1L Indigenous Summer Student Program

Miller Thomson is a national law firm dedicated to fostering Diversity and Inclusion in the communities in which we operate. Miller Thomson prides itself on the quality of services provided to clients and our ability to attract and retain top legal talent. We deliver dynamic solutions in all facets of business law and are uniquely pan-Canadian, offering legal services in more cities than any other national firm. We are proud to lead the way with our committal to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada‘s call to action to advance the reconciliation process.

Our Indigenous Law Student Program is the first of its kind in the country, providing participants with:

  • work experience at a leading national law firm;
  • exposure to a variety of practice areas; and
  • the opportunity to expand professional networks.

Students will work with the firm for approximately 12-16 weeks, starting in May. The program offers one paid position in one of our offices. Applicants must be Indigenous students in their first year of study at a Canadian law school and demonstrate a connection to or involvement with their Indigenous community.

Read more: Creating Space in BigLaw for Indigenous Law Students, NALP Bulletin (December 2017)

Student Program

Our students handle a variety of assignments for all our practice groups during their summer term at Miller Thomson. Students will have the opportunity to work within the areas of Administrative Law, Business, Litigation, Real Estate and Tax. Students are also encouraged to be entrepreneurial, and seek work and experiences of interest to them.

Training

Students receive an office-specific orientation and participate in the national summer student orientation program. This program provides training sessions on firm organization, practice management tips, communication, legal writing and research and substantive overviews of our practice areas. Throughout the summer, students continue their professional development by attending firm-wide and practice-specific continuing legal education seminars presented both locally and nationally.

Mentorship

Our Indigenous law students will have multiple resources for mentorship and guidance to support their progress and integration throughout the summer.

All summer students will be paired with an associate mentor who can assist with adjusting to life within a law firm environment. Depending on local Law Society requirements, summer students may also be assigned to a more senior lawyer who will serve as their principal.

Feedback

Our summer students will receive a formal performance evaluation. In addition to the formal process, ongoing developmental check-ins are scheduled throughout the summer to provide real-time feedback, including ways to focus on personal strengths, improving skillsets and curating an individualized summer experience.

Salary

The Indigenous law students will be paid the same salary as the other summer students in their office. Miller Thomson student salaries are in line with the respective markets. If a successful candidate does not already live in the city where they will be working, they will be provided with an additional stipend to off-set travel and living expenses.

How to apply

Thank you for your interest, our 2026 position has been filled. Please check back in early 2027 for information on future opportunities.

2026 1L Indigenous Summer Law Student (Vancouver)

Miller Thomson invites Indigenous law students in their first year of study to apply for a position in our 1L Indigenous Law Student Program at our Vancouver office.

Applicants must be Indigenous students in their first year of study at a Canadian law school and demonstrate a connection to or involvement with their Indigenous community.

This position is based in our Vancouver office. If the successful candidate does not currently reside or study in the Lower Mainland area, they will receive an additional stipend to offset travel and living expenses; candidates whose primary residence is in the Lower Mainland are not eligible for the stipend.

Visit Vancouver Summer Student Program for more information.

First year Indigenous law school students should apply with the following documents:

  • cover letter
  • resume
  • undergraduate and law school transcripts (scanned/PDF copies accepted)
  • list of midterm or interim law grades if final first semester law grades are not available

Applicants may address their materials to:

David Buxton-Forman
Director, Legal Talent
700 West Georgia Street, Suite 2200
Vancouver, BC V7Y 1K8

Applications will be accepted through the viDesktop portal, which will open on January 23, 2026 and close on February 17, 2026 at 11:59 pm PT.

INTERVIEWS:
Interviews will be held during the first week of March. Shortlisted students will be contacted to schedule an in-person interview at our Vancouver office, with virtual options available for candidates who require accommodations or are attending law school outside of Vancouver.

Miller Thomson will provide accommodations on request throughout the recruitment, selection and/or assessment process for applicants with disabilities.  If you require accommodations, please inform Elisa Coelho at [email protected] of the nature of accommodations that you may require, to ensure your equal participation.

COMPENSATION:
Summer students in our Vancouver office earn $80,000 per annum pro-rated for the duration of the summer term, less applicable withholdings and deductions.

Meet our 2026 Indigenous Summer Law Student

Sydney Gauthier

Sydney is a member of Taykwa Tagamou Nation, a Cree community located in Treaty 9 through her father’s side and Irish-Canadian on her mother’s side.

Sydney is a student in the four‑year joint degree program in Canadian Common Law (JD) and Indigenous Legal Orders (JID) at the University of Victoria Faculty of Law. She has a particular interest in Indigenous law and business law. Sydney is actively engaged in the law school community, serving as co‑chair of the Indigenous Law Students’ Society, as Sports & Clubs Representative for the Law Students’ Society, and as a tutor for first year law students. Sydney also participates in intramural sports.

Prior to law school, Sydney completed a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Kinesiology at Queen’s University. She then gained experience working in business financial services at a bank.

In her free time, Sydney enjoys staying active, playing sports, and spending time at the beach.

Past Students

Summer 2025 (Calgary): Taryn Ghostkeeper-Dachuk (University of Alberta)

Summer 2024 (Toronto): Abbigail Barrette (Western University)

Summer 2023 (Vancouver): Vanessa Rosteski (University of British Columbia)

Summer 2022 (Calgary): Trevor McGowan (University of Calgary)

Summer 2021 (Toronto): Aleshia Johnson (York University)

Summer 2020 (Saskatoon): Carter Bezugly (University of Saskatoon)

Summer 2019 (Calgary): Jared Knott (University of British Columbia)

Summer 2018 (Vancouver): Derek Odgers (University of British Columbia) and Julia Thielmann (University of British Columbia)

Summer 2017 (Toronto and Vancouver): Jeremie Lachance (University of Toronto) and Shawnee Monchalin (University of British Columbia)

Indigenous Summer Student Testimonials

“What drew me to Miller Thomson is the people. I wanted to ensure that when I began my legal career as a summer law student, I would have the proper supports and mentorship that would set solid foundations for my future. Having the opportunity to work with a group of genuine people who were interested in seeing me succeed made me happy to be a part of the Miller Thomson team.”

Trevor McGowan, Calgary

“I greatly enjoyed my summer student position with Miller Thomson. I learned so much about various applications of the law, in a number of practice areas. It was a rewarding experience to work so closely with the lawyers. I was able to contribute to many exciting projects throughout my work term, leaving me with a great sense of fulfillment.

The mentorship and guidance that I received from associates, partners, students, and staff made the work environment extremely welcoming. They provided me with all the tools I needed and genuinely wanted me to succeed. I feel very fortunate to have been a part of the amazing team in the Saskatoon office.”

Carter Bezugly, Saskatoon

“Summering at Miller Thomson has been an incredible experience. I had the opportunity to work in a broad range of practice areas such as environmental law, real estate, employment, Indigenous law, securities, and corporate law. Further, I had the unique opportunity to work with a First Nation community on a secondment. This experience was invaluable to my personal and professional growth. I feel fortunate to have worked on interesting and challenging projects that were important to me as a summer student.

I learned so much with the resources and guidance provided at Miller Thomson. Along with national training, the mentorship from lawyers, students, and staff made it easy to integrate into the office and build relationships. I am grateful to be a part of the amazing work that is done here.”

Julia Thielmann, Vancouver