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In the Toronto 2L recruit, telling a firm it is your first choice is a promise: if the firm makes you an offer, you will accept it. Firms are not allowed to ask for that promise, but many decide between strong candidates based on who has given it. This guide explains how first choice works, when to use it, and what the Law Society's rules say.
What the rules say
The Law Society of Ontario's Toronto summer student recruitment procedures draw a clear line:
- Firms must not put undue pressure on you to accept an offer or to reveal whether you would.
- Firms must not try to find out whether you would accept, however veiled or indirect the attempt.
- You may volunteer that you would accept an offer if one were made.
- Once you accept an offer, you must immediately tell every firm where you have an outstanding offer or a scheduled interview, and you must not interview elsewhere or accept another offer.
The procedures bind students as well as lawyers. A student who breaches them may face a hearing on whether they meet the good character requirement for licensing, so a first-choice promise is not something to make loosely.
Why first choice matters
By Day 3 of in-firm week, most firms have more strong candidates than offers. A firm wants every offer it makes on offer day to be accepted, because an offer that is turned down may leave a spot unfilled. A clear first-choice statement tells the firm its offer will not be wasted. Students and lawyers on the Canadian Law Forum consistently describe it as one of the factors that separates candidates at the end of the week (Canadian Law Forum).
It is not a guarantee. Students report being told they were in a strong position, giving their first choice, and still being cut on Day 3 when the firm made its final ranking (Canadian Law Forum).
How to say it
- Use the exact words "first choice". Phrases like "top choice", "one of my top firms", or "very high on my list" are read as hedging. Firms treat only the clear phrase as a commitment.
- Say it to someone who decides. Tell the student program lead or a partner on the hiring committee, ideally in person, and follow up in writing. A comment to a summer student at a reception may never reach the committee.
- Give a real reason. Tie it to a practice group, the people you met, or how the program is structured. A reason makes the statement credible.
- Tell only one firm. Lawyers at different firms talk to each other. Telling two firms they are your first choice is a breach of trust that can follow you into articling and practice.
"I wanted to let you know that [Firm] is my first choice. If I receive an offer from you, I will accept it. Meeting the litigation group today confirmed it for me, especially hearing how summer students work on trial preparation."
When to say it
| Timing | How it tends to land |
|---|---|
| Day 1, first interview | Usually too early. It can look premature, and you have not met enough people to judge. |
| End of Day 1 | Possible if you are certain, but most students wait. |
| Late Day 2 or early Day 3 | The most common window. Firms are building their final lists. |
| Afternoon of Day 3 | Risky. Many firms have already ranked candidates before the 3:00 p.m. no-contact period. |
Nothing can be said between 3:00 and 5:00 p.m. on the final day of interviews. That is the no-contact period, when neither firms nor students may contact each other.
If your first choice cuts you
If your first-choice firm tells you it will not be moving forward, or signals it clearly, your promise no longer binds you. If the signals are mixed, ask the firm directly whether you are free to use your first choice elsewhere. Students report doing this on Day 3, being released, and then giving their first choice to another firm that went on to make an offer (Canadian Law Forum).
Switching late is harder, because other firms may already have decided. Keep your other firms warm until you have a clear answer.
If you are undecided
You do not have to give a first choice at all. Plenty of students receive offers without one. If you are genuinely torn, say so honestly and explain what you are weighing: "I'm very seriously considering the firm, and I'm still deciding between two places where I could see myself." An honest maybe is far better than a broken promise.
If a firm asks for it
A question like "Where do we rank?" or "Are we your first choice?" crosses the line the procedures draw. You can decline politely: "I'm really enjoying getting to know the firm, and I'll let you know as soon as I've decided." If pressure continues, tell your career office. Breaches can be reported to the Law Society.
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Sources and scope
This is general career information, not legal, financial, or tax advice, and not an official statement of any rule. Dates, rules, and pay change, so confirm them with the original source, the Law Society, or the employer before you rely on them.
Related
- In-firm week etiquetteReceptions, dinners, thank-you emails, and signalling your first choice.
- Toronto 2L offer dayHow offers, acceptances, and declines work on offer day.
- Toronto 2L in-firm interviewsHow in-firm week works, what firms assess, and how to prepare.
- 2L call day guideHow call day works and how to build your in-firm schedule.