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Courses/Law/Law Practice Management

Articling to Associate: Practical Insights for New Lawyers

Navigate the crucial transition from articling student to thriving associate with practical strategies for excelling in your legal career and building a foundation for long-term success.

Created byToronto Lawyers Association
BeginnerUpdated Nov 2, 2025
Articling to Associate: Practical Insights for New Lawyers

What You'll Learn

check_circleMaster essential legal project management principles.
check_circleLearn efficient task management and prioritization techniques.
check_circleUtilize legal tech beyond basic office software.
check_circleBuild strong professional relationships and teamwork skills.
check_circleCultivate resilience and maintain work-life balance.
check_circleDevelop active learning habits for continuous growth.

About This Course

Part 3: A Partner and an Associate Telling It Like It Is - What, How and Why

Mary Paterson and Alexandra Alacchi, lawyers at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP with expertise in litigation and corporate law respectively, will discuss what they look for when working with articling students/licensing candidates. They will explain how to make yourself indispensable and will cover a variety of topics including communication, collaboration, managing expectations, work habits, and networking.

Embark on your journey from articling student to successful associate with "Articling to Associate: Practical Insights for New Lawyers." This essential course, presented by a seasoned partner and an experienced associate, provides invaluable guidance on navigating the critical transition into professional legal practice.

Gain a head start in your legal career by mastering the unspoken rules and practical strategies for success. This program is specifically designed to equip new lawyers with the foundational knowledge and habits needed to excel, distinguishing themselves early in their careers.

You will learn to:

  • **Master the Project Management Triangle:** Understand and apply the core principles of scope, time, and cost to every legal project, from small research tasks to complex litigation.
  • **Understand the Task:** Learn how to effectively receive assignments, ask clarifying questions, manage expectations, and deliver high-quality work product that truly serves the client's needs. Discover strategies for efficient communication with assigning lawyers and when to seek assistance.
  • **Optimize Your Time:** Develop effective time management skills, including prioritization, avoiding procrastination, and the crucial art of saying "no" to maintain efficiency and work-life balance. Explore how to invest non-billable hours wisely to advance your career.
  • **Leverage Your Tools:** Identify and utilize essential legal tools and resources, from administrative support and specialized software to legal databases and AI (with critical caveats). Learn to master these tools for organization, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness.
  • **Build Your Team:** Cultivate a strong professional reputation through respectful interactions with colleagues, support staff, and fellow students. Understand the importance of collaborative relationships and how to build a trusted network.
  • **Embrace Continuous Learning (The Teaching):** Adopt an active learning approach, seeking out diverse experiences, challenging yourself with new areas of law, and maintaining humility. Recognize that legal practice is a journey of ongoing learning and refinement.

Drawing on real-world experiences, this course provides a practical "menu of ideas" to help you navigate the complexities of legal practice, learn resilient habits, and ensure a rewarding and sustainable career. Whether you are an articling student or a new associate, this program offers concrete strategies to make your transition smoother and more successful.

Your Instructors

Toronto Lawyers Association
Toronto Lawyers Association

Toronto Lawyers Association

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For more than 135 years, the Toronto Lawyers' Association, located within the Courthouse Library, has represented the interests of lawyers practising in the City of Toronto. The association was founded to support its members in three key areas: Knowledge, Advocacy, and Community. To uphold these pillars, the association offers a year-round mix of online and in-person education programs for lawyers, hosts both free and paid events to foster in-person networking, and submits advocacy pieces on behalf of its members to the Ontario bench and bar, all levels of government, and the broader public.

Alexandra  Alacchi
Alexandra Alacchi

Associate, Osler Hoskin Harcourt LLP

Alexandra advises private equity sponsors, public issuers and private companies across a wide range of industries on domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, private equity investments and other complex strategic transactions. She also has experience acting for emerging and high growth companies throughout their life cycle, from initial structuring through to exit and beyond.

Mary Paterson
Mary Paterson

Litigation Partner, Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP

Mary positions her clients to achieve positive settlements or succeed at trial. Although based in Ontario, with many appearances before the Ontario Superior Court, including the Commercial List, she has also conducted trials in the Tax Court of Canada, the Federal Court of Canada, the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench, the British Columbia Supreme Court, and the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador. She has appeared on motions in the Manitoba Court of Queen’s Bench. Mary has also appeared on appeals in the Supreme Court of Canada, the Ontario Court of Appeal, the Ontario Divisional Court, the Alberta Court of Appeal, the Quebec Court of Appeal, and the British Columbia Court of Appeal. Her areas of specialty include tax litigation, insolvency work (receiverships, bankruptcies, and proceedings pursuant to the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act), contract disputes, and other general commercial litigation.

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Frequently Asked Questions

We are a registered provider with 327+ associations and regulatory bodies worldwide. We operate across 29 global markets including Canada, the US, Australia, and the UK. Every course page clearly displays its specific accreditations. Upon completion, you receive a professional certificate that can be validated online. Our certificates include all necessary accreditation details, credit hours, and completion dates, and are formatted specifically to meet the submission requirements of most global regulatory bodies.