zone, and work on complex and engaging files throughout my summer. Beyond the work itself, I had opportunities to attend client-facing events, network with lawyers across the firm, and build genuine connections. The collaborative spirit and high caliber of the people at Dentons created an environment where I felt both challenged and supported every day. Dentons collaborative spirit, and expertise across multiple areas provide an incredible opportunity, and I cannot wait to article with Dentons in 2026”