The State of Big Law in Canada: An In-Depth Interview with Top Lawyers

Written by Shaayaan Aggarwal and Caleb Muotoh

What is Canadian Big Law?

The term “Canadian Big Law” refers to the largest and most prestigious law firms in Canada.

These firms typically deal with corporate law for large, powerful organizations. Someone

working in big law can expect to deal with high-stakes situations, transactions, and the handling

of hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars. Additionally, even acquiring a position at a

large firm can be a difficult process because of the competition and the search for “top talent.”

Canada has a group of law firms named the “Seven Sisters” due to their fame, size, and age.

These are the oldest in the country and have historically handled the largest corporate

transactions in Canadian history. Although not publicly available, a seven-sister can be expected

to generate hundreds of millions to billions of dollars in revenue each year.

Hierarchy in Canadian Law

In Canadian Big Law firms, positions are primarily divided into Associate and Partner roles.

Partners typically have equity in the firm, are more experienced, and manage significant,

serious decisions. They also have much influence over the firm and have high salaries.

Partners, on the other hand, usually have little to no equity in their firm and fill junior or

entry-level roles with less experience. They handle regular day-to-day business and make an

average salary. Additionally, Junior Associates are generally recent university graduates looking

to begin a career in law. However, to enter these positions, strong prior experience and

connections are recommended for a competitive application.

Types of Lawyers

There are two main types of lawyers in Canada: Litigation Lawyers and Transactional

Lawyers. Litigators mainly appear in court. They investigate cases and represent clients in

court to resolve disputes with the opposing party. If a company is sued, for example, it will

hire litigators to handle the situation. On the contrary, Transactional Lawyers are less likely

to appear in court and debate. As the name suggests, they handle transactions between

corporations. They will be seen drafting contracts, structuring deals, and providing legal

advice to clients as a part of their routine. Companies will use a lawyer involved in

Transactional Law to handle big business deals. Litigation law is often considered more

stressful than transactional law due to many other factors that need to be considered on the

job; missing evidence, the jury, and clients themselves can disrupt the court process.

Becoming a lawyer in Canada

In order to become a lawyer in Canada, you must complete an undergraduate degree in any

chosen field and follow that with law school. After graduation, you must meet the licensing

requirements of your province as well. Some examples of this are Ontario's requirement of

passing the Bar Exam, while in Alberta, only a training program is required. Once you

become licensed in one province, transferring and practicing in others isn't very difficult after

around 2 years of experience. Law school tuition varies, with UOT being the most

expensive at around 40,000 CAD per year.

Training and Specialization

New lawyers in Big Law start with rotation programs. They work in different departments

such as criminal, real estate and finance. After rotations, they specialize in one area like tax

or intellectual property. Your city often shapes your focus. Lawyers in Toronto or New York

usually work with international clients. Knowing another language helps with cross-border

communication.

Work Environment and Culture

Work hours depend on workload. Some lawyers stay overnight to meet deadlines. Others

leave early when cases slow down. Firms track results, not hours. Success depends on

teamwork and client results. Big Law expects strong performance but offers access to major

cases and strong career growth.

AI and Technology in Law

AI tools handle repetitive legal tasks and review large files. They do not replace lawyers or

give advice. Most lawyers expect AI to improve efficiency. Human judgment will still lead

legal decisions.

Networking and Client Development

Networking is key in law. Start early. Build relationships in school or university. These

connections often lead to future clients or business partners. Major clients like banks hire

multiple law firms. Big Law firms often compete and cooperate on large deals.

Career Outlook

Canada has about ten major Big Law firms, known as the “Seven Sisters” and others. They

manage the biggest corporate cases and international transactions. Big Law offers complex

work, prestige, and high pay. Smaller firms give more freedom and flexibility. Both paths

work depending on your goals and work style.