Staff Duty Counsel - Family and Criminal

Company Bio

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.

Primary function

This Duty Counsel will be required provide family and criminal duty counsel services in Milton. This role may require travel throughout the district on occasion. As such, applicants with readily available transportation or an ability to rent a vehicle are preferred.

This position is responsible for providing client service for family and criminal law matters in the courthouse, both virtually and in person.

Family Duty Counsel will be responsible for the intake and assessment of family law clients to determine the appropriate service for the clients, including but not limited to providing procedural and summary legal advice; drafting, reviewing and commissioning of family court documents and pleadings such as Applications, Answers, Motions, Affidavits and Financial Statements; in court representation at various stages of a family court and/or child protection proceeding; and other duties as assigned.

Criminal Duty Counsel will be responsible for the intake and assessment of criminal law clients to determine the appropriate service for those charged with criminal offences, including but not limited to providing procedural and summary legal advice; drafting and reviewing criminal court documents; in court representation at various stages of criminal court proceedings; and other duties as assigned.

This position will appeal to a lawyer experienced in a broad range of criminal and family proceedings who can effectively navigate the demands of a busy workplace, both in-person and remotely.

Home Position: Milton Courthouse

Secondary/Tertiary Locations: Vanier Centre for Women and Maplehurst Correctional Complex

Reports to: Manager Legal Services, Halton

Key accountabilities

• Act as Family and Criminal Duty Counsel
• Representing clients both in-person and remotely
• Ensure high quality of legal work in a cost effective manner
• File management as per LAO requirements including use of computer technology; data input for statistics measurements in a timely manner

FAMILY

• Advocate for clients in court and on court forms
• Provide family law duty counsel services, including providing instructions to Legal Aid Workers (and students), preparation of court documents for eligible clients, make appropriate referrals when required, including to mediation services
• Providing representation in the Ontario Court of Justice (OCJ), at first appearances, conferences, motions, negotiations, Family Responsibility Office (FRO) matters, Children’s Aid Societies matters and other court hearings and services as required
• Assist unrepresented eligible clients with LAO family settlement conferences as required
• Assist unrepresented clients with Child Youth and Family Services Act (CYFSA) matters (with document preparation and in court appearances)
• Ability to provide advice lawyer services at the Family Law Information Centre (FLIC)
• Demonstrated ability to provide sensitive and compassionate client service to those who may be victims of domestic violence
• Provide advice lawyer services on the Summary Legal Advice (SLA) telephone service for family
• Maintain client files and conflict lists
• Other duties as assigned

CRIMINAL

• Assisting unrepresented clients who have been charged with criminal matters
• Representing clients at bail hearings, guilty pleas and remands both in-person and remotely
• Assessing clients’ needs, including the early identification of vulnerable clients, to facilitate referrals to appropriate services.
• Provide criminal law services as defense counsel in the Ontario Court of Justice
• Providing assistance and representation at federal, provincial, and youth, remand, bail and plea courts, including specialty courts (Drug Treatment Court / Mental Health Court)
• Providing summary legal advice (SLA)
• Interviewing clients, sureties, and witnesses
• Disclosure review and Crown pre-trials meetings
• Preparing and arguing bail hearings
• Other duties as assigned

Required Skills & Experience

• Lawyer/Member in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario
• Practical understanding of the Rules of Professional Conduct
• Proven interpersonal, communication, presentation and negotiation skills coupled with strong advocacy skills
• Proven judgment and analytical ability to determine appropriate legal remedies and demonstrated research skills
• Knowledge and appreciation of impact of court proceedings on immigration, criminal, family and other poverty law issues; and the integrated nature of legal issues faced by LAO clients
• Proven experience in providing excellent client service to vulnerable populations such as racialized communities, Indigenous communities, youth and those experiencing mental health or addiction challenges or victims of domestic violence and/or homelessness
• Ability to work independently and unsupervised in a busy environment while also demonstrating collaboration and teamwork with colleagues and other stakeholders
• Sound knowledge and understanding of Legal Aid Ontario’s operations and mandate
• 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/Teams)
• Demonstrated knowledge of Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint, Divorcemate and Legal Files

FAMILY

• Demonstrated Knowledge and experience of relevant family law legislation and in particular child protection law and in court experience in both family and child protection matters. Experience being lead on family files
• Prior family and CYFSA law experience
• Ability to draft legal documents without need for review

CRIMINAL

• Demonstrated experience in representing clients with complex legal issues including conducing bails hearings, and guilty pleas
• Sound knowledge of the Criminal Code of Canada, Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, criminal law procedures, rules of evidence and case law
• Demonstrated experience in providing criminal law services including experience with complex legal issues and bails hearings, guilty pleas, remands and youth court
• Sound knowledge of the Criminal Code of Canada, Youth Criminal Justice Act, Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, criminal law procedures, rules of evidence and case law

What do we Offer?

At Legal Aid Ontario, we are committed to fostering a supportive and rewarding work environment for our employees. Our comprehensive benefits package reflects our commitment to enhance employees’ professional and personal well-being, reflecting our values of equity, inclusion, diversity and belonging.

Your health and wellness

Our Health And Wellness Program Includes

• Dental, health and life insurance
• Short-Term Disability and accidental death & dismemberment insurance
• Permanent employees are eligible for long-term disability insurance
• An employee assistance program (EAP) that offers professional, confidential counselling services to employees and members of their immediate families. The EAP operates programs that address common life issues such as childcare, smoking, financial difficulty, and more.
• Legal Aid Ontario offers a Health Spending Account (HSA) which is an allotment of funds provided by LAO for health and dental expenses, above what the regular plan provides.

Your work-life balance

Employees Enjoy Generous Paid Time-off Including

• 17 vacation days at hire,
• Sick days
• Discretionary days
• Three paid days for religious or cultural observances
• Statutory holidays and The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Remembrance Day and Easter Monday

Your career

LAO supports your career development by offering professional development and networking through several programs, including training to support a positive culture of equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging (EDIB), and lunch and learns to build client service skills

• Informal Employee Networks for staff with shared identities to connect, support each other and build professional networks
• Law Society of Ontario (LSO) accredited training to support learning and professional development for all employees
• EDIB-focused training
• Mentorship programs, including an Indigenous-focused mentorship program

Your future

Employees are eligible to enrol in the defined benefit Public Service Pension Plan which provides financial security during retirement.

How to apply?

To apply submit a cover letter & résumé.

Only those candidates selected for an interview will be notified.

Final candidates for this position will be required to undergo a criminal record check.

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.

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 View phone number on canada.jobradars.com or email support: ***email_hidden***

Equity Statement

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.