Why Allowing Alternative Business Structures Could Help Articling Students

Recently the Toronto Star published an article on abusive workplaces for articling students. Although the broad range of abuse was not covered, it has been noted before by Dean Adam Dodek that the abuse ranges from unpaid or underpaid work, termination without cause, harassment, and the absence of proper supervision or feedback. In response, Dean Dodek called on the Law Societies to investigate the abuse of articling students. He suggested that qualitative and quantitative research be done. I would add that in addition to research, Law Societies should allow Alternative Business Structures. I suspect that part of the reason that abuse is so rampant and that articling students are so routinely viewed as cheap labour is partly a function of economics. Training a lawyer takes considerable resources. By allowing Alternative Business Structures we can encourage business models beyond the equation of profit per partner per year. A model that does not always encourage investment…

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