Our student programs are flexible and allow you to gain exposure to a wide range of practice areas while exploring your own interests. We encourage students to reach out to lawyers in practice areas they would like to learn more about or with whom they are interested in working. You will receive interesting and practical hands-on experience in our diverse practice areas:
Litigation & Advocacy: You will be exposed to commercial litigation, insurance litigation, administrative law, insolvency, environmental, employment & labour, family, wills & estates, immigration and aboriginal law.
Real Estate & Business Law: You will be exposed to a mix of corporate and commercial law, taxation and real estate.
We believe that our students should be involved in all facets of our practice. Our students are continuously challenged and will become involved in matters of increasing complexity and responsibility as their abilities develop. Examples of assignments given to students include:
- Handle your own small claims court files with supervision
- Draft correspondence, pleadings, motion records, facta and research memos
- Attend discoveries, mediations, pre-trials and hearings before courts and tribunals with our experienced lawyers
- Assist with both corporate and real estate closings
- Draft corporate contracts as well as director and shareholder resolutions
We treat summer and articling students similarly in terms of assignments and level of responsibility, except for the restrictions on rights of appearance before courts imposed by the Law Society.
Summer Student Program: We try to match you with a lawyer in your chosen practice area in either our corporate/real estate or litigation practice areas as we feel the summer is too short for a formal rotation system. That said, we are flexible and allow you to seek out work in any and all areas of interest during your summer experience.
Articling Student Program: We maintain a flexible individually-tailored rotation system in our two primary practice areas: litigation and business law.
Blaney McMurtry LLP is committed to providing accommodations for people with disabilities. If you require an accommodation, we will work with you to meet your needs.
Meet our 2025 Summer Students
Mitch Babec:
416-593-1221 Ext. 2660
Mbabec@blaney.com
Mitch is a second-year student at Queen’s University Faculty of Law. At Queen’s, Mitch is an associate editor for the Queen’s Law Journal. He also contributed to the law school’s music scene as the 2025 Lawlapalooza co-chair, raising record-high donations for Kingston’s H’art Centre charity. He is the founder and lead guitarist for his law school band, Beyond a Reasonable Doubt.
Before attending law school, Mitch worked as a public servant at the Canadian Human Rights Commission. Over several years, he coordinated the development of Canada’s first federal programs under the Pay Equity Act and Accessible Canada Act. While earning his bachelor’s degrees in Biopharmaceutical Sciences and Management, he also pursued his passion for mentorship. He taught courses in chemistry, statistics and accounting as a teaching assistant and instructor to over 500 students.
In his spare time, Mitch loves to play squash, travel and practice for his upcoming concerts and gigs.
Layla Bender:
416-593-1221 Ext. 2661
Lbender@blaney.com
Layla is a second-year law student at Queen’s University Faculty of Law. Prior to law school, she attended the University of Toronto where she graduated with an Honours Bachelor of Arts Degree (High Distinction) specializing in Criminology.
During her time at Queen’s, Layla volunteered with Pro Bono Students Canada on a year-long project assisting self-represented family law litigants. She continues to work with the Kingston Chapter of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts Ontario to organize interdisciplinary educational programs for family law and justice professionals. Further, she was an academic tutor for incoming first-year law students and received the Queen’s Torts prize for achieving the highest grade in the course. In her previous summer, Layla worked at a boutique family law firm.
Outside of work, Layla enjoys spending time with her friends and family, and enjoys reading fantasy novels, drawing and knitting. She also likes hiking, running and weightlifting, and is an avid musical theatre fan.
Susan Kuang:
416-593-1221 Ext. 2662
Skuang@blaney.com
Susan is a second-year law student at Western University Faculty of Law. She previously graduated with Dean’s Honours from the University of Waterloo, earning a Bachelor of Arts with an Honours Specialization in Psychology. Prior to law school, Susan worked in sales within the area of insolvency, where she adopted a client-centered approach to problem-solving.
