Canadian Law Students
2L Summer Student Program
Mintz hires 2L students who seek a highly personalized summer experience for our Summer Student program. Our Summer Students are immersed in our Corporate section for the duration of the program and work on an array of matters, often staffed on cases or deal teams, where they gain real, hands-on experience working side-by-side with our lawyers. Our small class size, coupled with our Partner and Associate mentorship program, allows students a broad range of opportunities and experiences, customized to their individual goals and interests. After spending thirteen weeks at the firm, our Summer Students know our lawyers, understand what we do, and are well positioned to complete their law degree.
Our Toronto Summer Students also have the opportunity to spend two weeks in our Boston office during the summer program. The full cohort of Mintz Summer Students start in Boston for orientation week, and then the Toronto students return to Boston for a second week later in the summer to attend trainings, professional development sessions, and social events with the full cohort of Mintz Summer Associates.
The application for the 2027 Summer Student program will open in the summer of 2026. More information regarding the application can be found in the Frequently Asked Questions section.
A Day in the Life of a Toronto Summer Student
2024 Toronto Summer Student, Grace McColl, takes us on a day in her life in the Mintz Toronto office.
Recruiting Events
We look forward to visiting the following law schools during the 2025-2026 academic year:
- Osgoode Hall Law School
- Queen’s University, Faculty of Law
- University of Toronto Faculty of Law
- Western University, Faculty of Law
If you do not see your law school listed above, please reach out to Caroline Lauria-Sheehan, Legal Recruiting Specialist, at [email protected] to be added to our email distribution list.
We also host an open house in our office in June to give law students an opportunity to see our space, meet our lawyers and students, and learn more about the work we do and our summer program. More information regarding registration will be shared in the spring of 2026, but if you are interested in receiving updates, please reach out to Caroline Lauria-Sheehan to ensure you are on our mailing list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Mintz offer a 1L summer program or articling program?
While we have participated in the 1L recruit in the past, we are now focusing our efforts on the 2L recruit. Students who spend their 2L summer with us will be eligible to receive an offer to article with Mintz, but we do not participate in the articling recruit.
When and how do you recommend applying for the 2L summer program?
We follow the Law Society of Ontario’s Toronto recruitment procedures for second year summer law student positions. We accept applications through the online viLaw Portal from students attending all law schools.
The application deadline for the 2027 2L summer program is Monday, July 20 at 5:00 PM. We will only review applications submitted through the viLaw Portal. To review key dates for the Toronto 2L recruit, please visit the Law Society of Ontario website.
Does Mintz participate in OCI for the 2L summer program?
Yes, we participate in on-campus interviews at several schools during the 2L summer student recruitment process. After we send an acknowledgement that we have received a student’s application, we will not be in touch again before on-campus interviews. Students will be notified by their law school’s career development office if they have been selected for an on-campus interview.
How do in-firm interviews work?
We will be in touch on Call Day to schedule in-firm interviews. We ask that all interviewing students schedule their first interview with us on Monday of interview week. We view interview week as a comprehensive three-day process and anticipate that all students invited to participate in our process will meet with us throughout the course of the three days.
We extend formal offers to those students we want to hire at 5:00 PM on Wednesday of interview week. Should we decide at any point during interview week that we will not be extending an offer to a particular student, we will communicate that to the student in a timely manner so that the student can use their time to focus their efforts on other opportunities.
What materials are required to apply for the 2L summer program?
- Resume
- Cover letter
- Copy of law school transcript
- Copy of undergraduate transcript
- Copy of graduate transcript (if applicable)
- List of upper year courses
To whom should I address my cover letter?
You should address your cover letter to Caroline Lauria-Sheehan, Legal Recruiting Specialist.
How long is the summer program, and when does it begin?
Our summer program is thirteen weeks long and begins in late May.
How is work assigned during the summer program?
Summer Students’ work assignments are curated by attorneys in the Corporate section. Though most assignments will come directly from the section, there is variety in subject matter, industry, and clients for each assignment. The section provides the opportunity to work in venture capital & emerging companies, securities & capital markets, mergers & acquisitions, private equity, and licensing & technology. Summer Students are also encouraged to participate in our extensive pro bono opportunities, which include subject matters such as immigration, sexual violence, veterans affairs, housing, transgender discrimination, and access to justice.
How is work evaluated throughout the summer program?
After an assignment is completed, the assigning lawyer is asked to submit a formal evaluation on the Summer Student’s work product. These evaluations are compiled and summarized in formal review meetings at the mid-point and end of the summer program. We also strongly encourage that our lawyers provide feedback directly to Summer Students after each assignment and ask that our Summer Students proactively seek feedback from the lawyers they are working with.
What types of training sessions do Summer Students attend?
Our professional development team (MLPD) organizes various training opportunities throughout the summer. These include substantive section-based training sessions, programs on the business of a law firm and legal ethics, a business lunch etiquette training, and much more. We also have a legal writing program that runs throughout the summer. Summer Students are invited to attend all Associate training sessions and monthly practice group meetings in addition to Summer Student specific sessions. MLPD hosts over 200 training programs annually, so there is no shortage of opportunity for training.
Are Summer Students assigned mentors?
Yes, all Summer Students are paired with an Associate mentor, a Partner mentor, and a writing mentor. Students meet with their mentors on a regular basis, and mentors provide feedback on their mentees throughout the program. This feedback is often included in the mid-point and end of summer evaluation meetings.
Are Summer Students expected to be in the office every day?
Mintz Associates are expected to be in the office approximately 60% of the time. To maximize the experience, Summer Students are required to be in the office Monday – Thursday with the option to work virtually on Friday.
Will there be opportunities to visit other Mintz offices?
Our Summer Students will have the opportunity to spend two weeks in our Boston office. Students will attend trainings, professional development sessions, and social events with the cohort of Boston based Summer Associates.
Can Summer Students apply for sections other than Corporate?
At this time, we only hire into our Corporate section in Toronto. If students are interested in pir Litigation or Intellectual Property sections, they should apply for our US program. Please visit our US Summer Program page to learn more.
Can Canadian students be considered for both the US and Toronto summer programs?
We ask that students only apply to one program. When choosing a program, students should consider where they see themselves long-term and select that office.
Please note that the US 2L recruiting timeline has shifted significantly in recent years and no longer aligns with the timing of the Toronto 2L recruit. To find up to date information about our program and application timeline, please visit our US Student Recruiting page.