22Effective date of articles and period of service

22 Effective date of articles and period of service (1) Subject to subrule (2), the effective date of articles is the date the articles are signed. (2) If articles are signed more than 90 days before the date on which the Board approves the entry into articles, the effective date of the articles is 90 days before the date of approval. (3) If articles are entered into before an application for approval is made under rule 19 and the Board refuses to give approval, the articles have no effect under these Rules. (4) Articles are taken to contain a provision requiring the articled clerk to render service in accordance with the articles for 12 months from the effective date but the Court may, on application, order that the period of service be reduced. (5) If a person has rendered service as an associate or a clerk to a Judge, the period for which the person is required to serve under articles is reduced by the lesser of the following periods: (a) a period equal to one-half of the service as an associate or clerk to the Supreme Court Judge; (b) 6 months.