U of T Law students continue to lead the pack
The 2023 Toronto 1L recruit resulted in at least 76 students getting hired. Although this number was a slight overall decrease from last year (where 82 students were hired by 16 employers), this cumulative total is still significantly higher than years prior. This suggests that large Toronto law firms are increasingly looking to the 1L recruit to fill their classes. Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP once again took on the most students this year with 14, though this was four less than last year.
The participating firms in this year’s recruit changed slightly, as Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, Chagpar & Associates, Smart & Biggar LLP, Thornton Grout Finnigan LLP, and Zarek Taylor Grossman Hanrahan LLP did not participate. However, new to the fray this year is Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP’s Toronto office—though the U.S.-based firm declined to provide their results. Overall, 12 employers participated in the formal recruit this year—four fewer than last year.
As in previous years, U of T Law finished ahead of the other law schools in terms of both the total number of students hired (24) and the proportion of students hired relative to overall class size (11 percent). Osgoode Hall Law School had the second highest number of hires (18), and the University of Ottawa (seven hires) rounded out the top three. However, these statistics may not be fully representative of hiring distribution, as McMillan LLP, who hired seven 1L students, declined to disclose which schools their students attend.
While it appears that the Bay Street firms are more willing than ever to take on 1L students, the majority of students will still be looking elsewhere for 1L summer employment.
