About Us
Cox & Palmer
200 lawyers strong, with over a century of experience serving Atlantic Canadians, Cox & Palmer is a full-service regional firm providing advice to individuals and businesses in a broad range of sectors across all major industries.
Achieve your potential through hands-on experience with a widely respected team of lawyers. Cox & Palmer’s summer student and articling programs offer you an opportunity to launch a rewarding practice in a progressive and respected Atlantic Canadian law firm. Our summer student and articling programs contribute significantly to your development as a lawyer, building on the individual law societies’ basic requirements and providing exposure to our firm’s broad practice base. Our programs offer a long-term planning approach which facilitates your integration as a future member of our firm, while providing you with a valuable complement to your current legal education.
Cox & Palmer is a member of the Law Firm Diversity and Inclusion Network (LFDIN). We are pleased to partner with organizations dedicated to the promotion of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion.
Recruitment
Student Hiring Information
From the outset, summer students are immersed in ongoing cases and matters and are involved in a wide range of our lawyers’ activities. Your work as a first or second-year summer student will be similar to that of an articled clerk, with exposure to a wide variety of practice areas.
Each summer student is assigned a mentor(s). These individuals will meet regularly with the student and provide guidance throughout the summer.
How many students did you/will you hire for:
| NB | NL | NS | PE | |
| 2020 | 9 | 2 | 6 | 3 |
| 2021 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 2 |
| 2022 | 10 | 3 | 6 | 2 |
| 2023 | 6-8 | 3 | 8 | 2 |
| 2024 | 10 | 3 | 6 | 2 |
| 2025 | TBD | TBD | 6 | TBD |
Summer Student Hiring Criteria
New Brunswick
Summer Students
| Do you hire first year summer students? | Yes |
| Application deadline: | - January 9th, 2024 (UdeM) - January 15th, 2024 (UNB & DAL) |
| Interviewing period dates: | As determined by the universities: - January 23rd to 25th, 2024 (UdeM) - February 2nd, 2024 (UNB) - February 3rd, 2024 (DAL) |
Newfoundland & Labrador
Summer Students
| Do you hire first year summer students? | Yes |
| Application deadline: | January 15th, 2024 (UNB & DAL) |
| Interviewing period dates: | February 2nd, 2024 (UNB) February 3rd, 2024 (DAL) |
Nova Scotia
Summer Students
| Do you hire first year summer students? | Yes |
| Application deadline: | - UNB & DAL – Deadline TBD - McGill and all Ontario law schools – Deadline TBD - Other Canadian law schools and those with NCA Accreditation – by November 3, 2025 |
| Interviewing period dates: | TBD |
Prince Edward Island
Summer Students
| Do you hire first year summer students? | Yes |
| Application deadline: | January 15th, 2024 (UNB & DAL) |
| Interviewing period dates: | February 2nd, 2024 (UNB) February 3rd, 2024 (DAL) |
Campus Recruiting
New Brunswick
| Participation in OCIs this year? | Yes |
| Schools: | Dalhousie University, University of New Brunswick, Université de Moncton, McGill University, and all Ontario law schools |
| Other Campus Recruiting | Applications are accepted from all Canadian Law Schools or those with NCA Accreditation. |
Newfoundland & Labrador
| Participation in OCIs this year? | Yes |
| Schools: | Dalhousie University, University of New Brunswick |
| Other Campus Recruiting | We accept applications from all law schools. |
Nova Scotia
| Participation in OCIs this year? | Yes |
| Schools: | Dalhousie University, University of New Brunswick, McGill University, and all Ontario law schools |
| Other Campus Recruiting | Applications are accepted from all Canadian Law Schools or those with NCA Accreditation. |
Prince Edward Island
| Participation in OCIs this year? | Yes |
| Schools: | Dalhousie University, University of New Brunswick |
| Other Campus Recruiting | We accept applications from all law schools. |
Articling Program Hiring Summary
New Brunswick
| 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | |
| 1st year summer students | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 1st year summer students offered articling positions | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 2nd year summer students | 7 | 9 | 8 |
| 2nd year summer students offered articling positions | 7 | 9 | 8 |
| Additional students hired | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Articling Clerks | 9 | 6 | 8 |
Newfoundland & Labrador
| 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | |
| 1st year summer students | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| 1st year summer students offered articling positions | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2nd year summer students | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2nd year summer students offered articling positions | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Additional students hired | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Articling Clerks | 4 | 2 | 3 |
Nova Scotia
| 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
| 1st year summer students | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 1st year summer students offered articling positions | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 2nd year summer students | 2 | 2 | 6 | 6 |
| 2nd year summer students offered articling positions | 2 | 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Additional students hired | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Articling Clerks | 9 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
Prince Edward Island
| 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | |
| 1st year summer students | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| 1st year summer students offered articling positions | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2nd year summer students | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 2nd year summer students offered articling positions | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| Additional students hired | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Articling Clerks | 2 | 2 | 4 |
Articling Program
Superior instruction is offered to our articling clerks by accomplished lawyers who are recognized for their skills, experience and professional and ethical standards. Cox & Palmer values an inclusive and collegial environment and takes a practical approach to involve our clerks in all facets of a client’s file.
