My best tip for students going through the recruit:

First, surround yourself with comfort! It can sometimes feel a bit taboo to talk openly about the recruit with classmates and friends, but make sure you have someone or something you can find comfort in to help you through the process. It can feel like a lot at times, so prioritizing your well-being is key to showing up as your best self during the recruit. There will be plenty of noise and chatter along the way, but try to tune it out.

Second, have FUN! It is not everyday that you will have an opportunity to meet so many accomplished lawyers and students, hear about their career paths, and learn about their different practice areas. Having fun in each conversation will make the process less daunting. It is your enthusiasm, and genuine curiosity that people often remember. So don’t be afraid to talk about your interests, hobbies and everything that makes you uniquely YOU.

Why did I choose Polley Faith?

I chose Polley Faith because of the immediate sense of comfort I felt when I stepped into the office, which reflects the warmth of both, the people, and the environment. First, I was drawn to the firm’s open-door policy and collaborative approach to working on files. Everyone is familiar with the files, which makes it easy to ask questions and get input from anyone in the office. Second, students are given exposure to a wide range of tasks across different stages of litigation and across diverse subject areas, which helps build strong practical skills early on. Third, there is a high level of trust placed in students, along with the opportunity to work one-on-one with many different lawyers at the firm. Together, this creates a learning environment where I can learn and grow into an excellent litigator.

A typical day in my life:

No day looks the same, which is what makes it exciting! I usually start my morning by arriving at the office and chatting with members at the firm before grabbing a coffee from the kitchen.

From there, I dive into working on whatever task is on my to-do list. Right now, it’s assisting in drafting cross examination questions for an expert witness at a disciplinary hearing and researching discrete legal issues. On other days, I might be sitting in on client calls, preparing case viability opinions, or attending case conferences.

Throughout the day, there is a lot of collaboration. I’ll often chat with Madeleine over a quick snack break in the kitchen to discuss what we are working on, or reach out to a lawyer on a file to clarify something or get their input.

Sometimes an urgent task comes in from a lawyer, which shifts my focus for a bit and keeps things fast-paced. Other times, I’ll attend a “lunch and learn” session led by one of the lawyers, which is a great way to build context around the work we are doing.

I’ll end the day by wrapping up my tasks, updating my to-do list for the next day and appreciating having learned something new every time.

How does a student typically contribute to a file?

It depends. The work varies a lot depending on the files the firm is running that summer and what they need help with at any given moment. You end up taking on all kinds of tasks, some expected and some that feel more like side quests that turn out to be just as valuable.

Over the course of the summer, I’ve done substantive legal research, drafted declarations and trial documents, and broken down complex files to make them easier to digest. I’ve written viability opinions, which meant working through a body of evidence and facts to assess whether a case could be made. Right now, I’m helping a partner prepare for trial: drafting key documents, outlining cross-examinations, and working on what our closing argument will look like. Getting to see how an experienced litigator builds a case toward its end product, and figuring out how to be useful in that process, has definitely been a highlight.

What’s my favourite thing about being at Polley Faith?

Hard pick. To start, it has allowed me not only to think more, but to think for myself. Since it’s a smaller team, what we bring as students is genuinely valued and heard. The firm invests in its students’ learning, not just their work product. We’re brought in to help, especially when the summer is busy, but there is a clear interest in making us better. We get included in discussions, encouraged to attend hearings, and given the chance to sit in and absorb even when we’re not working on deliverables. The firm also takes collaboration seriously. While not everyone is on the same file, we all have a general sense of what others are working on and check in with each other, particularly when a hearing or a big moment is coming up.

The open-door policy is genuine too. Everyone is happy to take a moment, whether you have a question, something you’re stuck on, or just want to talk through your day. The firm feels like a team, which, as a former athlete, has got to be my favourite part.

A typical day in my life:

It also depends. Some mornings I’m working on a research memo on a new issue the partners are curious about; by the afternoon I’m sitting in on a hearing, taking notes and watching how issues really get argued. Some afternoons a lawyer stops by with an urgent task; others I’m in a client meeting I didn’t know was happening until an hour before.

Disha and I have made it our mission to try every coffee shop in the area. She’s looking for the best mocha, and I’m looking for the best cortado. We will keep you updated on our findings, but feel free to reach out for our takes so far. 

Beyond that, I try to talk to as many people as I can throughout the day. That might mean asking for feedback on something I’ve drafted, floating an idea about a file, or checking in on how a certain argument is developing. It also just means asking people what they’re working on and how they think about it. Everyone here comes from a different background and a different path to litigation, and the way that shapes how people approach problems is something I find endlessly interesting. Every conversation here teaches me something, which is something I didn’t expect to experience and enjoy as much as I do.