General Counsel, Compassionate Intervention Commission

General Counsel, Compassionate Intervention Commission

Job Information

• Job Title: General Counsel, Compassionate Intervention Commission
• Job Requisition ID: 87899
• Ministry: Mental Health and Addiction
• Location: Edmonton
• Full or Part-Time: Full Time
• Hours of Work: 36.25 hours per week
• Permanent/Temporary/Wage: Permanent
• Scope: Open Competition
• Closing Date: October 15, 2026
• Classification: Legal Counsel 4
• Salary: $8,502.54 to $9,352.26 bi-weekly ($221,916 - $244,093/year)

The Compassionate Intervention Commission is an independent, quasi-judicial tribunal established under the Compassionate Intervention Act. The Commission makes decisions for individuals suffering from severe addiction who are likely to cause harm to themselves or others without intervention.

The Ministry of Mental Health and Addiction is transforming Alberta’s health system to the Alberta Recovery Model, which adopts a recovery-oriented approach for addiction and mental health. (for more information see:

A recovery-oriented system of care is a coordinated network of personalized, community-based services for people at risk of or experiencing addiction and mental health challenges. It provides access to a full continuum of services and supports, from prevention and intervention to treatment and recovery. The vision is for every Albertan to have the opportunity to pursue recovery and live a healthy and productive life.

The Ministry also liaises with the Office of the Alberta Health Advocates and Recovery Alberta. To learn more about Alberta Mental Health and Addiction and what we have to offer, follow this link:

Are you an experienced lawyer with expertise in administrative law, statutory interpretation, and quasi-judicial decision-making? Do you excel in complex and evolving legal environments where sound judgment, procedural fairness, and strategic legal leadership are critical?

Reporting administratively to the Executive Director, Compassionate Intervention Commission, and working under the day-to-day functional direction and oversight of the Commissioner, the General Counsel serves as the Commission's principal legal advisor and provides strategic legal leadership on matters arising under the Compassionate Intervention Act, its regulations, and related legislation. This role provides authoritative legal advice to Commission members, the Commissioner, senior leadership, and staff on complex legal, procedural, governance, privacy, and administrative law matters.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic legal advice and opinions on statutory interpretation, administrative law, procedural fairness, evidentiary matters, jurisdictional issues, and emerging legal risks.
• Guide Commission members in exercising their adjudicative responsibilities by supporting legally sound, consistent, and defensible decision-making.
• Advise the Commissioner, Executive Director, and senior leadership on complex legal, governance, legislative, regulatory, operational, and policy matters affecting the Commission's mandate.
• Establish and lead the commission’s legal education framework, providing orientation and advisory support for continuing education programs for Commission members, promoting adjudicative excellence, consistency in decision-making, procedural fairness, and the effective application of legislation and administrative law principles.
• Serve as the key liaison for external legal counsel, including the direction of legal opinions, management of legal service delivery, assessment of performance, and stewardship of legal expenditures to ensure alignment with the Commission's mandate and objectives.
• Lead the analysis and resolution of novel or precedent-setting legal issues where legislation is untested, jurisprudence is limited, and competing rights and public interests must be balanced.
• Oversee legal strategy for judicial reviews, appeals, and related proceedings, including external legal services retained on behalf of the Commission.
• Counsel the Commission on privacy, access to information, information-sharing, information governance, and records management matters involving sensitive personal and health information.
• Support the development and continuous improvement of legislation, regulations, policies, procedures, and decision-making frameworks that strengthen Commission operations and promote legally defensible processes.
• Represent the Commission in discussions with ministries, public agencies, and partner organizations, while contributing to strategic planning, governance, and organizational development initiatives.

The Job Description is provided for Further details on this position.

Competencies

• Systems Thinking : Ability to take a long-term view of challenges and opportunities, anticipate impacts, consider stakeholder perspectives, and align actions with organizational objectives and APS values.
• Agility : Ability to navigate change and uncertainty by identifying alternative approaches, anticipating obstacles and risks, communicating impacts effectively, and making informed decisions in complex situations.
• Build Collaborative Environments : Ability to foster collaboration by encouraging diverse perspectives, facilitating effective communication, proactively addressing conflict, recognizing contributions, and promoting commitment toward shared goals.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Law (LLB) or Juris Doctor (JD), plus a minimum of 11 years of related experience. Membership in good standing with the Law Society of Alberta is required.
• Required Experience:
  • Experience providing legal advice related to administrative law, statutory interpretation, and procedural fairness.
  • Experience conducting legal research.
  • Knowledge of court processes and protocols.
• Assets:
  • Experience providing legal advice to public agencies or quasi-judicial tribunals.
  • Experience with policy and legislation development and implementation, and strategic planning.
  • Experience advising senior leadership on complex legal, governance, or policy matters.
  • Experience working with health law.

Minimum recruitment standards outline the minimum education and experience required for appointment to a job classification.

Secondments may be considered for internal candidates.

Location and Hours

Location: 10155 - 102 Street, Edmonton, AB T5J 4G8

• Monday to Friday, 8:15am – 4:30pm
• 36.25 hours per week

Final candidates will be required to undergo a criminal records check (CRC).

Any costs associated with obtaining the required documents/checks as noted or interview travel expenses, will be the responsibility of the candidate. Out-of-province applicants can obtain the required documents/checks from the province they currently reside in.

Benefits

• Working for the Alberta Public Service.
• Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP)
• Alberta Public Service Benefit Information.
• Professional learning and development.
• Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool.
• Positive workplace culture and work-life balance.