Articling Positions
CLERKING AT THE COURT OF APPEAL FOR SASKATCHEWAN
Working as a law clerk is one of the most interesting articling positions available to law school graduates. Clerkships provide a unique window into the functioning of a court. Unless you are appointed to the bench, it is unlikely you will ever have another opportunity to so closely examine the judiciary and the judicial process.
Saskatchewan Court of Appeal Clerks learn by working and associating with members of the Court and by attending appeal hearings. The Clerkship experience offers valuable insights into the methods and techniques of practitioners, the standards of professional behaviour expected of lawyers, and exposure to a full range of legal styles and abilities. The law clerk comes to know what to expect of others and what standards he or she will be required to meet when working as a legal professional.
Place of Work
Court of Appeal for Saskatchewan
2425 Victoria Avenue
Regina, Saskatchewan
S4P 4W6
Number of Positions
Three articling positions are planned for the 2012-2013 term.
Period of Employment
June 1, 2012 to May 31, 2013
The Court holds one to two weeks of sittings in Saskatoon six times per year. Law clerks may have the opportunity to travel to Saskatoon at the Court’s request.
Assignment to Judges
Each law clerk is typically assigned to work for specific members of the Court. The Chief Justice decides the assignment and informs the law clerks on their first day of work.
Legal Analysis
Law clerks are involved in both pre-hearing and post-hearing preparation of material. At the pre-hearing stage, clerks are often asked to prepare “bench” memos which summarize the appeal, assess its substantive content, and discuss dispositions of the case. At the post-hearing stage, clerks may be directed to undertake further research into the matters in issue. The value of a law clerk lies in his or her ability to identify the critical legal issues raised by an appeal and research them in a principled but practical way. Legal problem solving is a significant component of the job.
Much More than Legal Research
While judges assign numerous research topics to law clerks throughout their time at the Court, the responsibilities of clerks go far beyond writing memos. The Court provides opportunities to learn about the judicial process and to become familiar with members of the judiciary and the bar.
A law clerk’s primary role is to assist his or her assigned judges. Judges may use a clerk to help sharpen and clarify ideas by filtering them through the clerk. Having researched the cases, read the materials filed, and attended the oral submissions, a clerk is particularly well placed to be an effective “sounding board” and a person with whom his or her judges can freely discuss legal issues and judicial decision-making.
In respect of criminal matters, clerks are responsible for the preparation of procedural summaries of all appeals of convictions, acquittals, and sentences made to the Court.
The Court of Appeal for Saskatchewan is the highest appellate court for the province and a s. 96 court of superior inherent jurisdiction. As such, clerks to the Court are exposed to a wide range of criminal, administrative, constitutional, and civil law issues.
Advocacy
By attending the hearing of an appeal or chambers application in issue, the clerk has the opportunity to witness first-hand the advocacy skills of numerous leading members of the bar. Informal discussions with judges following such presentations afford the law clerk a candid assessment of courtroom advocacy and unique insights into how to prepare and present an appeal.
Writing and Drafting
Throughout the course of his or her term, the clerk assists the judges of the Court in the research, preparation, and editing of reasons for judgment and orders. The clerk may also be asked to assist a judge in the preparation of speeches or academic articles on various legal issues presented or distributed by the judge outside the Court.
Registry File and Practice Management
Of necessity, the law clerk becomes familiar with file and practice management of the Registrar of the Court of Appeal.
Professional Responsibility
Throughout his or her term, the law clerk can be expected to be called upon by members of the Court to assess ethical issues regarding cases on appeal. This may include the confidentiality of legal matters, the avoidance of conflicts of interest, and the duties of lawyers as “officers of the Court.”
Experiences beyond the Court
The Rules of The Law Society of Saskatchewan require that a judicial clerk serve for a period of two months outside the Court to a qualified principal. Although the Rules state that one month must be served at either the Saskatchewan Department of Justice or at the Saskatchewan Legal Aid Commission, with permission of the Law Society, other alternatives can be arranged. Options approved for past law clerks have included a term with the Securities Commission, the Saskatchewan Labour Relations Board, or the Regina City Solicitor’s Office. This gives law clerks the unique opportunity to see and experience several work environments during the course of the articling year.
Life after Clerking
A clerkship at the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal is an excellent articling opportunity and is just the beginning of what can be a very rewarding career. Numerous opportunities are available to students who clerk, as many employers recognize the value of the clerkship experience. Past law clerks have pursued a wide-range of professional opportunities including employment at law firms across Canada as well as graduate studies and academic careers.
Financial Benefits
- Salary- $3,651.00 (under review) per month.
- Holiday pay at a rate of 6% of gross salary in lieu of holidays.
- 12 SDO's (scheduled days off) which can be used at any time during the year, subject to approval.
- Hours of work, leave of absence, etc. are governed by public service regulations that apply to temporary employees.
- Reimbursement pursuant to government policy for travel and accommodation, subject to approval.
- Time off with pay during attendance at the Canadian Centre for Professional Legal Education (CPLED) Bar Admission Program.
- The Law Society of Saskatchewan application fee for admission as student-at-law, the bar admission course fees and the cost of the bar examinations are paid for by Court Services.
- $300 allowance per law clerk for legal education and participation in Law Society, Canadian Bar Association and Continuing Legal Education events, subject to approval.
How to Apply
The articling student must be a graduate of a recognized College of Law.
BEFORE 31 October 2010, candidates should submit:
- a curriculum vitae;
- official transcript of all post-secondary marks;
- three letters of reference;
- sample legal research paper.
The successful applicant will be subject to a criminal record check.
Applications and requests for more information should be sent to:
Marlene Rodie,
Executive Officer
Court of Appeal
2425 Victoria Avenue
Regina, Saskatchewan S4P 4W6
Tel: (306) 787-5409
For more Information
If you have any questions about clerkships at the Court of Appeal, feel free to call Ms. Marlene Rodie, Executive Officer to the Chief Justice, at 787-5409 or
If you would like to know more about clerking from first-hand experience, the present law clerks will be happy to speak with you.
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