Involvement in Public Affairs   |   Involvement in the Legal Community and the Profession   |   Involvement in Community Affairs   |   Gowlings - Social   |   Our Facilities

The primary objective of our articling program is to provide each student with a comprehensive and thorough exposure to the practice of law.

Our students are treated as lawyers.

Students can expect a full range of assignments with varying degrees of difficulty. As required by the Law Society of Alberta, each student is articled to a principal who is a partner selected for the student from the practice area in which the student has expressed the greatest interest. In addition, the student lecture series offered throughout the articling year introduces students to common substantive and practice issues in many areas of the law through the expertise of the firm's lawyers.

Articles in Calgary are designed to encourage and facilitate a student's individual interests and needs. It is our experience that the rewards of articles are directly related to the interest and initiative of the student.

Involvement in Public Affairs

Gowlings encourages the involvement of its lawyers in civic and public affairs. Our lawyers are involved in public affairs initiatives related to all levels of government and in many non-governmental associations.

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Involvement in the Legal Community and the Profession

One of our senior partners serves the legal profession as a Bencher of the Law Society of Alberta and others serve in various committee activities with that organization.

Many of our lawyers participate actively at the local, provincial and national levels of the Canadian Bar Association and on various executive committees of that organization. Others are members of various legal organizations such as the Canadian Petroleum Law Foundation, the International Bar Association, the Defence Research Institute, the Federation of Insurance and Corporate Counsel, the International Association of Defence Counsel and the American College of Trial Lawyers. Our lawyers also participate as associate members in numerous industry organizations related to the firm's practice.

Lawyers with the firm have written texts, published articles, conducted and participated in continuing legal education seminars, served on the faculty of the University of Calgary Law School as sessional instructors and guest lecturers and as members of Faculty Council, and served as directors and governors of various research foundations. Our lawyers are also active as course leaders and lecturers in the Law Society of Alberta's Bar Admission Course.

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Involvement in Community Affairs

Lawyers at Gowlings participate in a variety of political activities and have served on the boards of numerous charitable, cultural and sports organizations including the Glenbow-Alberta Institute, the Calgary Centre for Performing Arts, the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Theatre Calgary, the Alberta Ballet Company, the Alberta Science Centre and the Olympic Organizing Committee.

Our lawyers also volunteer and mentor with a number of public legal service organizations, including Calgary Legal Guidance, University of Calgary Venture Development Clinic and Student Legal Assistance.

Interests and activities outside the practice of law are of importance to our lawyers and are encouraged by the firm.

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Gowlings – Social

We recognize that the demands of the practice should be balanced with a lawyer's need for satisfaction and fulfillment in other areas. Firm activities (many of which are organized by the firm's "Fun Committee"), include practice area retreats, a Family Fun Day, children's and staff/professional holiday parties, participation in the K-100 Relay Race, golf tournament, and, firm ("TGIF") get-togethers throughout the year.

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Our Facilities

The Calgary office is situated in the Scotia Centre in the heart of the downtown business core, near the courthouse and many of our clients.

The firm's research, telecommunications, computer and word processing facilities have been designed to support our commitment to high-quality legal services. Indexed legal memoranda and opinions, advanced computer management and legal information systems plus an extensive in-house law library (with professional staff and a research lawyer) provide instant access to the most recent developments in the law. Years in its design and implementation, Gowlings precedent document system (the "Gowlings Precedent System") is one of the finest of its kind in North America. We provide the resources required to organize, document and complete large, complex projects in an efficient manner.

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