Northwest Territories Judicial Internship

 

 

In the Northwest Territories Judicial Internship, students are responsible to Justices of the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories. This Internship is an unparalleled opportunity for full-time learning with a Court. Students will earn fifteen credits toward their law degree over the course of the term. Internship placements are available in the Fall and Winter terms.


The NWT Judicial Internship is like an extended intensive course in criminal procedure, family law and child protection, civil procedure, judicial reasoning, and the legal profession all-in-one. I had the unique privilege to learn under four experienced Justices. To anyone on the fence about applying, you should go for it. Despite the distance, the support of Windsor Law made me feel that no challenge was mine alone to bear."


Asvini Kulanayagam
Windsor Law, Class of 2024
2023 Northwest Territories Judicial Intern
 

NWT JUDICIAL INTERNSHIP APPLICATION ANNOUNCEMENT:

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS – Northwest Territories Judicial Internship, Winter 2024
 
In the Northwest Territories Judicial Internship, students are responsible to the Justices of the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories. Students earn fifteen credits toward their law degree over the course of the term. Internship placements are available in the Fall and Winter terms. Students are responsible for ensuring all mandatory courses are completed, or that they have a plan to complete required courses. Students may not complete additional coursework during this placement. Students must be able to be in the Northwest Territories for the entire term (September-December, or January-April). There is some financial support for this placement. One student will be selected for this placement. Please contact Professor Gemma Smyth or Experiential Learning Program Coordinator Kristijana Gavrovski with questions about this experience: gemma.smyth@uwindsor.ca or kristijana.gavrovski@uwindsor.ca

Applications are due on December 1, 2023 at 12pm. 

Please combine your documents into a single PDF file when submitting. Cover letters can be addressed to Professor Gemma Smyth.
 
Apply here: https://uwindsor.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bPoF7402vjAMqnI

 

General Application Information 

Law 2 and 3 students who have completed their required courses are eligible for this placement. Students who wish to apply for this program must have successfully completed Law I. The Supreme Court of the NWT suggests that students complete Evidence before participating in the program.

Students may apply by submitting an online Qualtrics form (link is located above). Required Documents include a cover letter setting out the student's reasons for seeking an internship and the qualities and experience the student possesses that make them suited for the position. A resume and transcript must also be included (an unofficial transcript will suffice). Students will also provide a writing sample and any further information that supports their application. The applications will be assessed in consultation with the Supervising Judge. Students who were unsuccessful in the Fall term are encouraged to apply again for the Winter term.

Selection for this Internship is made by the Court in consultation with the Externship Program Director. Selection is based on students’ academic performance, legal research and writing skills, and particular interests and backgrounds relevant to the clerkship program. Although regular tuition applies for this Clerkship, funds have been allocated to cover some expenses incurred.

Students will receive 15 credits for the term

  • 9 credits will be assigned to your work, which will be documented in a log book on a weekly basis. This portion will continue to be assessed by the Supervising Judge in consultation with the Externship Program Director as required, on a Pass-Fail basis, at the end of term.  
  • 3 credits will be assigned to a paper completed over the term. The paper will be assessed by the Supervising Judge with a numerical grade.
  • 3 credits will be assigned to guided reflective exercises. These assignments will be assessed with a numerical grade.

This experience satisfies both the perspective course and research paper component for JDs.

Students are entitled to an $8000 grant to support the internship. In order to arrange for this, an invoice must be sumitted to UWindsor.

For all reimbursable expenses, receipts should be saved. The expeses should be recorded on the NWT Expense Tracking spreadsheet that is submitted monthly.

 

NWT Judicial Internship Student Manual

Invoice Template

NWT Expense Tracking Form

NWT Expense Guidelines

UWindsor Travel Policy

Supreme Court Policy on Electronic Devices

Territorial Court Policy on Electronic Devices

Please contact the Externship Director Gemma Smyth with any questions about this placement.

Contact the Clinical and Experiential Learning Coordinator at externship@uwindsor.ca .

 

Thoughts from former Northwest Territory Interns

“I learned all about the inner workings of a Court that a text book could never provide.”
Alexander M. Voudouris
Senior Litigator, Pace Law Firm
Windsor Law, Class of 1989
1989 Northwest Territories Clerkship
“The Northwest Territories Clerkship program was unquestionably the greatest experience during my time at Windsor Law.  My experience broadened my understanding of Canadian law, barriers to access to justice, and the skills necessary to be a successful and effective oral advocate.”

Madeleine C. Godard 
Windsor Law, Class of 2012
2011 Northwest Territories Clerkship
"To have the opportunity to travel the north with the Judges, lawyers, court staff etc. was an absolutely once in a lifetime unforgettable experience.  I completely fell in love with the North and would have most certainly stayed had I not had a child back in Newfoundland in University. I could spend hours talking about my experiences there and will certainly never forget that time in my life.  What a gift to have been able to do that and especially while still a student.  It is an experience that you would never get while traveling the North as a tourist." 
Tina Baker
Windsor Law, Class of 2007
"The most memorable part of my UWindsor experience has been the semester that I spent in the Windsor Law-Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories Clerkships Program... The program, practical learning experience and exposure far surpassed anything that I could have imagined... I am confident that I will carry these experiences with me for the duration of my career."
Cheryl-Anne Pine
Windsor Law, Class of 2011

 

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