Legal Aid Ontario
Job title:
Staff Lawyer
Company
Legal Aid Ontario
Job description
Union: The Society
Job Number: J0224-0376
Job Title: Staff Lawyer (2 positions)
Job Type: Permanent Full Time
City, Province, Country: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Job Location: Toronto
Job Category: Legal
Job Classification: SL
Role Designation: Flexible Hybrid – In person days can be flexible from week to week subject to manager approval and operational requirements.
Open Positions: 2
Posting Date: February 26, 2024
Closing Date: March 11, 2024
Salary: $88,418.59 – $151,095.50/Year
Legal Aid Ontario employees are committed to making a difference in the lives of our clients.
As an integral partner in the Justice system, working at Legal Aid Ontario is more than just a job. It’s an opportunity to help people who need it the most; to ensure each client receives the access to justice afforded to them under the law.
If you are looking for a new challenge in your already meaningful career with a team dedicated to justice, and innovation in a flexible and supportive work environment consider this opportunity below.
Building a diverse workforce that represents the communities we serve while promoting a safe culture and work environment that dismantles systemic barriers, welcomes fresh perspectives and embraces differences as a priority is a core value at LAO. LAO encourages applicants from equity-seeking groups, including but not limited to individuals who are First Nations, Inuit or Métis, Black and racialized, as well as persons with disabilities, women and members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
We recognize the value of equity, diversity and inclusion and are committed to addressing systemic barriers, and prioritizing, attracting and retaining diverse staff. All interested and eligible people will be considered, with due consideration to all protected grounds under the Ontario Human Rights Code.
Legal Aid Ontario values integrity, respect, responsiveness, excellence, independence, accountability, openness and consistency. Our recruitment process reflects our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion. Accommodations are available throughout the recruitment process as well as during employment at LAO. Please direct any accommodation requests to our recruitment team.
Primary function
To provide legal services in the areas of administrative law, and professional regulation to carry out LAO’s statutory powers under the Legal Aid Services Act, 2020 and its rules applicable to LAO’s Lawyer Roster.
Roster Management Staff Lawyers are responsible for working with LAO’s District Offices to oversee LAO’s roster of third-party independent service providers. This oversight includes:
– reviewing applications to join the roster
– providing legal opinions and recommending courses of action to internal LAO staff to resolve issues
-legal research and analysis to identify issues and determine courses of action
– drafting correspondence, memoranda and administrative law pleadings further to LAO’s legislation, and rules
-writing notices of suspension from the roster, or roster refusal and removal
– reviewing information relating to complaints, audits, or investigations regarding lawyer service-providers, and assessing any potential risks to clients or LAO,
-identifying areas for improvement in LAO’s processes and policies relating to management of its roster and quality of service provided to LAO clients
– chairing inter-departmental meetings including LAO’s Compliance Departments;
The Roster Management staff lawyer will be responsible for a high-volume of roster management files at any given time. This position also includes ensuring data tracking, file management, and policy review and drafting.
This position will appeal to a lawyer with significant experience in administrative law, professional regulation, and legal research and writing. This position requires significant knowledge of LASA, 2020, and Roster Management processes, and will require a lawyer who can effectively navigate and manage multiple competing priorities, and an often-intensive workload involving detailed reading, writing, and correspondence. Effective time-management and organization is essential in this role.
Home location: Provincial office
Secondary location: To be determined
These positions are designated Flexible Hybrid and require attendance at an LAO office location once per week.
Reports to: Director, Roster Management Dept.
Department Description:
The Roster Management (RM) department has provincial scope and is responsible for working with LAO’s District Offices to oversee LAO’s roster of third-party independent service providers. This oversight includes reviewing applications to join the roster, providing legal opinions and recommending courses of action to internal LAO staff to resolve issues.
Our team conducts legal research and analysis to identify issues and determine courses of action including drafting correspondence, memoranda and administrative law pleadings further to LAO’s legislation, and rules and writing notices of suspension from the roster, or roster removal. Another function of the RM group is to review information relating to complaints, audits, or investigations regarding lawyer service-providers, and assessing any potential risks to clients or LAO and identify areas for improvement in LAO’s processes and policies relating to management of its roster and quality of service provided to LAO clients. We also chair inter-departmental meetings including LAO’s Compliance Departments.
