Social Justice Law Firms

Click here to download the SJAN Careers Guide

SJAN’s Unofficial Guide to Social Justice in Private Practice

This list was completed by the UBC Law Social Justice Action Network Careers Sub-Committee, November, 2013

Welcome to the first SJAN Careers Guide!

 This is a list of law firms that SJAN members have identified as firms with a social justice oriented practice, or law firms that incorporate social justice values into their practice.

This is an unofficial guide! It is not made by UBC, nor is it part of any publicity project of the law firms involved. It is the product of a few SJAN members lengthy career search. As we all went through the process of snooping through websites, making phone calls and going for coffee dates in an attempt to find the perfect social justice job, we realized that it was time to put our heads together. Eventually, a group of SJAN members divided up the UBC Law Small Firm guide and investigated every firm to see if they had the kind of practice that a social justice oriented student would be interested in.

The following is a list of firms that we chose. We realize this is subjective and may have missed a few good law firms. Nonetheless, we hope it provides a good launching off point for your career search.

Comments or Questions?

Contact SJAN at sjan.ubclaw@gmail.com

Aboriginal Law
This list only includes law firms that practice on the Aboriginal side. Many also practice environmental law.

Firm: McDonald & Co
Website: www.mcdonaldandco.com
Contact: 604-267-7990
City: Vancouver

Firm: Ratcliffe & Co
Website: www.ratcliffe.com
Contact: admin@ratcliffe.com
City: North Vancouver
Hires students: Sometimes – http://www.ratcliff.com/employment.htm

Firm: Mandell Pinder
Website: www.mandellpinder.com
Contact: info@mandellpinder.com
City: Vancover
Hires students: Sometimes

Firm: Olthuis Kleer Townshend
Website: http://www.oktlaw.com
Contact: tmckenna@oktlaw.com
City: Toronto
Hires Students: Not sure

Firm: JFK Law Corporation
Website: www.jfklaw.ca
Contact: 604 687.0549
City: Vancouver
Hires students: Sometimes – http://www.jfklaw.ca/employment.php

Firm: Peter Grant & Associates
Website: www.grantnativelaw.com
Contact: admin@grantnativelaw.com
City: Vancouver
Hires students: Has hired articling students

Firm: Rosenberg & Rosenberg
Website: www.rosenberglaw.ca
Contact: reception@rosenberglaw.ca
City: Vancouver
Hires students: Not sure

Firm: Underhill, Bois, Parker
Website: www.upblaw.ca
Contact: 604-696-9828
City: Vancouver & Victoria
Hires Students: Sometimes

Firm: Ng Ariss Fong
Website: www.ngariss.com
Contact: general@ngariss.com
City: Vancouver
Hires Students: Has in the past.

Firm: Arbutus Law Group LLP
Website: www.arbutuslaw.ca
Contact: Vancouver: P: 778-230-7732
Victoria: 778-410-5188
Toronto: 239-637-9811
City: Vancouver, Victoria, Toronto
Hire Students: Not Sure

Firm: Paper, Salter Teillet
Website: www.pstlaw.ca
Contact: 604 681 3002
City: Vancouver
Hires Students: Not Sure

Firm: Fast & Corcoran
Website: www.nativelaw.com
Contact: 604-261-4529
City: Vancouver
Hires Students: Not sure

Animal Law
This list includes firms that advocate for animal rights

Firm: Boughton Law
Website: http://www.boughtonlaw.com/
Contact: (604) 687-6789, info@boughtonlaw.com
City: Vancouver
Hires Students: Yes http://www.boughtonlaw.com/careers/lawyer-careers/

Constitutional Law 

Firm: Arvay Finlay
Website: www.arvayfinlay.com
Contact: 604-689-4421
City: Vancouver
Hires Students: Sometimes: http://www.arvayfinlay.com/opportunities.htm

Firm: Underhill, Bois, Parker
Website: www.upblaw.ca
Contact: 604-696-9828
City: Vancouver & Victoria
Hires Students: Sometimes

Firm: Sack Goldblatt Mitchell
Website: http://www.sgmlaw.com/en/
Contact: 416-977-6070
City: Toronto, Ottawa****
Hires Students: Yes: http://www.sgmlaw.com/en/Careers/

