Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP

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199 Bay St, Suite 4000
Commerce Court West
Toronto, ON M5L 1A9
Established in 1856, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP offers legal advisory services including mergers and acquisitions, alternative dispute resolution, construction, and e-commerce law.

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Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP

Recognized as one of Greater Toronto's Top Employers (2022):

Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors (Dec 10, 2021)

Here are some of the reasons why Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP was selected as one of Greater Toronto's Top Employers (2022):

  • Blake, Cassels & Graydon is committed to supporting mental health in difficult times, increasing its mental health care coverage from $3,000 to $5,000 in the past year and providing free access to MindBeacon (internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy), Dialogue (24/7 virtual health care services), and LifeSpeak (online education on topics such as mental health, stress management and resilience)
  • Additionally, the firm offered an extra day off as well as a mid-year bonus in 2021 to acknowledge the extra efforts of employees over the course of the pandemic
  • Blake, Cassels & Graydon offers employees across the firm opportunities to contribute ideas to improve client service or efficiency through the unique "BrightIdeas@Blakes" initiative
2019 summer students at Blake, Cassels & Graydon volunteer for Lawyers Feed the Hungry  

Highlights

Industry Law firm
Established in Canada 1856
Major Canadian hiring locations Montréal QC, Ottawa ON, Toronto ON, Calgary AB, Vancouver BC
Full-time employees in Canada 1,333
Part-time employees in Canada 87
Average age of employees in Canada 41 years
Longest serving employee 45 years
Benefits note Blakes has multiple employee groups, the following programs and policies may vary by position
Long-term savings defined-contribution (DC) pension
Health plan premium as part of the health plan, the employer pays up to 100% of the premiums
Mental health practitioner benefit up to $5,000 each year
Flexible work options flexible work hours, 35-hour work week (with full pay), shortened work week (fewer hours with less pay), compressed work week, telecommuting, reduced summer hours
Vacation allowance new employees receive 3 weeks of paid vacation after their first year on the job
Outside survey period outside consultant surveys are held every 12 months
Employee performance reviews employees receive individual performance reviews every 12 months
In-house training initiatives in-house training, online training, leadership training, mentoring, paid internships
Related tuition subsidies employer covers up to 75% of tuition per year
Annual tuition maximum employer pays up to $5,000 in tuition subsidies for job-related courses per year
Employee charitable involvement employees are involved in selection of charities, employees receive paid time off to volunteer, (up to 1 paid day)

COVID-19

Pandemic response provided an extra day off as well as a mid-year bonus in 2021 to acknowledge the extra efforts of employees, increased mental health benefit coverage in 2021 (from $3,000 to $5,000), free access to MindBeacon (internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy), Dialogue (24/7 virtual health care services), and LifeSpeak (online education on topics such as mental health, stress management and resilience), online resources for parents (topics include how to keep kids engaged in remote learning and supporting anxious children), new BlakesConnects platform to support social connection

Recognized as one of Canada's Top Employers for Young People (2022):

Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors (Jan 17, 2022)

Here are some of the reasons why Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP was selected as one of Canada's Top Employers for Young People (2022):

  • In 2020, Blake, Cassels & Graydon launched the Black@Blakes Internship that provides two Black-identifying law students paid internships with the firm, with the aim of reducing the financial hardship of pursuing a legal education
  • Every year, Blake, Cassels & Graydon hires first-year associates from its articling class and other law firms, who undergo a dedicated orientation program -- young lawyers benefit from the firm's work allocation system, which facilitates equitable distribution of work assignments and provides opportunities to gain a broad range of experiences, including connecting with multiple partners and senior associates
  • Both summer and articling students receive a mentor (who ensure students are integrated into their respective practice group) and are invited to Coffee Talks, typically led by members of the student committee, which discuss workload, capacity and other topics of interest
Articling students at Blake, Cassels & Graydon attended a fundraising event for the Stephen Lewis Foundation in 2019, in recognition of World AIDS Day  

Highlights

Industry Law firm
Major Canadian hiring locations Montréal QC, Ottawa ON, Toronto ON, Calgary AB, Vancouver BC
Full-time employees in Canada 1,333
Student opportunities summer jobs, co-op opportunities, paid internships
In-house training programs orientation program, in-house training, online training, in-house career planning services, mentoring, leadership training
Related tuition subsidies employer covers up to 75% of tuition per year
Annual tuition maximum employer pays up to $5,000 in tuition subsidies for job-related courses per year
Unique training and development opportunities robust orientation programs for co-op, articling and summer students, each office manages a student professional development program with lunch and learns, formalized legal assistant mentorship program for co-op students, Diversity and Inclusion Pre-Law Internship for undergraduate students, BMO & Blakes Indigenous Summer Student Program for an Indigenous undergraduate student, co-op and work-term placements for administrative staff, rotations for articling students (each rotation lasting several months, may complete a secondment with a client or external organization), hosts "What I Wish I Had Known When I Was a Summer Student" and "What I Wish I Had Known When I Was an Articling Student" discussions with junior associates sharing tips with new associates, students in the Montréal office are assigned a "buddy" (younger associate who has experienced summer and articling, answers day-to-day questions and supports the student during the term)
Additional highlights established a $1-million national scholarship and awards program to help finance legal education for students in 16 law schools through the Blakes Scholar Award, has participated in the Law in Action Within Schools program for over 10 years (diverse high schools pair students interested in the law with practical work experience in firms), 5-year commitment to donate $1,000 annually to the Viola Desmond Student Award and Bursary Program (selected recipients demonstrate a commitment to empowering the Black community at Ryerson and within the wider culture), participates in the Dare to Dream program by Canadian Lawyers Abroad (connects Indigenous high school students with law firms and businesses to offer outreach, mentoring and internship opportunities), Black@Blakes Internship (2 Black-identifying law students offered paid internships)
Dedicated employee resource group dedicated student committees comprised of associates and partners who develop a fulfilling student experience
Vacation allowance new employees receive 3 weeks of paid vacation after their first year on the job

