§ Careers
Toronto · Boutique practice · Selective hiring
Northline is a deliberately small practice. Headcount grows when the matter book justifies it — not before. Introductions are welcome at any time from lawyers, articling students, and operators whose temperament fits the work.
§ 01 — How we hire
Northline does not run open requisitions on a quarterly cadence. Roles open when the matter book has structurally outgrown the current team — not when a quarter ends. That keeps the work calm, the engagements scoped, and the standard of counsel consistent.
Introductions are still welcome at any time. The firm keeps a short list of lawyers, articling students, and operators it would call first when a role does open. Most hires begin as that kind of introduction, months before the role exists.
§ 02 — What we look for
You can move from facts to position to leverage to route in one written page. Most of the work is reading well, then writing short.
Files involve termination, dispute, and money. The right voice is steady — neither dramatic nor dismissive. Clients should feel the temperature drop, not rise.
Memos read like a senior counsel walking through the matter — not like a junior listing every clause. Brevity is a craft, not a shortcut.
Engagements run on written fee arrangements. The work expected, the work performed, and the work invoiced are the same set. Scope creep is a planning failure, not a billing event.
Conflicts are screened before a consultation, not after. If a matter cannot be acted on, the referral goes out the same day.
Client matters do not become anecdotes. Even after engagement ends. Even years later. This is the part that is non-negotiable.
§ 03 — Role shapes
The list below is illustrative, not a current posting. When a role opens, the firm reaches out from its short list first. Introduce yourself if any of these descriptions fit, and the firm will keep the conversation on file.
Role · Lawyer · 2–5 years
Owns employment and contract files end-to-end under partner supervision. Drafts the revision memos clients actually read. Comfortable on the phone with executives, founders, and operators. Called to the Bar of Ontario.
Role · Lawyer · 4–8 years
Runs founder, shareholder, and pre-litigation files with partner sign-off on strategy. Manages negotiation cadence and demand-letter sequencing. Comfortable scoping advisory retainers. Called to the Bar of Ontario.
Role · Articling student
Full rotation across business, employment, contracts, and disputes. Northline takes one student at a time, on a one-to-one mentorship basis. Application window opens in advance of each LSO recruit cycle.
Role · Operations
Owns intake coordination, billing cadence, file management, and client communication standards. The role keeps the engagement experience consistent across every matter, regardless of size.
§ 04 — The environment
The office is in the Financial District. The default is in person — the work runs on close drafting review, partner feedback in real time, and short walks to client meetings. Hybrid arrangements are considered case by case once the working pattern is established.
Compensation is benchmarked against comparable Toronto boutiques and disclosed in writing during the offer stage. Articling and student stipends meet or exceed Law Society guidance.
§ 05 — Introduce yourself
Send a short note to hello@northlinelaw.ca with the subject line “Introduction — Careers”. Three or four sentences is plenty: who you are, the kind of work you want to do next, and one matter you have actually moved through. A résumé as a single PDF is welcome but not required.
The firm reads every introduction and replies when there is something to say — usually within two weeks. If a role opens, introductions on file are contacted first.
§ Talk to the firm
An introduction now is the most reliable way onto that list. The firm reads every email and keeps the conversation on file.
Toronto · Ontario