Criminal Defence Law

Firm: Peck & Company
Website: www.peckandcompany.com
Contact: hmoore@peckandcompany
City: Vancouver
Hires students: Sometimes – http://www.peckandcompany.ca/careers/

Firm: D Gossal & Associates
Website: www.gossallaw.com
Contact: WABClawyers@aol.com
City: Surrey, Vancouver
Hires students: Not sure

Firm: Affleck, Hira, Burgoyne LLP
Website: www.ahb-law.com
Contact: 604-800-8020
City: Vancouver
Hires students: Not sure

Firm: Hopkins Law
Website: www.hopkinslaw.com
Contact: david@hopkinslaw.com
City: Vancouver
Hires students: Has in the pas 

Firm: Mickelson & Company Law Corporation
Website: www.criminallawyervancouver.com
Contact: 604-688-8588
City: Vancouver
Hires students: Have in the past

Firm: Mines & Co
Website: www.mineslaw.com
Contact: 604-484-1940
City: Vancouver
Hires students: Not sure

Firm: Mitch Foster Law
Website: www.mitchfoster.com
Contact: 604-687-4288
City: Vancouver
Hires students: Not sure

Firm: Orris Law Corp
Website: www.orrislawcorp.com
Contact: glen@orrislawcorp.com
City: Vancouver
Hires students: Sometimes – http://www.orrislawcorp.com/articling.html

Firm: Meyers, Wadell, McMurdo & Karp
Website:  None
Contact: 604-688-8331
City: Vancouver
Hires students: Hires articling students

Firm: Stuart Lien Law Corporation
Website: www.leinlawcorp.com
Contact: 604-684-7517
City: Vancouver
Hires students: Not sure

Firm: Conroy and Company
Website: http://www.johnconroy.com
Contact: office@johnconroy.com
City: Abbotsford
Hires Students: Not sure

Firm: Rishi Gill
Website: www.rishigill.com
Contact: 604 899 1436
City: Vancouver
Hires Students: Not sure

Firm: Hartney & Company
Website: www.hartneyandcompany.com
Contact: 604-331-9977
City: Vancouver
Hires Students: Not sure

Environmental Law
This list only includes firms that practice on the side of environment.

Firm: Ratcliffe & Co
Website: www.ratcliffe.com
Contact: admin@ratcliffe.com
City: North Vancouver
Hires students: Sometimes – http://www.ratcliff.com/employment.htm

Firm: Underhill, Bois, Parker
Website: www.upblaw.ca
Contact: 604-696-9828
City: Vancouver & Victoria
Hires Students: Sometimes

Firm: JFK Law Corporation
Website: www.jfklaw.ca
Contact: 604 687.0549
City: Vancouver
Hires students: Sometimes – http://www.jfklaw.ca/employment.php

Firm: Houlihan & Associates
Website: www.envirolegal.ca
Contact: phoulihan@envirolegal.ca
City: Vancouver
Hires Students: Not sure

Firm: Ng Ariss Fong
Website: www.ngariss.com
Contact: general@ngariss.com
City: Vancouver
Hires Students: Has in the past.

Firm: Olthuis Kleer Townshend
Website: http://www.oktlaw.com
Contact: tmckenna@oktlaw.com
City: Toronto
Hires Students: Not sure

Firm: Red Cedar Law
Website: www.redcedarlaw.com
Contact: 778 228 2992
City: Vancouver
Hires Students: Not Sure
Note: Civil (Police assaults, Human Rights and Charter Challenges, and Judicial Reviews), Environmental

Family Law
This list includes family law firms with a feminist or social justice focus

Firm: Megan Ellis & Company
Website: www.ellisandcompany.ca
Contact: info@ellisandcompany.ca
City: Vancouver
Hires Students: Not sure

Firm: Agnes Huang Law
Website: www.agneshuanglaw.com
Contact: agnes@agneshuanglaw.om
City:Vancouver
Hires Students: Not sure

Firm: MacLean Family Law Group
Website: www.bcfamilylaw.ca
Contact: 604-602-9000
City: Vancouver, Surrey, Fort St John, Kelowna
Hires Students: Yes
Notes: Has a same-sex family practice

Feminist Law Firms
This list includes firms that integrate women’s equality as a central part of their practice

Firm: Conkie & Company
Website: www.conkie-law.ca
Contact: jconkie@conkie-law.ca
City: Vancouver
Hires Students: Not sure