At Western, Susan was named to the Dean’s Honour List in her first year, having ranked in the top 10% of her class. Outside of academics, she is actively involved in various committees. From volunteering with Pro Bono Students Canada to serving as a student ambassador, Susan is passionate about providing support and guidance not only to her fellow students but also to the broader community. Additionally, she holds leadership positions in Western’s Tax Law Association and the East Asian Law Student Association.
In Susan’s free time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, as well as playing various strategy games such as Settlers of Catan and Chess. Susan also loves to snowboard in the winter and hike in the summer.
Alessia Leonardelli:
416-593-1221 Ext. 2663
ALeonardelli@blaney.com
Alessia is a second-year law student at Western University Faculty of Law. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from University of Guelph, where she completed a double major in Criminal Justice and Public Policy and History.
Throughout her undergraduate degree and law school career, Alessia has obtained work experience in the financial services industry and in her 1L summer, worked as a legal intern at an investment company in Toronto. Outside of her academic and professional experience, Alessia is an active volunteer in her local community. During her undergrad, she tutored low-income high school students and continues to prioritize supporting the community by participating in sandwich patrols across the city with other alumni from her high school. Since entering law school, Alessia is a proud student ambassador for incoming students and joined the social committee where she plans events for current Western law students.
Outside of work and school, Alessia enjoys reading, playing board games, travelling and spending time with her family.
Emily-Rose Njonde:
416-593-1221 Ext. 2664
ENjonde@blaney.com
Emily-Rose is a second-year law student at Osgoode Hall Law School. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Social Entrepreneurship from McGill University, where she was deeply involved in student leadership and equity-focused initiatives.
Emily-Rose’s passion for advocacy has continued at Osgoode through a wide range of clinical, extracurricular and leadership roles. She has supported low-income and refugee clients through her work at the FCJ Refugee Centre, the Administrative Law Division of the Community Legal Aid Services Program, Legal Aid Ontario’s Refugee Law Office and the Osgoode IP Innovation Clinic, where she conducted trademark and prior art searches for early-stage entrepreneurs. She also worked at a prominent class actions firm in her first year summer.
As National Moot Director for the Black Law Students’ Association of Canada, Emily-Rose led the largest-ever iteration of the country’s only student-run, for-credit moot. Through the 1834 Global Program, she developed a policy brief and presented recommendations to Global Affairs Canada on refining Canada’s Africa strategy. She currently serves on the Osgoode Student Caucus and looks forward to mooting this upcoming academic year.
In her free time, Emily-Rose enjoys reading, attending live poetry and comedy events, cycling and spending time with friends.
Jessica Sing:
416-593-1221 Ext. 2665
Jsing@blaney.com
Jessica is a second-year law student at Queen’s University Faculty of Law. She plays an active role in her school’s leadership as a member of both the Elections and Awards Committees and is an avid participant in student clubs and moot competitions. In her second year, Jessica was awarded an Appellate Internship, allowing her to assist with cases brought before the Ontario Court of Appeal.
Before beginning her legal studies, Jessica earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Manitoba. She went on to work in the medical and pharmaceutical sales industry, including as a representative for a leading multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company.
Outside of her academic pursuits, Jessica enjoys listening to true crime podcasts, hiking and spending time with her French Bulldog Alfonzo.
Please note that Blaney McMurtry LLP will be participating in this year’s 2L OCI and Interview Week recruitment process. We are planning to hire up to 6 second year summer students.
Candidates must submit a full application through viLawPortal in addition to selecting us for OCIs on your school portal. We will not accept applications submitted via email or regular mail.
Summer student applications should be addressed to Neil Dennis, Director of Professional Development, and should include the following:
- Cover Letter - PLEASE CLEARLY INDICATE in your cover letter what practice area(s) (if any) you are most interested in
- Resume
- Copies of official undergraduate and law school transcripts
- Reference letters are welcome but not required
We thank all candidates for their response but only those to be considered for an interview will be contacted.
If students would like to learn more about our summer student program, they are welcome to contact our current summer students.