Pay and Benefits within the Articling Student Program

Articling students are hired as time-limited regular employees and receive full medical and dental benefits, as well as four weeks of paid vacation. The salary is $64,946.70 annually or $2,489.40 bi-weekly. Articling students are also eligible to apply for the Pacific Leaders Loan Forgiveness program.

The ministry pays the Law Society of British Columbia enrolment fees for its students, including the Professional Legal Training Course (PLTC) fees, and continues the students’ salary during PLTC. The ministry also pays the students’ call fees at the end of articles.

Start and end dates of articles

The start and end dates of articles are flexible, but that flexibility is limited. Depending on your circumstances, it may be possible to start your articles at a different date than other students and to take the Professional Legal Training Course at the beginning, middle or end of your articles. Most students will start their articles in either May or September to align with the start dates of PLTC in Victoria, Vancouver or Kamloops.

Conflicts of interest

If, for example, you worked on a file during a co-op term in which a British Columbia ministry was named as a party, you may be in a conflict of interest. While such a conflict would not prohibit you from articling at the Ministry of Attorney General, you will likely face restrictions including:

• Accessing computer drives where information about a case you worked is stored;
• Discussing the case with any LSB lawyers;
• Going into any areas of the office where the files of that case are stored; and
• Taking any part in future litigation on or related to the original case against or on behalf of your previous clients.

Criminal record checks

All successful candidates for jobs with the Ministry must pass a criminal record check.

Students working with the Prosecution Service as an articling student or on rotation will be required to pass a further, enhanced security screening.

Principal selection

The Law Society requires each articling student to be assigned a principal. The principal ensures that, during articles, the student is instructed on the various aspects of the practice of law and of professional conduct. The Articling Student Program makes every effort to match its students with principals who share the students’ legal interests.

Contacting current or former students

Contact the Manager of the Articling Student Program (AGArticling@gov.bc.ca) to be put in touch with current or former articling students.