Reflections of an Articling Student

For the past five months I’ve had the privilege of articling at Jasmine Daya & Co. For readers who aren’t aware, articling is an apprenticeship of sorts mandated by the Law Society of Ontario where recent law school graduates must complete 10 continuous months of hands-on experience in the field before being called to the bar. This gives prospective lawyers a chance to apply what they’ve learned throughout their studies in the real world before being granted the full responsibility entrusted to lawyers in Ontario.

The thing that resonated with me during my articling interview with Jasmine was her passion for client service. Jasmine informed me that she is dedicated to ensuring that every client receives the same excellent assistance. This was the primary reason why I believed Jasmine Daya & Co. was the right firm for me when I accepted their employment offer. Cliché as it may sound, I’m becoming a lawyer because I want to help people who may not otherwise be able to advocate for themselves. After spending time working at Jasmine Daya & Co., I’m confident that every file receives the care and attention it deserves.

I came into Jasmine Daya & Co. with the benefit of having worked with clients and being responsible for my own files as a student caseworker at Community Legal Services (CLS) at Western Law. During my time at CLS I worked on a variety of files touching on many areas of law including Small Claims and Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) matters. Jasmine and Joanna recognized my experience and have given me the chance to use my skills to assist our clients. I’ve had the opportunity to work on multiple Small Claims and Landlord Tenant Board files in my short time at Jasmine Daya & Co. These files tend to move a little faster than our Personal Injury files and it’s been gratifying to see our hard work pay off to help our clients achieve their goals.

My experience at CLS provided an excellent foundation to build on when I started at Jasmine Daya & Co., however I was not immune from the “growing pains” one often experiences when starting a new job. One thing that was noticeably lacking when I began work at the firm was my attention to detail and general proof-reading skills. During my time as a university student I took full advantage of the opportunity to have peers review my work before submitting it and at CLS everything was assessed by Review Counsel. Unfortunately, I developed a bad habit of relying on other people to catch simple errors in my work. Working without the safety net of Review Counsel has forced me to hone my attention to detail skills which I’m sure will continue to serve me throughout my career as a lawyer. Being forced to focus on the little things has contributed as much to improving my skills as big things like working with clients and appearing in court.

Something that was especially helpful during my early struggles adjusting to life at a law firm was the supportive friendly team at Jasmine Daya & Company. Jasmine, Joanna and Daniel have always been forthcoming with advice and honest feedback. Our paralegal, Nicole, is an excellent source of knowledge and her patience with clients and work ethic are exemplary. Zara, Tricia, Cecilia, Sau and Priscilla all work tirelessly to keep things at our office running smoothly and always have a smile and a kind word even during our longer days. I enjoy being part of a small tight-knit firm and have had fun getting to know everyone during team building activities such as our summer firm dinner and our Christmas party. I look forward to continuing to assist our clients and learn about the profession during the remainder of my articling term.

The team at Jasmine Daya & Co. is always working hard to ensure you receive the best service possible. If you or a loved one is injured and needs legal assistance call us at 416-967-9100 or contact us online to schedule an appointment.