Articling Students

The deadline to apply for the 2027-28 Articling Student Program is Tuesday, May 12, 2026 at 12 PM.

TDS is looking to hire up to eight (8) articling students to work out of our Winnipeg office in 2027.

One of the primary purposes of the process upon which you are about to embark is to ensure that you receive complete and accurate information about the firms involved so that you can make an informed decision about where you would prefer to article.

For further information about articling with TDS, contact the Chair of the firm’s Students Committee, Miranda Grayson, at 204.934.2423 or mdg@tdslaw.com

Click Here to Apply

2027-28 Articling Student applications are closed.

The deadline to apply for the 2026-27 Articling Student Program was Tuesday, May 12, 2026.

Learn more about the Articling Student Program below. 

Join the Future of Law: Articling at TDS

Start your legal career at Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP (TDS), a leading full-service law firm.

Based in the heart of Winnipeg, at True North Square, TDS offers a collaborative, high-performing environment where your professional development is a priority from day one.

Our Objective

We hire students with the intention of developing excellent lawyers who will remain with the firm as Associates and, in time, become Partners.

TDS building patio

Historical retention rates reflect this commitment. For students who remain with the firm, our internal business development and marketing departments provide ongoing structured support to help build a sustainable and successful practice over time.

Why Choose TDS for Your Articling Year?

With 10 offices across Manitoba and Saskatchewan, including full-time offices in Brandon, Saskatoon, Portage la Prairie, and Morden & Winkler, our footprint provides exposure to a range of clients and legal work unmatched in the region.

Students gain experience across industries, jurisdictions, and levels of complexity.

Areas of Practice

Our lawyers advise small and mid-sized businesses, large enterprises, and international organizations. With more than 30 distinct practice areas, students are exposed to complex, high-value matters across a wide range of industries.

Many of our lawyers focus their practices within defined areas, while others maintain broader practices. This structure allows students to develop focused expertise while benefiting from cross-disciplinary collaboration.

The Articling Year

Articling students at TDS are given meaningful responsibility, practical experience, and ongoing mentorship. They are assigned to a small group of lawyers who act as “principals,” selected to reflect the student’s areas of interest while also providing exposure to other practice areas.

This approach is preferred over a traditional rotation system because it:

  • Maintains continuity on files
  • Builds stronger mentoring relationships
  • Encourages deeper skill development
  • Fosters a collegial student cohort

Throughout the year, students work directly with clients and lawyers, gaining hands-on experience and developing strong legal, analytical, and communication skills.

Mentorship & Professional Development

Mentorship is central during the articling year and beyond. Students are given appropriate responsibility, paired with meaningful support. 

Feedback is continuous and structured:

  • Ongoing feedback from principals
  • Regular meetings with the firm’s Students Committee
  • Open-door access to lawyers across the firm

Our culture encourages collaboration and accessibility at all levels.

Practice Readiness Education Program (PREP)

Students starting in June 2027 will participate in the Practice Readiness Education Program (PREP) by the Canadian Centre for Professional Legal Education (CPLED), which runs from June 2027 to February 2028. TDS also offers in-house seminars and supports attendance at external CLE programs, including webinars, covering all associated fees.

Firm Culture, Community, and Career Support

Articling at TDS gives law students in Winnipeg hands-on experience in a collaborative, supportive, and high-performing environment. Students work on local, national, and international legal matters, including complex transactions through TDS’s exclusive Manitoba membership in Lex Mundi. This exposure helps students develop strong legal, analytical, and communication skills while preparing for a successful legal career.

The “large firm myth” suggests a cold, impersonal environment. At TDS, we prove the opposite.

Diversity and inclusion are central to TDS. We welcome applications from Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) students, members of 2SLGBTQ+ communities, visible minorities, and students with disabilities. Our inclusive culture ensures students can bring their full selves to work while learning, growing, and thriving in a collaborative legal environment.

Our collegial culture encourages open communication, collaboration, and problem-solving. Students benefit from mentorship, teamwork, and a sense of belonging while gaining practical experience across a wide range of practice areas.

Beyond legal work, students can connect with colleagues and the broader community:

  • Active in the Community: Lawyers participate in initiatives like the United Way, The Dream Factory, Ronald McDonald House, and the Manitoba Theatre Centre.
  • Team Spirit: Opportunities abound to join sports leagues, professional events, and networking activities.
  • A Reflection of Manitoba: Our firm celebrates diversity, with active participation across Indigenous, Franco-Manitoban, and multicultural communities throughout Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

TDS also supports students in developing their professional profile. Articling students and Associates receive guidance in practice-building, business development, and career growth, with tools and mentorship tailored to each individual.

Application Details

 Interested students should apply by completing the online application form and attaching:

  • Cover letter 
  • Resume
  • Undergraduate transcripts
  • Law school grades to date (if available)

The deadline to apply for the 2027-28 Articling Student Program is Tuesday, May 12, 2026 at 12 PM.

Applications are only accepted from students who will obtain an LL.B. or J.D. from an approved Canadian common law program or a CQ from the National Committee of Accreditation on or prior to June 30, 2027.

Interviews will be conducted from Monday, June 1, 2026 to Tuesday, June 9, 2026.
Anticipated start date: June 15, 2027
Salary: Competitive with other large, downtown Winnipeg firms. The fees for PREP (the bar admissions course) are paid by the firm along with any Law Society practising fees and Call to the Bar fees for those students who are retained as Associates. Our Articling students are eligible to participate in the firm’s group insurance benefits package, which includes health, dental, and disability insurance coverage.

Cover letters can be addressed to:
Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP
1700 – 242 Hargrave Street
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 0V1
Attention: Miranda Grayson

Applications Are Now Closed. Applications will open Friday, March 20, 2026.