Canada's Top Employers for Young People (2026) Magazine - Magazine - Page 48
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CANADA’S TOP EMPLOYERS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE (2026)
McMillan LLP helps employees grow from the very start
W
hen Michael
Christ started
as a summer
law student
at McMillan
LLP, he was very nervous as it was
his first exposure to the corporate
world, but his colleagues quickly
put him at ease.
I always wanted to
work at a company
where it was more than
a simple nine to five. I
wanted a place where
people actually know
each other and feel
part of a community.
— Christina Jacobsen
HR Recruitment and Employer
Brand Coordinator
“I was so anxious. I didn’t know
what to expect,” says Christ,
an associate in the business
law group based in McMillan’s
Vancouver office. “But all that
nervous energy quickly dissipated
because of how much support I
received. I was introduced to many
people who provided me with the
resources to succeed in my role.”
Christ, who returned as an
articling student before becoming
an associate in 2025, says that
support continues today. “Now, the
focus is on helping me learn how
to manage my practice and build
up the technical skills that I need
to match the stage of my career.”
This includes McMillan
Business Academy, where new
lawyers gather at the Toronto
office for sessions on topics such
as practice management and
business development. Beyond
McMillan LLP hosts its annual Calgary Stampede Social, an energetic and fun western-themed gathering.
training, a formal mentorship
program pairs new lawyers with
more senior lawyers in the same
practice area.
“In addition, people at McMillan
are always open and take pride
in mentoring juniors. So I have
been able to build up informal
mentorship relationships as well
which has been amazing and
pivotal in my career,” Christ says.
Christina Jacobsen, HR
recruitment and employer brand
coordinator in the Ottawa office of
the national firm, has had a
similar experience since starting
as a co-op student in 2019.
“I always wanted to work at a
company where it was more than
a simple nine to five,” she says.
“I wanted a place where people
actually know each other and feel
part of a community. So, what
really stood out to me was the
variety and types of events we host
every single month throughout
the year.”
These include therapy dog
visits, staff appreciation activities,
diversity week, pancake breakfast day and a family and firm
holiday party — as well as charity
initiatives including the United
Way Campaign and annual food
drives. During weekly Community
Days, employees get together at
the office for lunch and other
celebrations, while affinity groups
bring together employees who
share common interests.
Christ is a member of the Asian
Affinity Group, which focuses on
initiatives empowering the Asian
community in the legal profession.
“McMillan is a strong advocate of
the Federation of Asian Canadian
Lawyers and other associations,”
he says. “Through the affinity
group, firm members are able to
pursue their passion and interests,
which really exemplifies how