Recognized as one of Canada's Best Diversity Employers (2022):

By Kristina Leung and Stephanie Leung, Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors (Mar 7, 2022)

Here are some of the reasons why Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP was selected as one of Canada's Best Diversity Employers (2022):

  • For over a decade, Blake, Cassels & Graydon has provided support, mentorship, client development, networking opportunities, and personal and professional resources for its female employees through the "Women@Blakes" network -- the network maintains an internal website, publishes quarterly newsletters, and organizes seminars and events, including an annual women's client event
  • Blake, Cassels & Graydon maintains a strong focus on creating diverse pipelines for recruitment, recently establishing "Coffee Breaks with Blakes," a series of virtual networking sessions targeting underrepresented students from equity deserving groups and supports University of Toronto's "See Yourself Here" event for high school students who identify with communities that are underrepresented in Canadian legal education and the profession, such as individuals from low-income backgrounds, students whose parents did not attend university, students of colour and LGBTQI2S+ students
  • In light of the pandemic, Blake, Cassels & Graydon provided dedicated mental health training to help leaders communicate with employees who may be struggling with their mental health, in addition to transitioning the firm's on-site counselling program to telephone sessions
Employees at Blake, Cassels & Graydon celebrated Diversity Day in the Toronto office  

Highlights

Industry Law firm
Major Canadian hiring locations Montréal QC, Ottawa ON, Toronto ON, Calgary AB, Vancouver BC
Full-time employees in Canada 1,333
Performance management and accountability diversity survey
Employee resource groups Women@Blakes Network (est. 2007), Pride@Blakes, Diversity Network (est. 2014), New Mothers and Parents Network, Black@Blakes
Noteworthy diversity strategies and policies helped create a best practices guide for lawyers working with Indigenous peoples, name pronunciation tool for Blakes.com
Recruitment initiatives diversity and inclusion pre-law internship (offered in partnership with University of Toronto and York University), Blakes Indigenous Summer Student program (partnership to provide work experience in a business law environment), internships for Black law students and undergraduate students, ReLaunch in partnership with CIBC (program focuses on reintegrating female lawyers who have left the workforce for 2 or more years)
Retention and development programs numerous initiatives to increase women representation in general counsel roles, including a dedicated Women GCs on Boards program, implemented a work allocation system to ensure junior associates are given the same opportunity to work on different types of legal work and exposure working with different legal professionals
Training and awareness initiatives anti-Black racism training, unconscious bias and inclusive leadership training, intercultural competency, how to be an ally events, mental health awareness initiatives, annual firm-wide Diversity Day celebration, annual Women's Event, Diversi-Tea (open discussion on issues related to race, sexual orientation, disability, gender and socioeconomic background)
Diversity highlights offers free access to a registered psychotherapist (virtual access during the pandemic), as well as MindBeacon (app-based therapy), participates in Law in Action Within Schools (LAWS) to provide mentorship to high school students who face barriers to achieving academic and career goals (also offers a summer law internship through LAWS), participates in Canadian Lawyers Abroad's Dare to Dream program encouraging Canadian law firms and businesses to offer Aboriginal high school students mentoring and internships
Highlights from the past year increased mental health benefit coverage from $3,000 to $5,000 per year, established Coffee Breaks with Blakes (virtual networking for underrepresented students from equity groups including Black, Asian and LGBTQI2S+ students)

The Career Directory

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP has been selected for The Career Directory, our guide to entry-level recruitment for recent college and university graduates.
Blake, Cassels & Graydon summer students at the Vancouver office

Highlights for New Grads

Industry Law firm
Full-time employees in Canada 1,001 to 2,500
Major Canadian hiring locations Montréal QC, Ottawa ON, Toronto ON, Calgary AB, Vancouver BC
Student opportunities paid internships, summer jobs, co-op opportunities
Training subsidies for professional accreditation, orientation program, online training, in-house training, mentoring, in-house career planning services, leadership training
Annual tuition maximum employer pays up to $5,000 in tuition subsidies for job-related courses per year
Work benefits health benefits for new employees, flexible work hours, telecommuting, employees receive paid time off to volunteer, (up to 1 paid day)
Vacation allowance new employees receive 3 weeks of paid vacation after their first year on the job

Academic fields recruited

  • Bachelor of Commerce / Business Administration
    • Human Resources
    • Marketing
  • Bachelor of Laws
  • Community College Diploma
    • Facility Management
    • Human Resources
    • Information Technology
    • Legal Assistant / Law Clerk
    • Secretarial
  • Master of Business Administration
    • Marketing
  • Professional Accreditation
    • Accounting (CGA)
    • Accounting (CMA)
    • Human Resources (CHRP, CEBS)
    • Microsoft Certifications
  • Secondary Education
    • High School Diploma

Recruits at these schools

  • Dalhousie University
  • George Brown College
  • Humber College
  • Queen's University
  • Ryerson University
  • Seneca College
  • Université de Montréal
  • University of Alberta
  • University of New Brunswick
  • University of Ottawa
  • University of Saskatchewan
  • University of Toronto
  • University of Victoria
  • University of Waterloo
  • University of Windsor
  • Western University
  • York University

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