Several of our lawyers are long-time instructors and facilitators for various components of applicable mandatory bar preparation courses including civil litigation, insurance, family law, administrative law, corporate/commercial law, bankruptcy, and insolvency and professional responsibility. Articled clerks are assigned a Principal, a senior lawyer who works closely with the clerk to guide the articling experience, as well as a mentor(s). Articled clerks receive regular feedback and formal reviews regarding their performance.
Our articled clerks will get exposure to a variety of practice areas such as corporate and commercial, litigation, real property, employment & labour, and wills & estates.
New Brunswick
| When do you hire articling students? | Articling students are normally hired as part of the overall student recruitment process in November, January and February of each year. |
| Do you still have any articling positions open for this year (starting 2024)? | Yes |
| Anticipated articling positions open for next year (starting in 2025) for external candidates outside of current student hires (if any) | 3 |
Newfoundland & Labrador
| When do you hire articling students? | Articling students are normally hired as part of the overall student recruitment process in February of each year. |
| Do you still have any articling positions open for this year (starting 2024)? | No |
| Anticipated articling positions open for next year (starting in 2025) for external candidates outside of current student hires (if any) | 1 |
Nova Scotia
| When do you hire articling students? | Articling students are normally hired as part of the overall student recruitment process in February of each year. |
| Do you still have any articling positions open for this year (starting 2025)? | No, we are not currently accepting applications for the 2025-2026 articling year. |
| Anticipated articling positions open for next year (starting in 2026) for external candidates outside of current student hires (if any) | 4 |
Prince Edward Island
| When do you hire articling students? | Articling students are normally hired as part of the overall student recruitment process in February of each year. |
| Do you still have any articling positions open for this year (starting 2024)? | No |
| Anticipated articling positions open for next year (starting in 2025) for external candidates outside of current student hires (if any) | N/A |
Foreign Trained Students/Lawyers
| Do you accept applications for summer/articling positions from foreign trained students/lawyers? | Yes |
| Do applicants need to have an Assessment Report from the National Committee on Accreditation (in Québec, an attestation from le Barreau du Québec) before applying? | Yes |
Application Process
New Brunswick
| Required Application Materials | Cover letter Résumé Undergraduate transcript (official copy) Law school marks (unofficial copy accepted – request official copy when available, if necessary) |
| Preferred application method | UNB: Apply via UNB Portal DAL: Apply via Career Development Office Université de Moncton, McGill University and all Ontario law schools: via Email at nbcareers-summer@coxandpalmer.com or carieresnb-ete@coxandpalmer.com Applicants from other Canadian Law Schools or those with NCA Accreditation: Via Email: nbcareers@coxandpalmer.com by November 1, 2023. |
Newfoundland & Labrador
| Required Application Materials | Cover letter Résumé Undergraduate transcript (official copy) Law school marks (unofficial copy accepted – request official copy when available, if necessary) |
| Preferred application method | UNB: Apply via UNB Portal DAL: Apply via Career Development Office Other Schools: via email (nlrecruiting@coxandpalmer.com) |
Nova Scotia
| Required Application Materials | Cover letter Résumé Pre-law transcript (official copy) Law school marks (unofficial copy accepted – request official copy when available, if necessary) |
| Preferred application method | UNB: Apply via UNB Portal DAL: Apply via DAL Portal McGill University and all Ontario law schools: via Email nslegalcareers@coxandpalmer.com Applicants from other Canadian Law Schools or those with NCA Accreditation: via Email: nslegalcareers@coxandpalmer.com by November 3, 2025. |
| Halifax Talent Committee | • Jillian Gorbold, Director of Professional Talent • Josée LeBlanc, Manager, Student and Clerk Programs • Marc Beaubien • Chika Chiekwe • Lisa Delaney • Laura Hanusiak • Matt McEwen • Drew Ritchie • Guy Wellard • Kelcie White |
Prince Edward Island
| Required Application Materials | Cover letter Résumé Pre-law transcript (official copy) law school marks (unofficial copy accepted – request official copy when available, if necessary) |
| Preferred application method | UNB: Apply via UNB Portal DAL: Apply via Career Development Office Applicants from other Canadian Law Schools or those with NCA Accreditation: Via Email: peicareers@coxandpalmer.com |
First Year Lawyer Hiring Information
New Brunswick
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
| How many articling students did you offer a first-year lawyer position? | 4 | 7 | 5 |
| How many articling students in your articling program were seeking a position? | 6 | All | All |
| How many additional first year associates did you hire outside of your articling student program? | 1 | N/A | N/A |
| How many of the additional students clerked? | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Newfoundland & Labrador
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
