Law Clerk Program
Application deadline: January 7, 2027, at 11:59 pm Pacific Time
Each year, the judges of the Supreme Court of Canada (the Court) select up to 3 law clerks per judge to support them in their work. Law clerks play a vital role by conducting in depth legal research, preparing memoranda of law and assisting with a wide range of tasks essential to the Court’s decision making process.
Clerking at the Court is a unique, career shaping experience. It offers unmatched exposure to complex and significant legal issues, direct mentorship from Canada’s most respected jurists and the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the development of Canadian jurisprudence. If you strive for excellence, enjoy intellectually rigorous work and are motivated to have real impact at a pivotal stage of your legal career, this role may be the perfect fit.
Intent of the process
The intent of this selection process is to hire up to 27 law clerks to support the Court’s 9 judges.
Who can apply
Persons residing in Canada, and Canadian citizens and Permanent residents abroad.
Preference will be given to veterans first, followed by Canadian citizens and permanent residents.
Learn more about preference to veterans.
General information
- Work location: In-person presence at the Supreme Court of Canada, 344 Wellington Street, Ottawa, Ontario
- Group and level: Law Clerk LP-00
- Salary: $85,440 annually; a relocation lump sum may be provided
- Duration: 1 year term appointment beginning mid August 2028
Essential qualifications
Education
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A Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.), Juris Doctor (J.D.), Licence in Law (LL.L.) or any combination thereof from a recognized Canadian university, or an equivalent degree.
Note 1: Your degree must be completed before the start of the clerkship, though it does not need to be completed at the time you apply.
Note 2: Not all law societies recognize law clerk experience toward articling requirements. You are responsible for verifying eligibility with the appropriate law society. Accordingly, law clerks must be able to devote their full time and attention to their duties and may not take time off during the term to attend bar admission courses or examinations.
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For legal degrees obtained outside Canada, applicants must consult Foreign Credential Validation against Canadian Standards and provide proof that their foreign credentials are comparable to Canadian Standards at the time of submitting their application.
Experience
- Experience in researching and analyzing Canadian legal matters
Competencies
- Ability to communicate effectively in writing
- Ability to work collaboratively and maintain effective working relationships
- Ability to work effectively under pressure
Asset qualifications
- Membership in a bar
- Academic excellence at law school
- Receipt of academic honours or distinctions in law studies, such as placement on the Dean’s List, graduation with honours or an award recognizing academic achievement
- Law-related graduate studies
- Prior clerkship experience
- Publications
- Experience in one or more of the following fields of law:
- Criminal Law
- Administrative Law
- Aboriginal Law
- Constitutional Law
- Private Law
- Quebec Civil Law
Language requirements
- English essential
- French essential
- Bilingual imperative - BBB/BBB
Conditions of employment
- Secret security clearance
Operational requirements
- Willingness and ability to work extended hours, including outside core hours and overtime on short notice.
Equity, diversity and inclusion – Self-declaration
The Public Service of Canada is committed to building a skilled and diverse workforce reflective of the Canadians we serve. The Court encourages applicants to self-declare if they belong to any of the designated groups under the Employment Equity Act, S.C. 1995, c. 44. Applicants may do so in the Application Form.
Equity, diversity and inclusion – Our commitment
The Court is committed to having inclusive, barrier-free selection processes and work environments. If you are contacted about a job opportunity or interview, you should advise the Court in a timely manner of any accommodation measures you require in order to participate fairly and equitably. Please send all accommodation requests to the Law Clerk Program by email: lcp-paj@scc-csc.ca. Information received about accommodation measures will be treated confidentially.
How to apply
Applications for the 2028-2029 Law Clerk Program must be submitted online and received no later than January 7, 2027, at 11:59 pm (Pacific Time). Your application will be considered complete only once all required materials have been received by the Court.
Required application materials
- Completed PDF Application Form
- You must download, save and open the Application Form using a PDF reader.
- Court communications will be conducted by email and telephone. In your Application Form, you must provide a daytime telephone number where you can be reached or where a message can be left.
- Cover letter
- Your cover letter must:
- Be addressed to the Honourable Justices.
- Explain why you would be an excellent candidate for a law clerk position at the Court by providing, among other things, specific examples that demonstrate:
- Your experience researching and analyzing Canadian legal issues; and
- How you meet the competencies stated above.
- In your Application Form, identify any experience or activities you expect to undertake between the date of your application and the start of a potential clerkship with the Court.
- If you submit your cover letter in both official languages, you must include both versions in a single document.
