We pride ourselves on the quality of our articling program and the investment our lawyers make in our students. We have a director of Professional Development who is responsible for your orientation and ongoing training, and an active Student Committee composed of partners and associates to ensure that our students are benefiting from all of the resources and opportunities at the Firm.
Your year will start with a week-long orientation program designed to help you become familiar with your colleagues, the Firm and all of its resources. You will be provided with a sample research memo exercise and get individual one-on-one feedback on your memo prior to tackling the “real thing” so you can gain vital practice at the beginning of your articles. We have a strong Knowledge Management and Information Services team and a highly skilled Research Group who are all invested in your success. We also run a biweekly seminar series to expose you to all aspects our practice. In addition, we provide training in “soft skills” such as presentations and business etiquette.
Our program
Our articling program is composed of four rotations of approximately 2.5 months. The program is designed to give you the opportunity to work on files from various practice areas while being flexible enough to allow you to pursue your own specific interests as well. The rotation selections are as follows:
- Litigation
- Corporate/Securities
- Banking and Finance/Insolvency
- Real Estate
- Tax
- Employment and Pensions
- Secondments (external rotations at clients or governmental organizations, e.g., Kraft-Heinz, Toronto Hydro, Cadillac Fairview, Ontario Securities Commission, the Royal Bank of Canada, BMO, Toronto Community Housing, etc.)
During your articles you will be exposed to a variety of interesting and challenging legal matters and you will be given increasing amounts of responsibility as you progress. You will be assigned an articling principal (a partner) and a term principal (an associate) for your articling term. In addition, you will be assigned a mentor (an associate) in each department. They’ll also ensure you meet everyone in the group and have an opportunity to work on matters you are interested in. Your principal and mentors will check in with you over lunch or coffees or informal meetings, and are a key resource to you as you embark on your career. In addition, each department has at least one lawyer who sits on the Student Committee. They will meet all of the students biweekly to ensure the work is being distributed equitably within the department. The head of the student program will also meet biweekly with all the students as a group for informal breakfasts so everyone can share ideas and information and keep abreast of news both at the Firm and within the student program.
You will work closely with the lawyers in each group on a variety of tasks, such as:
- Preparing for and attending at client meetings, mediations, arbitrations, closings, witness interviews, etc.
- Drafting contracts, legal documents, articles, presentations, precedents, etc.
- Preparing closing documents, affidavits of documents, etc.
- Due diligence (reviewing and summarizing legal and business documents)
- Conducting research and drafting legal memoranda
- Appearing or assisting at administrative tribunal hearings, examinations for discovery, motions, trials, etc.
- Sitting in on conference calls with clients, lawyers for opposing parties, etc.
- Attending internal meetings with lawyers to discuss strategy and file management
- Assisting with pro bono files and charitable activities (visit our pro bono page for more information on our program)
Evaluations and feedback
You will have a formal evaluation meeting after each rotation and will be provided with feedback on your performance. In addition, the lawyers you are working with will provide informal feedback throughout the course of your articles.
Benefits and salary
Please see our firm listing in www.nalpcanada.com for additional information regarding our benefits and compensation, as well as further detailed information regarding our program.
What it’s like to article at Dentons Toronto
What some of our Articling Students have to say about their experience at Dentons:
Ilias Warsame (Western University), 2025-26 Articling Student
“My articling experience at Dentons exceeded every expectation I had coming in. From the outset, I was given real responsibility and meaningful exposure to complex matters, including an M&A transaction that I had the opportunity to follow from start to finish. The experience gave me an incredible window into what sophisticated transactional work looks like in practice.
What made the experience truly exceptional, however, was the people. My articling principal was an invaluable resource throughout, always making time for me despite an incredibly demanding schedule, and genuinely invested in my growth beyond just the files we worked on together. The student program team was equally exceptional, making sure every student was getting exposure to the work they were interested in and provided consistent support throughout. That openness extended across the firm. Every lawyer I approached was not only willing to help but genuinely happy to do so, which made asking questions and learning feel comfortable.”
Li Song (Osgoode Hall Law School), 2025-26 Articling Student
I have benefited greatly from the student program. From day one, the firm has fostered a transparent, inclusive, and genuinely supportive environment where students are set up to succeed. As someone with an international background, I felt that my skills were truly valued and appreciated. What stood out most was how invested everyone was in my career growth. Both my formal and informal mentors made the experience especially rewarding, and members of the student committee regularly checked in to ensure my interests and any concerns were heard and supported. Even on smaller assignments, lawyers consistently took the time to walk me through their thinking and help me learn as much as possible from each task.
Nikki Sharma (Osgoode Hall Law School), 2025-26 Articling Student
One of the most rewarding parts of my articling experience at Dentons Canada has been working on fast-paced, high-profile matters that required me to think critically, adapt quickly, and contribute meaningfully in real time. Through those experiences, I developed confidence not only in my legal research and drafting skills, but also in discussing strategy and sharing my perspective with lawyers across all levels of the firm. What stood out most to me was the firm’s mentorship culture. Partners and associates consistently created space for students to ask questions, contribute ideas, and grow through thoughtful feedback. I always felt that my development, perspective, and success were genuinely valued.
Simon Minich (Osgoode Hall Law School), 2025-26 Articling Student
“Throughout my articling term, every assignment felt like a meaningful opportunity to grow. I was regularly asked for my thoughts, strategic ideas, and perspectives, which made me feel like a valued member of the team. This approach not only strengthened my confidence but also sharpened my practical skills. The work I was given was substantive and engaging, offering real insight into client matters. The firm’s mentorship culture also stood out. I can recall many instances where knocking on a lawyer’s door led to thoughtful, in-depth conversations about their practice or key context on the files I was involved with. Overall, the experience was an ideal bridge between law school and practice, preparing me to step into an associate role with confidence and a strong foundation.”
Alison Balcom (Dalhousie University), 2025-26 Articling Student
“The Dentons Toronto articling program provided an ideal foundation for my legal career. The rotational structure allowed me to fully immerse myself in diverse practice areas and gain an appreciation for how different areas of the firm interact and complement one another. At every step, the student team and my mentors went above and beyond to ensure that my experience was positive, meaningful and rewarding. I look forward to building upon this strong foundation as an associate and continuing to work with many of the lawyers who supported me throughout my articling term.”