| How many articling students did you offer a first-year lawyer position? | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| How many articling students in your articling program were seeking a position? | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| How many additional first year associates did you hire outside of your articling student program? | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| How many of the additional students clerked? | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Nova Scotia
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
| How many articling students did you offer a first-year lawyer position? | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 |
| How many articling students in your articling program were seeking a position? | 6 | 6 | 9 | 7 |
| How many additional first year associates did you hire outside of your articling student program? | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| How many of the additional students clerked? | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Prince Edward Island
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
| How many articling students did you offer a first-year lawyer position? | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| How many articling students in your articling program were seeking a position? | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| How many additional first year associates did you hire outside of your articling student program? | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| How many of the additional students clerked? | N/A | 0 | N/A |
Demographics Information
New Brunswick
| Number of Employess | 173 |
| Languages spoken in the office | 2 |
| Employees by lawyer titles | Associate – 28 Partner – 38 Counsel – 4 |
Newfoundland & Labrador
| Number of employees | 68 |
| Languages spoken in the office | 2 |
| Employees by lawyer titles | Associate –10 Partner – 16 Counsel – 5 |
Nova Scotia
| Number of Employess | Over 200 |
| Languages spoken in the office | 4 |
| Employees by lawyer titles | Associates – 26 Partner – 37 Counsel – 5 |
Prince Edward Island
| Number of Employess | 92 |
| Languages spoken in the office | 2 |
| Employees by lawyer titles | Associate – 14 Partner – 9 Counsel –5 |
Career Path
New Brunswick
| Coaching/mentoring program | Yes |
| Evaluation timing | Mid-summer review and end summer review for summer students; twice a year for articling students; yearly for associates. |
| Upward reviews? | No. |
| PD Resources? | Yes |
| Internal CLE? | Yes, in-house education sessions |
| External CLE? | Yes, as required by LSNB |
Newfoundland & Labrador
| Coaching/mentoring program | Yes |
| Evaluation timing | Monthly for students/clerks. Yearly for associates. |
| Upward reviews? | No but under consideration for subjective partnership compensation. |
| PD Resources? | Yes |
| Internal CLE? | Yes |
| External CLE? | Yes, subject to approval |
Nova Scotia
| Coaching/mentoring program | Students and articling clerks receive strong mentorship, through formal mentors and informal mentorship. Our formal mentorship program taps into the knowledge and experience of our lawyers to share professional guidance, practical knowledge, and essential skills to support the growth of students, and articling clerks. Each articled clerk is assigned a partner mentor and an associate mentor. Both mentors provide support to the clerk and guide them through the articling year. Summer students are assigned an associate mentor throughout their 13-week work term. The associate is a junior to mid-level associate who guides the student in building relationships, experiencing law in practice, and considering how their contributions matter to the firm overall. relationships, experiencing law in practice, and considering how their contributions matter to the firm overall. |
| Evaluation timing | Students and articling clerks receive 360-degree feedback from experienced lawyers and the Professional Resources team to help ensure they are on the right path to success. Students get a formal evaluation at the end of their 13-week term, while articling clerks receive two formal evaluations—one after each of their first two rotations at the firm. |
| Upward reviews? | The firm is always looking for ways to enhance the student and articling clerk experience, both during recruitment and throughout our programs. We regularly gather feedback from our students and articling clerks, and their insights play a key role in helping us maintain and improve the quality of our programs. |
| PD Resources? | Students and articling clerks benefit from the support of a dedicated Professional Resources team, which includes a Supervising Lawyer, a Director of Professional Talent, and a Manager of Student and Clerk Programs—all committed to fostering their growth and development. |
| Internal CLE? | Our comprehensive learning program that includes practical legal experience, educational training sessions and communities of practice. Learning is delivered by experienced lawyers and legal staff. Students and articling clerks will also participate in an in-depth onboarding program. |
| External CLE? | Articling clerks participate in CPLED PREP, as required by the NSBS. Additional external opportunities for both students and clerks are considered on a case-by-case basis. |
Prince Edward Island
| Coaching/mentoring program | Yes |
| Evaluation timing | Mid summer review and end summer review |
| Upward reviews? | Yes |
| PD Resources? | Yes |
| Internal CLE? | Yes |
| External CLE? | Yes |
Articled Clerk Benefits
Articled Clerks are eligible for a competitive benefits package, including paid parking (where applicable), health benefits, fitness allowance, cell phone allowance, applicable preparation bar course costs and continuing legal education allowance (as required).