- Your cover letter must:
- Curriculum vitae
- If you submit your curriculum vitae in both official languages, you must include both versions in a single document.
- Official law school transcript
- Official transcripts must be sent directly by the university:
- By email: lcp-paj@scc-csc.ca
- By mail:
Law Clerk Program
Supreme Court of Canada
344 Wellington Street
Ottawa, ON K1A 0J1
- Note: Secure digital transcripts issued directly by Electronic Transcript Services (secure online platforms that enable law schools to issue official academic documents) are accepted and should be submitted by email to lcp-paj@scc-csc.ca.
- Official transcripts must be sent directly by the university:
- Writing samples
- You must submit 2 writing samples.
- Requirements:
- Each sample must be between 5 and 10 pages in length.
- Your samples must be relevant to the work of the Court.
- Your samples must be written solely by you.
- All pages must be numbered and include your name.
- New this year, you must provide a summary of a maximum of 80 words for each writing sample in the Application Form, in the same language as the sample.
- If you are proficient in both official languages, you must submit separate English and French writing samples.
- Factums prepared for court proceedings or moot court competitions will not be accepted.
- Letters of reference
- You must provide 4 letters of reference.
- Requirements:
- Your letters of reference may be submitted with the application or sent directly by your referees through the 2028-2029 Law Clerk Program Reference online form.
- One of your 4 letters may be from the Dean of the faculty where you obtained your law degree. A Dean’s letter is optional.
- Collectively, your letters must provide specific examples demonstrating how you meet the competencies stated above.
- Your referees should address the competencies they have directly observed in your work, studies or activities.
- Your letters of reference must be addressed to the Honourable Justices and signed by your referees.
- Wherever possible, your letters of reference should be printed on official institutional letterhead.
Naming convention
New this year, to ensure the proper processing of applications, all submitted documents, including the completed Application Form, cover letter, curriculum vitae, transcripts, writing samples and letters of reference, must follow the naming convention set out in the table below. Adhering to this convention helps prevent technical issues and allows our systems to accurately identify, sort and process your application materials throughout the selection process.
Requirements:
- Start each file name with the document number (01, 02, 03, etc.) specified in the naming convention below.
- Follow the number with your LAST NAME in uppercase letters, then your first name.
- Do not use commas in file names.
- Use the exact document title provided in the naming convention. If you wish to add details to better identify a document, place the additional information in parentheses at the end of the file name.
- Use only the short hyphen (-) to separate elements of the file name, rather than the longer dash (–) that may be automatically inserted by AI tools or certain software programs.
- When requesting letters of reference, provide your referees with the required document title and ask them to use it when naming their file.
| Documents | Naming convention | For example, if Alex Smith applies, the documents are named as follows: |
|---|---|---|
| Application Form | 01 LASTNAME FirstName - Application Form | 01 SMITH Alex - Application Form |
| Cover letter | 02 LASTNAME FirstName - Cover Letter | 02 SMITH Alex - Cover Letter |
| Curriculum vitae | 03 LASTNAME FirstName - CV | 03 SMITH Alex - CV |
| Signed letters of reference | 04 LASTNAME FirstName - Reference - Referee’s last name | 04 SMITH Alex - Reference – Johnston (Judge) |
| Copies of transcripts | 05 LASTNAME FirstName - Transcript 2 – non official; Transcript 3; etc., if there is more than one transcript. Do not use Transcript 1, as it is reserved for the official law school transcript. Transcript 2 is used for the non-official law school transcripts. |
05 SMITH Alex - Transcript 2 – non official (Ottawa University) 05 SMITH Alex - Transcript 3 (Toronto University) 05 SMITH Alex - Transcript 4 (Calgary University) |
| Writing samples | 06 LASTNAME FirstName - Writing Sample 1 06 LASTNAME FirstName - Writing Sample 2 |
06 SMITH Alex - Writing Sample 1 (Powers of administrative tribunals) 06 SMITH Alex - Writing Sample 2 (1459 QCC) |
You are responsible for ensuring that your application is complete and that all materials, including the 4 letters of reference, have been received by January 7, 2027. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
We thank all applicants for their interest in the Program. Only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted. Interviews will be conducted by the judges of the Court via MS Teams during the week of February 22, 2027, and all hiring will be finalized by March 12, 2027.
FAQ and contact information
For more information about the Law Clerk Program and the clerkship application process, please consult the Frequently asked questions.
For any other questions, contact the Law Clerk Program: lcp-paj@scc-csc.ca.