About Students
Stieber Berlach is Toronto’s leading insurance defense law boutique and students are a critical part of our success.
We cultivate skills that help students become effective advocates, both inside and outside of the courtroom. Students at Stieber Berlach regularly appear before associate judges of the Superior Court of Justice. As a student at our firm, you will argue motions; draft and prepare pleadings, motion materials, mediation briefs, and pre-trial briefs; and conduct research related to complex actions and applications before the courts or various tribunals.
Compensation and Benefits
We pay our summer and articling students in line with similarly-sized boutique law firms in downtown Toronto. Our articling students receive paid vacation time, as well as dental and health benefits. Stieber Berlach also pays the licensing and examination fees for our articling students to become members of the Law Society of Ontario.
Interested in becoming an articling or a summer student at Stieber Berlach LLP? Please forward your information to:
Grant Ferguson
416.594.4682
Email: gferguson@sblegal.ca
Articling Students
Following their last year of law school, Stieber Berlach’s summer students return to the firm to complete their articles. Over the course of the 10-month articling term, students gain progressive experience, culminating in their call to the bar, by which time they are equipped with the skills to join the profession and become effective litigators (often atStieber Berlach, as the firm hires back at a number of students as associates–see testimonials).
During the articling term, students routinely and independently draft correspondence with opposing counsel, carry motions–from drafting the initial Notice of Motion to arguing a said motion in court, and even carry small claims files of their own. Students also work with our lawyers in complex litigation matters, where they gain significant exposure to the diverse and challenging work that we do. Stieber Berlach’s student program transforms law students with an interest in litigation into effective advocates, ready to practice in today’s legal landscape.
Summer Students
Stieber Berlach’s 2L Summer Student Program provides students with the comprehensive experience of working at the firm’s offices at the Richmond-Adelaide Centre, located at York and Adelaide Streets in the heart of downtown Toronto. As part of the program, summer students will shadow designated lawyers for the first few weeks of the summer and attend scheduled mediations, pre-trials, motions, and examinations for discovery alongside their mentor lawyers. Students will also learn to navigate Ontario’s court system, regularly corresponding with court staff and booking motions.
Student Testimonials
Felisia Milana
“Stieber Berlach LLP has given me the freedom to explore what type of lawyer I want to become. I have had the benefit of being a 2L Summer Student, an IPC Student and an Articling Student at Stieber Berlach. Throughout these placements, there has been constant growth and increased responsibility afforded to the tasks at hand. Each day builds on the next and I find I am always learning something I did not know before. Stieber Berlach delivers an effective student development program that blends mentorship and experiential learning. The lawyers at the firm have positively encouraged me to go beyond my comfort zone by providing me opportunities to test the waters on my own accord, yet remaining available for guidance and support where needed.
As a student with the firm, I was introduced to attendances at examinations for discovery, motions, mediations, and trials quite early on. Being able to attend these proceedings and observe the differing styles of lawyers from all around is essential to understanding what proves to be effective oral advocacy. This has helped me determine what I would like to carry forward in my own practice. Through this form of experiential learning, I quickly became familiar with the practical do’s and don’ts of civil litigation. These opportunities have also prepared me for future responsibilities and increased my comfort and confidence for when it is my turn to lead in these settings. Throughout my student placements, Stieber Berlach has played a significant role in shaping my development, not only into a well-rounded and skilled lawyer, but into the lawyer I aspire to be in my career.
If you are seeking to build a career in civil litigation, the student programs at Stieber Berlach LLP are an excellent choice.”
Caroline Swiderski
“As a student at Stieber Berlach LLP, I gained the skills and experience necessary to prepare me for a career in litigation. From the outset, I was regularly entrusted with a broad range of substantive responsibilities, enabling me to contribute meaningfully to client matters and explore various practice areas. I also gained valuable exposure to client advocacy and dispute resolution, which included the opportunity to make opening submissions and negotiate with counsel at a settlement conference before a Deputy Judge.
However, a defining feature of my student experience at the firm was the quality of the mentorship I received. Lawyers were approachable, generous with their time, and committed to providing thoughtful and constructive feedback. Their guidance allowed me to confidently face any new challenge that arose.
