The Toronto 1L recruit: how it works and how to prepare

The Toronto 1L recruit is a smaller, faster version of the 2L recruit. A limited number of firms and other employers hire first-year students for the summer after 1L, and the whole process runs in about four weeks in January and February. Here is how it works for summer 2027 positions.

Key dates for summer 2027

These dates come from the Law Society of Ontario's Toronto summer student recruitment procedures, which apply to first-year students as well as second-year students.

Employers can set their own deadlines on or after the earliest deadline, and some keep accepting applications later. Check each posting.

How it differs from the 2L recruit

• No on-campus interview stage. Employers go straight from applications to call day and interview week.
• Far fewer positions. Many large firms hire only a handful of 1L students, and some do not take part at all.
• Less to go on. Employers have one term of grades and a short resume, so each piece carries more weight.
• A path to 2L. A firm that hires you as a 1L summer student can make you an early offer for the 2L summer before the 2L offer day.

How much grades matter

First-term grades are the only law school marks employers see, and students and lawyers agree they drive who gets interviews (Canadian Law Forum). Once you have an interview, personality and interest matter much more.

Grades usually arrive close to the deadline. Prepare everything else in December so you only need to add your transcript.

What to prepare in December

1. A one-page resume. Lead with education, then work and volunteer experience. Our Canadian legal resume format guide covers section order.
2. A cover letter template you can tailor to each employer in a few sentences. See our cover letter guide.
3. A target list. Check your career office's list of employers taking part. Include government, public interest, and in-house roles, not only large firms.
4. Your undergraduate transcript, if employers ask for it.
5. A call day plan. Even with a few interviews, a quiet place and a written schedule help.

Interview week and offers

The rules for interview week mirror the 2L recruit: interviews only during interview week, a two-hour no-contact period on the final afternoon, and offers from 5:00 p.m. Firms must not solicit whether you would accept an offer, though you may volunteer it. Our guides to in-firm interviews, first choice, and offer day apply here too.

In January 2026, students reported intention-to-call emails and rejections from several large firms in the days around the application deadline (Canadian Law Forum). As in the 2L recruit, silence is not a rejection.

Early offers for 2L

If you work as a 1L summer student at a firm, it may make you an early offer for the following summer at any time before the 2L offer day. Under the procedures, you must respond within two business days by accepting, rejecting, or holding the offer. Accepting is binding. Holding keeps the offer open until the earlier of your decision or the date 2L offers must stay open.

If you do not get a 1L job

Most 1L students do not work at a firm in their first summer, and it does not hurt their 2L chances. Research assistant roles, clinic work, government jobs, and non-legal work all count. Use the summer to build experience you can describe concretely on your 2L resume.