Duty Counsel - Criminal

Job Location: Fort Frances

Job Category: Legal

Role Designation: LAO Workplace Based - Role is physically based in an in-person LAO workplace.

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

This Duty Counsel will be required to provide criminal duty counsel services in Fort Frances. This position will also be responsible for providing Family Duty Counsel services in Fort Frances. It is not required that the successful candidate have practical family law experience, but they must be willing to be trained up in the area. The breakdown of work is roughly 70% Criminal Law and 30% Family Law.

Criminal Duty Counsel are responsible for providing client service for criminal law matters in the courthouse, both virtually and in person. 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; updating and inputting client information/data into SI; drafting and reviewing criminal court documents; in-court representation at various stages of criminal court proceedings, including bail hearings and guilty pleas; and other duties as assigned.

Family Duty Counsel are responsible for providing client service for family 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.

Home Location: Fort Frances Duty Counsel Office
Secondary Location: Atikokan, Rainy River, Kenora, Dryden, Sioux Lookout
Reports to: Manager of Legal Services

Key accountabilities

1. Act as Family and Criminal Duty Counsel
2. Represent clients both in-person and remotely
3. Ensure high quality of legal work in a cost effective manner
4. File management as per LAO requirements including use of computer technology; data input for statistics measurements in a timely manner
5. Advocating for clients in court and on court forms
6. Providing family law duty counsel services, preparing court documents for eligible clients, and providing representation in the Ontario Court of Justice (OCJ) first appearances, case conferences, motions, negotiations, Family Responsibilities Office (FRO) matters, Children’s Aid Societies matters and other court hearings and services as required
7. Ability to provide advice lawyer services at the Family Law Information Centre (FLIC)
8. Demonstrated ability to provide sensitive and compassionate client service to those who may be victims of domestic violence
9. Assisting unrepresented clients who have been charged with criminal or quasi-criminal matters
10. Representing clients at bail hearings, guilty pleas and remands both in-person and remotely
11. Assessing clients’ needs, including the early identification of vulnerable clients, in order to facilitate referrals to appropriate services
12. Providing criminal law services as defense counsel in the Ontario Court of Justice
13. Providing assistance and representation at federal, provincial, and youth, remand, bail and plea courts, including specialty courts (Wellness Court)
14. Providing summary legal advice(SLA)
15. Interviewing clients, sureties, and witnesses
16. Disclosure review and Crown pre-trials meetings
17. Assisting with consent releases and guilty pleas
18. Preparing and arguing contested bail hearings

Required skills & experience

1. Member in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario
2. Demonstrated experience in dealing with complex family law matters and extensive knowledge of relevant family law legislation and child protection law, including in court experience and experience being the lead on family and CYFSA files.
3. Demonstrated experience in representing clients with complex legal issues including conducting bails hearings and guilty pleas
4. 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, Family Law Rules and family law procedure and case law
5. Practical understanding of the Rules of Professional Conduct
6. Proven interpersonal, communication, presentation and negotiation skills, coupled with strong advocacy skills
7. Proven judgment and analytical ability to determine appropriate legal remedies and demonstrated research skills
8. Knowledge and appreciation of impact of court proceedings on immigration, criminal, family and other poverty law issues, as well as the integrated nature of legal issues faced by LAO clients
9. Proven experience in providing excellent client service to vulnerable populations such as racialized communities, First Nations, youth and those experiencing mental health or addiction challenges or victims of domestic violence and/or homelessness
10. Ability to communicate with accuracy and fluency when speaking with clients and providing advice, as well as when representing clients in court
11. Ability to work independently and unsupervised in a busy environment while also demonstrating collaboration and teamwork with colleagues and other stakeholders
12. Ability to work as a team with other Legal Aid Workers, staff lawyers, and per diem Duty Counsel
13. Sound knowledge and understanding of Legal Aid Ontario’s operations and mandate
14. Ability to work independently in a busy environment and provide sound advice/support to colleagues when required
15. Ability to draft legal documents without need for review
16. Ability to assist others with reviewing drafted documents.
17. Demonstrated ability to use latest communication technologies, including Smartphones, Slype, Zoom, iPad and iPhones
18. Demonstrated knowledge of Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint, Divorcemate and Legal Files

Preferred Skills & Experiences:

1. Sound Knowledge of Legal Aid Ontario’s operations and mandate
2. Prior family and CYFSA law experience
3. Demonstrated interest in indigenous legal issues
4. Training or advocacy experience in relation to addictions and/or mental health issues

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.

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.

Are you interested in this job?

Legal Aid Ontario (LAO), an independent but publicly funded and publicly accountable non-profit corporation. None of this material may be commercially reproduced, but copying for other purposes, with credit, is encouraged.