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Paint Your Career

Why Choose Scarfone Hawkins

Build Your Career at Scarfone Hawkins

We’re a dynamic, results-driven law firm with 30 diverse practice areas and a reputation for handling complex, meaningful cases. We’re always looking for talented people, whether you’re a law student seeking a summer placement or an experienced associate eager for new challenges. Here, you’ll find hands on experience, mentorship from seasoned professionals, and the chance to contribute in a collaborative, fast-paced environment. 

-> Summer Law Student Program Details
-> Articling Program Details 

What We Offer
Current Openings
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“Art is creating nuances where none were initially present. The art of law is knowing where to blur the lines, add shading and put in the detail—because not everything in law is black and white.”
Lauren Grimaldi
Associate

Hands-on experience.

At Scarfone Hawkins, you start from day one working on real files with real clients in diverse practice areas. Students aren’t picking up dry cleaning or completing make-work projects–they’re meeting with clients, drafting agreements, researching time-sensitive topics and helping lawyers prepare for trial.

Full exposure.

You can’t know what you want to do until you’ve done it. That’s why articling students get two five-month rotations, one in corporate law and the other in litigation, and summer students work in all practice areas. You won’t find the diversity of files and calibre of clients anywhere else outside of Toronto.

A team approach.

By working with teams of partners and associates, each with its own expertise and culture, you get to truly to experience what it’s like to work at a mid-sized law firm. Using a team approach, supervision is ongoing, feedback is immediate and our focus stays on your professional development.

Excellent hire-back.

We’re a growing, youth-oriented firm that chooses our students carefully and invests in their training. That’s why we like to promote from within. An average of one summer student has been hired for articling and one articling student has been hired as an associate each year since 2009.

Who We Hire

YES! We attend law school career fairs in Ontario. Make sure you look for the Scarfone Hawkins table. We promise some frank talk and maybe even some fun.
Lunch and learn! We’re sponsoring the tour of Hamilton law firms for Western and Windsor law students again in March. Come for lunch and meet the lawyers behind one of the most dynamic law firms in the region.

Litigation Rotation
(5 Months)

Life on the litigation rotation is fast-paced and ever-changing–but there are times when you’ll be waiting at court while work piles up at the office (Hint: think ahead so you can put the down time to good use). You’ll be juggling assignments that are due in a couple of weeks with just-in-time delivery of files, court appearances and hastily scheduled meetings. You’ll be involved with research, drafting materials and trial preparation; attending matters in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice and administrative tribunals; all aspects of your own small claims court file; and attending litigation proceedings (motions, mediations, examinations for discovery, appeals and trials) and client meetings with associates and partners.

Corporate Rotation
(5 Months)

This is the rotation when there’s the least predictability to your day–work comes in fast and was due yesterday. Assignments may be communicated by email or verbally, depending on the style of the lawyer delegating the task (and there’s 10 of them). One minute you’re searching title for a real estate transaction and the next you’re putting together a research memo on a specific aspect of the Trademark Act. There’s never a dull moment (except maybe when you have to proofread a report). Other tasks include due diligence; review of minute books and other corporate documents and reports; drafting agreements (shareholder, share/asset purchase, employment and construction); and assisting with wills and estate planning.

Articling

Articling application deadlines are established by the Law Society of Ontario.

More Information

Summer Students

Please submit your Applications for Summer 2025 Law Student Positions below. Interviews will be conducted in February.

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Associates

Applications for associate positions are accepted at any time.

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What to Expect

We guarantee two things when you article at Scarfone Hawkins. Number one: You’ll get more action than you ever thought possible. Articling students have been known to go to court on the very first day of their litigation rotation. And it’s not to carry the partner’s briefcase. Number two: You’ll never know what’s coming next. Our students work directly with teams of lawyers who keep them hopping. But they’re also there for support and supervision. Our advice? Go with the flow.

Apply Now

Advice From Our Lawyers

At school you learn the fundamental principles and how to analyze the law. Your task now is to learn to be a lawyer. When you're faced with a case--writing a memo, dealing with a client--think results. You're trying to get the most efficient and best answer for your client. It's about principles versus practicalities.
Jim Scarfone
Jim ScarfoneFounding Partner
Be bold in your writing. Don't use 20 words when you can use ten. Plain, direct discussion means you can be a better advocate.
David Thompson
David ThompsonPartner
In school it’s easy to be attracted to the more academic courses like constitutional human rights. Don’t forget about courses that will relate to the work you’ll be doing, like real estate, secured transactions, bankruptcy and insolvency.
David Rosati
David RosatiPartner
It’s a long day and a long career. Articling is not just about getting a job. It’s about the experience, who you’re going to be trained under, what you think you want to do. Interview us like we interview you. It’s a big life decision. You want to find the right fit.
Mike Stanton
Mike StantonPartner
Think about what you want to get out of your articling experience. If you don’t want to do much more than write memos for someone else, work in Toronto.
Adam Savaglio
Adam SavaglioPartner
All the law firms look very much the same but the more you’re able to tell what separates each of them the easier it will be to picture yourself there.
Colleen Yamashita
Colleen YamashitaPartner

Questions? Check out our FAQ Section

Frequently Asked Questions

Current Career Opportunities

There are currently no positions open.