Testimonials
"Articling at RBS gave me the opportunity to be submersed in many fascinating and engaging matters without drowning in the experience. I worked hard and gained enormous exposure to the areas of law that were of interest to me, but I also maintained a life outside of the firm.
- Chris Lennon, Associate (2008)
"RBS has been everything I thought it would be…and more. Everyone at the firm has been extremely welcoming and very easy to work with. As an articled student, I have been encouraged to seek out work that interests me and as a result, I’ve been able to gain experience in a wide variety of practice areas. From being given the opportunity to manage my own files to providing support to lawyers in more complicated files, RBS has managed to find the perfect balance between supporting me and allowing me the independence I need to learn the necessary skills that will prepare me to be an associate. - Aneez Devji, Articled Student (2012)
"I've never regretted my choice. It's been a great place to practice for the last 40 years and more. To show you how things change but not really, I came to the firm because I played hockey with the two students who immediately preceded me. Networking has always been and still is the key.
- Michael Sawyer, Partner (1972)
"You never know what type of work you'll receive at any given moment and while it may be initially daunting if the person giving you the project greatly over estimates your ability or experience, with the wealth of resources available, be it the databases, the books, the staff or the lawyers, you're able to tackle it head on and gain a lot of hands on experience. - Gina Wu, Associate (2011)
"Articling at RBS was a fantastic experience. I was able to work on a number of interesting and engaging files in a variety of legal fields, and I was given plenty of opportunity to appear in court. Some of my more memorable moments include settling my first case at mediation and running a small claims trial. The atmosphere at RBS is friendly and supportive, and it provided the perfect learning environment to help me further my legal skills and begin my career. - Richard Yalowsky, Articled Student (2012)
"I always knew I wanted to be a litigator so when Sutton Braidwood came looking for me at UBC law school, and offered me the chance to pursue that goal, I took a chance on the firm. I can't believe that was 1984 but in hindsight, it was the best career decision I could have made. I've never second guessed that decision, never thought the grass was greener someplace else, and never had any regrets. Now, 26 years later, I think about the reasons that keep me here. I like the big firm files without the big firm attitude. I like knowing the first names of the people I work with. I like working with people who share common goals, values and aspirations. I like coming to work with people who keep their priorities straight ("work to live" rather than "live to work") and treat each other as equals. I like the fact that important decisions are made here on the basis of a consensus, rather than a head count. Most of all, I like the fact that RBS has stayed true to its core values while building a firm that I'm proud to say is the only place I want to work. - Scott MacDonald, Partner (1985)
"The practical work experience I received during my articles at RBS was invaluable; however, the best part of articling at RBS was the people. Everyone at RBS, from the staff to partners, is warm, friendly and approachable. There is a very collegial atmosphere and students are always encouraged to approach lawyers or staff to ask questions. The partners and associates at RBS are all genuinely interested in helping to foster the development of students. The structured rotations also ensure that students are exposed to a diverse range of legal areas while the flexibility built into the system, allowing students to pursue work they are interested in. - Annie Chen, Associate (2009)
"I articled with Buell Ellis (one of the firms to the RBS merger) starting in 1975. I still have great memories of my articling year, even though it was 35 years ago. RBS has been a terrific place to work and has provided me with a wonderful environment for the practice of law - great colleagues, wonderful staff, and interesting work. - Ray Pollard, Director of Associate Development (1976)
"The supportive and collegial attitudes of the staff, associates and partners created a learning environment that was conducive to both my professional and personal growth as a lawyer. The size of the firm made it feasible for me to work with almost every single associate and partner of the firm and, as a result, allowed me to get to know them on a personal level. The relationships that I built during my articling year greatly contributed to the positive learning experiences I had during that time. Today, as an associate, I continue to work within a team committed to continuous professional development and to providing its clients with quality service, while still maintaining a positive and supportive work environment. - Karen Chang, Associate (2008)
"I have been a 'lifer' at RBS, starting as a summer student between my second and third year at Law School, followed by articles at RBS, five years as an associate, and then the last 14 years as a partner. I can truly say that from my first days at RBS I have felt that this is the 'right' place and throughout my time here have never had the inclination to go anywhere else. - Georg Reuter, Partner (1990)
"The firm is very welcoming. The lawyers enjoy working with students. There is a great variety of interesting work. - Peter Lightbody, Associate (1997)
"I was exposed to a great variety of work during my articles at RBS on all fronts including practice areas, types of tasks, and levels of responsibility. I had the opportunity to take on smaller files of my own, while also junioring on large files with complex legal issues. Articling at RBS, for me, went well beyond writing research memos and doing due diligence. Highlights include completing the purchase of a business for a client from start to finish and working my own litigation file from pleadings to settling my first case! I felt that articling at RBS gave me the tools I needed to start my journey as a first year associate with some confidence. - Genevieve Chang, Associate (2010)
"Articling at RBS is a great experience. The variety of work that is available to you, the quality of instruction that you receive and the level of collegiality and camaraderie that exists throughout the firm is truly amazing. I can't think of a more supportive and engaging environment in which to begin your legal career. - David Moriarty, Associate (2011)
"My articles at RBS were great because the lawyers are the nicest, warmest, most respectful and down to earth lawyers you can find in the city. After spending some time away from the firm, I slowly came to the realization that the grass was not greener on the other side, and was pleased to have the opportunity to return to RBS in 2005. It's a great place to be! - Sze-Mei Yeung, Partner (1999)
"When I look back on my articling year at RBS, the outstanding features of my experience are the collegial work environment and the exposure to quality work in a wide variety of practice areas. Those two features, the people and the quality of work, remain the reasons that I am an associate at the firm today. - Angela Spanjers, Associate (2007)