Stieber Berlach LLP offers an exceptional and well-rounded student program, which I highly recommend to anybody seeking meaningful exposure to complex litigation and a supportive environment in which to grow.”
Kayla Sager
“My student experience at Stieber Berlach LLP was truly unmatched. From the outset, I was given extensive hands‑on experience across a wide range of litigation files, with exposure to multiple practice areas and every stage of the litigation process. I was actively involved in numerous trials, gaining meaningful courtroom and trial‑preparation experience that equipped me with the skills and confidence to run my own trials.
The complexity and diversity of the work provided a strong practical foundation and a clear, real‑world understanding of litigation in action. Just as importantly, I developed strong professional relationships with the lawyers at the firm, working closely with them on large, complex, and high‑stakes litigation files. Together, these experiences provided an exceptional foundation for practice and positioned me to transition seamlessly into an associate role with the confidence and practical grounding necessary for long‑term success in litigation.”
Thomas Russell
“My time as a student at Stieber Berlach LLP was excellent in preparing me to be a civil litigator. I found that there was a steady and sensible progression from basic tasks such as simple drafting and shadowing, to more complex tasks such as bringing motions, and then finally to handling my own files.
Early on, it was clear to me that this firm genuinely prioritizes the development of new lawyers. During my time as a student, I benefited greatly from the general culture of mentorship that exists here. Whenever I had a question or problem, there were always lawyers available and happy to help. There is no getting around the fact that learning to be a litigator is hard, but the people here go above and beyond to make it as easy as possible.
As a student here, you are part of a team. You are given real responsibility and trust, you are given real hands-on experience, and you are given recognition for your work.
If you are interested in a career in litigation, I highly recommend the summer and articling student programs at Stieber Berlach LLP.”
Grace Murdoch
“Stieber Berlach is an excellent firm for any student who is interested in learning how to be a litigator. I have been a Summer Student and Articling Student at Steiber Berlach and feel incredibly grateful for the experiences I have had and the support I have received.
I originally started with the firm during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic when the firm operated virtually. Despite initially working from home, I immediately felt welcomed and like I was part of the team. Lawyers frequently reached out to provide help, answer questions, and offer advice. When I returned for Articling and work transitioned back to an in-person format, I still felt that same level of support and collegiality from everyone at the firm. There is a genuine culture of mentorship here and a willingness among all lawyers to share knowledge about the legal profession with students.
What particularly stands out to me about my time at Stieber Berlach is its investment in students’ success and interests. Students are given real responsibilities and opportunities to participate in all stages of litigation for a diverse range of legal issues. The work that students do is taken seriously and valued by the lawyers, allowing for meaningful feedback and the opportunity to see how the results of such work benefits clients. As a result, students can explore their interests and gain an in-depth understanding of the civil litigation process from start to finish, helping ease the transition for when they will eventually handle their own files as future lawyers.
Steiber Berlach is a very welcoming firm that offers fantastic hands-on experiences and professional development opportunities. Though the student experience is a relatively short one, students here quickly develop the skills that will help them confidently start their careers as litigators.”
Christian Breukelman
“It is hard to overstate how formative one’s time as a student is to their career as a litigator. I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to article at Stieber Berlach. As a student, I was given real responsibilities, asked to interact directly with both counsel and clients, and quickly became an essential part of the team on every file I worked on.
Students at Stieber Berlach are given the opportunity to prepare pleadings and motion materials, attend examinations for discovery, and even argue their own motions. In my own experience, I was assigned interesting, challenging, and meaningful work from the get-go and quickly found myself to be a regular in court. During my time as a student, I brought my own motions from scratch and argued them, handled my own small claims matters, and even assisted with two trials.
While there is always a learning curve, the lawyers at Stieber Berlach take mentorship seriously and are always happy to provide their guidance and assistance. By the time I was called to the bar, I felt confident, ready to take on my own files, and fully integrated into the firm. I would highly recommend articling at Stieber Berlach to anybody interested in pursuing a career in litigation.”