Opportunities

Pape Salter Teillet is committed to supporting the next generation of legal advocates for Indigenous peoples by welcoming law students in summer and articling positions with our firm. We particularly encourage Indigenous students to apply – we’d value having you become part of our team.

How to apply

Your cover letter and resume should highlight your knowledge of Indigenous rights law, including any experience related to advancing self-government, litigation, regulatory work or corporate/commercial matters involving Indigenous Nations, governments or communities. We also want to hear about your personal commitment to practising law in collaboration with Indigenous governments across Canada.

Please note that we receive and review applications and conduct interviews in accordance with the guidelines established by the Law Society of Ontario for law firms located in Toronto. PST’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion informs all aspects of our recruiting and hiring process.

We are not currently accepting applications for the 2027 summer term.

We are not currently accepting applications for the 2027-28 articling term.

Pape Salter Teillet LLP is pleased to invite applications for the Charles Vincent Indigenous Law Student Scholarship, a $5,000 annual award established in 2022 to support an Indigenous law student attending a Canadian law school.

For more than 45 years, our firm has been fortunate to work with strong and committed Indigenous communities, nations, and governments from across Canada. We believe that true success is achieved by working hand-in-hand with our clients, including supporting Indigenous students and lawyers in becoming the next generation of legal advocates advancing Indigenous law as well as Canadian Aboriginal law.

Charles Vincent was a senior associate in our firm whose practice focused on supporting our clients in growing their economies and generating wealth to support Indigenous self-government and self-determination.

Charles grew up in Tyendinaga. He attended Carleton University for undergraduate studies and graduated from Queen’s University Law School in 2013. After several years of practicing law in Ottawa, Charles returned to Queen’s to complete a Masters of Business Administration in 2017. In 2016, he joined Pape Salter Teillet’s Toronto office, where he drew on his strong background in law and business to support Indigenous clients grow their economies and support wealth creation.

Charles took immense pride in his work and advised Indigenous clients on a wide range of issues, including the negotiation of agreements with industry and public governments with respect to proposed developments on Indigenous lands and territories, supporting Indigenous self-government structures and institutions, as well as advancing and implementing lasting economic opportunities and developments for Indigenous peoples.

Charles passed away in April 2022 after a battle with metastatic osteosarcoma. In order to celebrate Charles’s life and express our gratitude for his work and collegiality, our firm has established this scholarship in his name. Charles was a wonderful person and fundamental part of our firm. His years of work have left a legacy with our clients for generations to come. The Charles Vincent Indigenous Law Student Scholarship honours Charles as a person as well as his contributions to our firm and his legal work for Indigenous peoples.

We are pleased to announce this year’s winners of the Charles Vincent Indigenous Law Student Scholarship: Tennile Ermineskin and Alexis Miedema!

Tennile Ermineskin, whose Cree name is Peycitahk Peysis Iskwew (Thunderbird Woman), is a member of Ermineskin Cree Nation in Treaty 6 Territory. She gives thanks to Kisemanitô (God) for the life, opportunities, and responsibilities she has been given. Genealogy grounds Tennile’s identity and responsibilities. She is the daughter of Laurreen and Stephen Ermineskin and the granddaughter of Margaret Redcrow, Robert Threefingers, Celina Lightning, and George Ermineskin. She and her husband of 19 years share a life grounded in sâkihitowin (love), wîcihitowin (mutual support), and wâhkôhtowin (relational responsibility). Tennile is in her second year of law at the University of Alberta. Before law school, she spent more than 13 years serving Indigenous children, youth, and families. As a co-founder of Kanawemahwasowin Kamik Inc., she worked to strengthen Ermineskin Cree Nation’s capacity to exercise its jurisdiction over child and family services. She developed Cree-grounded services, supported the Nation’s Awasis (Child) Law, and advocated for children in care to remain connected to Elders, Cree names, relatives, culture, land, and community. As the recipient of the Charles Vincent Indigenous Law Student Scholarship, Tennile carries this honour with gratitude for her family, ancestors, and community. She remains accountable to future generations.

Alexis Miedema is a nêhiyaw iskwêw from Peepeekisis Cree Nation and a JD/JID student at the University of Victoria. Since 2022, she has served as the youngest member of the Peepeekisis Governance, Treaty, and Justice Committee, where she has supported law drafting and member engagement, including on Peepeekisis becoming a section 10 band. She also founded the Kakatosiiks Association for Indigenous youth and has taught in the Towards Truth and Reconciliation Certificate program. She has worked with the City of Edmonton’s Legal Branch, the Law Society of Alberta, and Legal Aid Saskatchewan, and will clerk with the Provincial Court of Saskatchewan after graduation. Her reference letter, from Headperson Cicely Poitras, describes her as “an emerging young leader and scholar whose ambition, work ethic, honesty, and respectfulness inspire those around her, especially our youth.” Alexis intends to use her legal education to “hold governments accountable to the promises made to Indigenous Peoples.”