Firm: Lovett & Westmacott
Website: www.lw-law.ca
Contact: 604-684-9221
City: Vancouver & Victoria
Hires Students: Has hired research assistant

Firm: Agnes Huang Law
Website: www.agneshuanglaw.com
Contact: agnes@agneshuanglaw.om
City:Vancouver
Hires Students: Not sure

Firm: Ethos Law
Website: www.ethoslaw.ca
Contact: 604-569-3022
City: Vancouver
Hires Students: Not sure

Firm: Anita Braha
Website: www.wanitabraha.com
Contact: wabraha@telus.net
City: Vancouver
Hires Students: Not sure

Firm: Megan Ellis & Company
Website: www.ellisandcompany.ca
Contact: info@ellisandcompany.ca
City: Vancouver
Hires Students: Not sure

Firm: Galldin Robertson
Website: www.galldinrobertson.ca
Contact: info@galldinrobertson.ca
City: Ottawa****
Hires Students: Has hired students unpaid

Human Rights
This section only includes firms that practice complainant side human rights law.

Firm: Caroline & Gislason
Website: http://www.carolinelaw.ca
Contact: 1-604-633-1880
City: Vancouver
Hires Students: Not sure

Firm: Ng Ariss Fong
Website: http://www.ngariss.com/v2/areas.htm
Contact: general@ngariss.com
City: Vancouver
Hires Students: Has in the past

Firm: Champ & Associates
Website: www.champlaw.ca
Contact: 1-613-237-4740
City: Ottawa ****
Hires Students: Yes

Firm: Galldin Robertson
Website:  http://galldinrobertson.ca
Contact: info@galldinrobertson.ca
City: Ottawa
Hires Students: Sometimes unpaid summer students

Firm: Ethos Law
Website: www.ethoslaw.ca
Contact: 604-569-3022
City: Vancouver
Hires Students: Not sure

Firm: Moore Edgar Lyster
Website: http://www.unionlawyers.com
Contact: 604-689-4457
City: Vancouver
Hires Students: Sometimes

Firm: Koskie Glavin Gordon
Website: http://www.koskieglavin.com
Contact: 604-734-8001
City: Vancouver
Hires Students: Hires articling students

Immigration and Refugee Law

Firm: Lorne Waldman & Associates
Website: http://www.lornewaldman.ca
Contact: 416-482-6501
City: Toronto****
Hires Students: Unsure

Firm: Jackman, Nazami & Associates
Website: http://www.bjackman.com/immigration-lawyers/barbara-jackman
Contact: 416-653-9964
City: Toronto****
Hires Students: Sometimes

Firm: Elgin Cannon & Associates
Website: http://www.elgincannon.com/services.html
Contact: 604-683-5959
City: Vancouver
Hires Students: Not sure

Firm: Naomi Minwalla Law Corporation
Website: http://www.naomiminwalla.com
Contact: naomi@naomiminwalla.com
City: Vancouver
Hires Students: Sometimes

Firm: Maynard Kischer Stojicevic
Website: http://vancouverlaw.ca
Contact: 604-632-0188
City: Vancouver
Hires Students: Sometimes

Firm: Suleman & Co
Website: www.sulemanco.com
Contact: 604-685-8472
City: Vancouver
Hires Students: Not Sure

Firm: Kang & Company
Website: http://www.kanglawyers.com/
Contact: reception@kanglawyers.com
City: Surrey, Calgary, Montreal,
Hires Students: Not Sure
Note: Also practices family and criminal law

Labour and Employment
This list only includes firms that practice on the union or employee side.

Firm: Caroline & Gislason
Website: http://www.carolinelaw.ca
Contact: 1-604-633-1880
City: Vancouver
Hires Students: Not sure

Firm: Rush Crane Guenther
Website: www.rushcraneguenther.com
Contact: 604-687-5611
City: Vancouver
Hires Students: Have had articling students

Firm: Hastings Labour Law Office
Website: www.labourlawoffice.com
Contact: 604-632-9644; reception@hllo.ca
City: Vancouver
Hires Students: Sometimes

Firm: Black Gropper
Website: www.blackgropper.com
Contact: (604) 632-9940
City: Vancouver
Hires Students: Sometimes

Firm: Bannister & Co
Website: http://banisterlaw.com
Contact: 604-662-7276
City: Vancouver
Hires Students: Not sure

