Articling and summer student salaries in Canada

In Toronto, most large firms pay summer and articling students about $1,900 a week, roughly $98,800 a year, and some pay more. Nationally, the median is $1,550 a week. At the bottom of the market in Ontario, articling and Law Practice Program placements must pay at least $620 a week.

Median student pay

These medians come from NALP's first Canadian Associate Salary Survey of 66 law offices, as of January 1, 2025 (NALP).

In Toronto, the median for all three groups was $1,900 a week.

What specific employers pay

Many firms describe their student pay only as competitive with other Toronto firms, so published figures are the exception rather than the rule. We will add employers to this table as they publish rates.

Ontario's minimum articling pay

Ontario articling and Law Practice Program work placements that began on or after May 1, 2023 must pay at least $620 a week, roughly $32,240 a year. An employer that cannot meet it may apply for an exemption, which requires a high-quality placement, a declaration that the employer cannot pay, and a clean five-year discipline history for the principal or supervisor (Law Society of Ontario).

The Law Society approved the requirement in October 2022, and planned to keep the rate for three years before reviewing it (Law360 Canada).

Why student pay varies so much

• Firm size and market. Large Toronto firms pay a near-uniform rate; small firms, clinics, and sole practitioners usually pay much less.
• Region. Toronto pays the most, in line with higher associate salaries there.
• Employer type. Government, in-house, and public interest roles often pay a fixed annual salary.
• Bonuses. Ultra Vires reported in 2023 that almost all large firms stopped paying summer and articling bonuses when weekly pay rose to $1,900 in 2019 (Ultra Vires).

Converting weekly pay to a salary

Summer positions last only part of the year, so actual summer earnings are a fraction of these annual figures.

Comparing student offers

Weekly pay is only one part of a student offer. When you compare positions, look at what the whole year looks like, not just the rate.

• Hireback. For many students, the chance of an associate offer after articling matters more than the student rate. Ask current associates how many students from recent classes were hired back.
• Licensing costs. Some employers pay Law Society licensing fees, study materials, or time off to prepare for the licensing exams. Others leave those costs to you.
• Length of the summer. A 2L summer can run anywhere from about 12 to 16 weeks, so two firms paying the same weekly rate can produce different summer earnings.
• Training and supervision. A placement with structured feedback and real files can improve your articling and associate prospects, which is worth more over time than a small difference in weekly pay.
• Benefits. Health and dental coverage, transit or fitness allowances, and paid vacation during articles all have value.

If you are still applying, our Toronto recruit timeline sets out the dates for the 2L, 1L, and articling recruits.