Law students at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP attend a professional development program as part of onboarding training.Supplied
Arif Rahman, business development coordinator at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP (Blakes), one of Canada’s leading law firms, has a succinct summary to describe his time there. “It’s been fantastic,” says the 26-year-old, who completed an eight-month term as a co-op student before his subsequent three years as a fulltime employee.
“As soon as I started, I was on a call with a director who explained how Blakes works,” Rahman says. “Everybody here, from senior management down, is open to helping you learn and develop in your role.
“After that one-on-one call with the director, the person who is now my director took me on a tour of all the different areas at Blakes, explaining who my team members are and who I would likely interact with.”
Blakes understands the importance of creating a workplace environment that brings out the best in all its employees — including co-op students — and is committed to providing exceptional experiences for young people. The firm recognizes that co-op placements provide students with valuable on-the-job experience to help them successfully launch their careers.
All new hires attend a comprehensive orientation program which includes informational sessions to introduce them to the firm’s culture, guided conversations about personal and professional goals and opportunities for social interaction. In addition to the orientation program, Blakes recognizes that starting a new job is exciting, but it can also be stressful.
So, the firm launched the Blakes Ambassador Program, designed to ensure new hires feel welcome and have a sense of belonging from the start. The program pairs a new hire with someone at the firm (other than their mentor) who serves as a trusted additional layer of support. The program is designed to further build connections and facilitate knowledge sharing.
Along with the orientation and ambassador programs, mentorship and an open path to career advancement are at the core of Blakes’ business services co-op student program, says Courtney Mack, a human resources manager who oversees the co-op student program at the firm. “I always like to say to the students, ‘You’re here to help us, of course, but we’re here to help you as well, to give you the resources that you need to be successful, whether at Blakes or elsewhere,’” she says.
During their first week on the job, each co-op student is paired with a mentor who acts as a resource. The mentor provides on-the-job training, helps the students build relationships at the firm and answers any questions the student may have.
The mentorship program has proven to be a very successful two-way street, says Mack. Students regularly comment that it is one of their favourite aspects of their co-op experience, while mentors fully commit to their role and often stay in touch with their mentees when they return to school.
Blakes offers young professionals access to training and development programs and actively encourages participation in charitable initiatives and social events to foster meaningful connections within the firm. Mack says the firm works hard to ensure young people benefit from skills development, relationship building opportunities and mentorship.
The firm’s deep commitment to maintaining a supportive and welcoming workplace culture for new arrivals is the key reason Rahman believes Blakes is a great employer.
“The mentorship provided for students at Blakes — both during their co-op and as they move into full-time roles — really helps ease the transition into the working world and Blakes in general,” he says. “I think most of my coworkers in my department, going back 10 years, were once co-op students at the firm.”
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Advertising feature produced by Canada’s Top 100 Employers, a division of Mediacorp Canada Inc. The Globe and Mail’s editorial department was not involved.
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