Firm: Ursel Phillips Fellows Hopkinson
Website: http://www.upfhlaw.ca
Contact: 416-968-3333
City: Toronto****
Hires Students: Shared articles with Canadian Auto Workers

Firm: Cavaluzzo Hayes
Website: http://www.cavalluzzo.com
Contact: 416-964-1115; contactus@cavalluzzo.com
City: Toronto
Hires Students: Yes: http://www.cavalluzzo.com/Student-Programme.aspx#menu

Firm: Koskie Glavin Gordon
Website: http://www.koskieglavin.com
Contact: 604-734-8001
City: Vancouver
Hires Students: Not sure

Firm: Sack Goldblatt Mitchell
Website: http://www.sgmlaw.com/en/
Contact: 416-977-6070
City: Toronto, Ottawa****
Hires Students: Yes: http://www.sgmlaw.com/en/Careers/

Firm: Victory Square
Website: http://vslo.ca/index.html
Contact: 604-684-8421
City: Vancouver
Hires Students: Yes

Firm: Moore Edgar Lyster
Website: http://www.unionlawyers.com
Contact: 604-689-4457
City: Vancouver
Hires Students: Sometimes

Firm: McGrady & Co
Website: http://www.mbwlaw.ca
Contact: 604-734-7003; info@mcgradylaw.ca
City: Vancouver
Hires Students: Sometimes

Firm: Hamilton, Howell, Bain & Gould
Website: http://www.hhbg.ca
Contact: 604-696-0556
City: Vancouver
Hires Students: Not sure

Firm: Shortt & Arsenault
Website: None
Contact: 604 669 4447
City: Vancouver
Hires Students: Sometimes

Queer Rights Advocacy

Firm: Smith & Hughes
Website: www.smith-hughes.com
Contact: 604 683 4176
City: Vancouver
Hires Students: Not Sure

Firm: Arvay Finlay
Website: www.arvayfinlay.com
Contact: 604-689-4421
City: Vancouver
Hires Students: Sometimes: http://www.arvayfinlay.com/opportunities.htm

Firm: Sack Goldblatt Mitchell
Website: http://www.sgmlaw.com/en/
Contact: 416-977-6070
City: Toronto, Ottawa****
Hires Students: Yes: http://www.sgmlaw.com/en/Careers/

Firm: MacLean Family Law Group
Website: www.bcfamilylaw.ca
Contact: 604-602-9000
City: Vancouver, Surrey, Fort St John, Kelowna
Hires Students: Yes
Notes: Has a same-sex family practice

Firm: barbara findlay
Website: http://www.barbarafindlay.com
Contact: bjf@barbarafindlay.com
City: Vancouver
Hires Students: Unsure

Social Justice Focused General Firms
This list includes firms that practice an array of areas with a specific focus on social justice 

Firm: Gratl & Company
Website: http://www.gratlandcompany.com/team/jason-gratl/
Contact: jason@gratlandcompany.com
City: Vancouver
Hires Students: Not sure

Firm: barbara findlay
Website: http://www.barbarafindlay.com
Contact: bjf@barbarafindlay.com
City: Vancouver
Hires Students: Unsure

Firm: Klippensteins
Website: http://www.klippensteins.ca
Contact: 1-416-598-0288
City: Toronto ****
Hires Students: Yes

Firm: Selwyn Pieters
Website: http://0046f91.netsolhost.com/index.htm
Contact: Selwyn@SelwynPieters.com
City: Toronto****
Hires Students: Not sure

Firm: Galldin Robertson
Website:  http://galldinrobertson.ca
Contact: info@galldinrobertson.ca
City: Ottawa
Hires Students: Sometimes unpaid summer students

Firm: Ethos Law
Website: www.ethoslaw.ca
Contact: 604-569-3022
City: Vancouver
Hires Students: Not sure

Firm: Red Cedar Law
Website: www.redcedarlaw.com
Contact: 778 228 2992
City: Vancouver
Hires Students: Not Sure
Note: Civil (Police assaults, Human Rights and Charter Challenges, and Judicial Reviews), Environmental

Firm: A. Cameron Ward & Company
Website: www.cameronward.com
Contact: cward@cameronward.com
City: Vancouver
Hires Student: Takes on unpaid summer students

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *