Connections

The best way to get a job is to have the skills employers need, and the best way to learn these requisites is to ask the recruiters. And for Humber students, the best way to ask them is to put them on the Advisory Committee.

Which comes first, the program or its committee? In the early 1990s, the Business School asked human resources professionals in Toronto's top law firms for input on how to educate the best legal assistants for its Law Firm Profile program. Since then, with the help of HR managers, recruiters and trainers from a dozen prominent national and international Toronto law offices, the program has evolved along with the dynamic legal profession.

"Advisory Committee members share a commitment to the success of the Law Firm Profile program," says coordinator Carolyn Smith. "The firms represented on the committee sponsor students on paid field placements each year, so they have a personal interest in helping to ensure the program satisfies their needs."

In addition to advising on the curriculum, Committee members provide scholarships and awards to recognize student achievement, promote the program among their colleagues and participate in a networking breakfast. Each spring and fall one member hosts the biannual meeting in his or her firm's boardroom.

At ease around the large table, members discuss trends, including emerging areas of legal practice, such as intellectual property, along with advancements in technology. They advise on curriculum matters and what students need to succeed. And they talk about employment prospects. "We provide the job descriptions and the program ensures grads meet or surpass the criteria," says Advisory Committee Chair Diane McDowall of Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP.

She adds that they have an ongoing discourse on the changing roles of legal assistants. "What they are doing now is very different from what they did even five years ago. As technology changes, the committee ensures that Humber is equipping the students to cope."

"There are many specialized software programs for the legal practice areas," agrees Carolyn. "We have to know which ones are currently being used by a majority of law firms."

Nelly Meira, Manager of Human Resources and Operations at Lang Michener LLP¹, recommended including a course on the impact of the virtual office because lawyers now commonly download information onto a network or email from anywhere in the world.

The meetings also provide networking opportunities for the Advisory Committee members to share among themselves, even if they are competitors. Nelly says that in addition to analyzing the hot areas of law and what they look for in hiring, they talk about best practices and how they use co-op students at their firms. "From these discussions we can often implement changes in our own offices."

To establish a connection with the legal community right away, Advisory Committee members initiated a career planning session. Each year incoming students tour two of the major downtown law firms where they may fulfill the program's placement requirement. "We show them around and talk about job prospects," says Diane. "Humber grads tell them what they do and what they have achieved. It's win-win for the students, the school and the firm."

Each year Nelly budgets for two or three students. "I allot the funds to be able to hire them when they finish their seven-week internship." Nelly says she has always had a good experience hiring Humber grads. "In my first year at Lang Michener our trainer told me Humber students are the most skilled. They have the technical and practical skills necessary to succeed. Their transition to the workforce is easy and the students want more and more challenges."

Heather Sinclair of Torys LLP is glad that, as an Advisory Committee member, she can request the number of students she needs for the firm's staffing requirements. For 2008 she took six students on the paid placement. "The Humber co-op students have good skills. We hire them each year."

¹Nelly Meira is presently Director of Human Resources and Administration at Bereskin & Parr LLP.