Blakes Continues Reign as Top Hirer of U of T Law 2Ls in 2026 Summer Recruit
TORONTO - November 22, 2025 – Blakes LLP once again led the pack in the 2026 summer associate recruitment cycle at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law, hiring 26 students, according to data released today by Ultra Vires. This marks a continuation of the firm’s dominance in both total hires and hires from U of T Law, mirroring results from previous years.Stikeman Elliott LLP secured the third-highest number of hires bringing on 25 students. Blakes also secured the most U of T Law JD students specifically, with 13 accepting positions.
The data, compiled by Ultra Vires (UV), also includes information on applications, on-campus interviews (OCIs), and in-firm interviews conducted by participating firms. UV emphasized the need for cautious interpretation of this data, acknowledging potential for anxiety and misleading conclusions.
“While this data can provide meaningful insights,it’s crucial to understand its limitations,” UV stated. “Employers routinely offer more interviews than positions, anticipating offer declinations and accounting for students interviewing widely.”
Several factors can influence a student’s success rate, UV explained. The number of OCIs a firm conducts at U of T Law and Osgoode Hall Law School, for example, runs for two days, compared to other schools. This variance can impact progression to the in-firm interview stage. Additionally, some numbers presented are approximations, denoted by the symbol “~” in the accompanying data. A lack of hires from a specific school doesn’t necessarily indicate a lack of offers; students may have declined offers in favour of other firms.
The net total number of students hired in this recruitment cycle was 392, excluding returning 1L summer students.The percentage of 2Ls hired per school was calculated using class sizes reported on Ontario law schools’ websites, though UV acknowledged potential discrepancies due to some schools reporting average rather than year-specific numbers.
Ultra Vires noted that data from some employers who participated in past surveys was not yet available at the time of publication, possibly impacting comparative results. The online spreadsheet at ultravires.ca will be updated as further information becomes available.
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