Th Law Society of Ontario's Professional Development and Competence Committee issued a November 2021 report recommending not to compensate articling students' minimum wage, thus relieving a burden from sole and small firms and allowing them to more easily bring on students. The Law Society argues that a minimum wage for articling students would exacerbate the problem of licensing candidates being unable to find articling jobs. The Federation of Ontario Law Associations has spoken against the recommendation. Concern has been raised that unpaid articling makes it harder for the legal profession to become more inclusive, as racialized and marginalized students often cannot work for free as they complete their requirements for entry into the profession.
March 23, 2022