LAO’s Roster Management Department also leads a number of modernization projects tied to the implementation of the Legal Aid Services Act, 2020 and the Roster Management Rules. These projects including the transition of roster members to the new minimum experience requirements, implementation of the conditional authorization and duty counsel renewal processes, and data management initiatives.
Key accountabilities
- Drafting legal correspondence, notices of suspension, notices of refusal to enrol on the roster, notices of roster removal, and other materials further to LAO’s legislation, rules, or policies.
- Oversight of legal aid roster members in one or more of LAO’s Districts, including carriage of a high-volume roster management files at any given time
- Identify and assess risk, and formulate strategies and approaches to addressing issues with roster management files as they arise;
- Reviewing and providing direction to management and advice on reports from LAO’s Compliance Departments
- Facilitating knowledge-sharing and best practices among staff offices
- File management, including developing and maintaining repository of correspondence, pleadings for roster membership proceedings or related litigation, and other relevant materials including use of computer technology and data input for statistics measurements in a timely manner
- Data tracking, including reviewing and assessing data from LAO’s annual lawyer self-report, and tracking data on roster member issues and resignations.
- Supporting District Offices including providing research and analysis on roster management inquiries from various LAO local staff.
- Ensuring a high-quality of legal work in a cost-effective and efficient manner
- Assistance with other special projects as they arise, including providing input and research on new policies or procedures, and new area of law standards.
- Keep abreast with and where necessary providing research and analysis on matters before the Law Society Tribunal.
- Punctual attendance to perform daily duties
- Facilitating knowledge-sharing and best practices among staff offices
- Perform other duties and administrative tasks as assigned and remain adaptable and flexible in a changing environment.
Required skills & experience
- Lawyer in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario
- Fluency in French, including ability to draft legal materials in French is an asset and highly desirable
- Extensive Administrative Law knowledge, including expert-level knowledge on the Legal Aid Services Act, 2020, its regulations, rules, and LAO’s Roster Management Process
- Significant and current experience in legal drafting, including drafting demand letters and pleadings, including ability to quickly draft materials and respond to urgent priorities
- Demonstrated commitment to social justice or public interest work
- Demonstrated understanding and current working experience with LAO’s Compliance processes and the delivery of Legal Aid Services in general
- Practical understanding of the Rules of Professional Conduct and proceedings before the Law Society Tribunal
- Communication, presentation and negotiation skills coupled with strong advocacy skills.
- Proven judgment and analytical ability to determine appropriate legal remedies
- Ability to quickly shift priorities and adapt where urgent priorities arise
- Ability to foresee and address risks, including maintaining discretion, providing a range of options, and working with sensitive information
- Ability to work collaboratively with a range of stakeholders, including external counsel, LAO’s Compliance Departments, General Counsel, and LAO’s Management.
- Ability to work with minimal supervision in an intensive environment while also demonstrating collaboration and teamwork with colleagues and other stakeholders
- Ability to use computer based file management and data entry systems such as PeopleSoft and Microsoft Office.
- Demonstrated ability to use latest communication technologies including tablets and smartphones and ability to utilize video conferencing platforms in order to deliver services virtually. (Zoom/Lync/Teams)
To apply submit a cover letter & résumé.
This position is represented by The Society of United Professionals and the employee will be governed by the provisions of the collective agreement and union dues will be deducted bi-weekly from date of hire.
First preference will be given to current members of The Society of United Professionals. Only those candidates selected for an interview will be notified.
Please note that all applicants are encouraged to provide a valid email address for communication purposes. Applicants may receive written correspondence regarding this job posting directly to the email address provided on their resume or to the one used to set up their Candidate Profile if applying on Njoyn. As an applicant, it is your responsibility to ensure that you check your email regularly.
First time applying to LAO? You will need to create a profile AND then apply for the position. Already have an Njoyn account? Just sign in and select “my jobs” to apply.
Once you have successfully applied you will receive a confirmation email.
Trouble applying? For telephone support please call 1-877-427-7717 or email support: [email protected].
Expected salary
$88418.59 – 151095.5 per year
Location
Toronto, ON
Job date
Tue, 27 Feb 2024 08:47:44 GMT
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