Solicitor – Litigation

Halifax Regional Municipality is inviting applications for 1 (one) full-time permanent Solicitor position for the Litigation Team, preferably with 1 to 5 years of experience in personal injury, employment and labour law, and general litigation.

Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) is committed to reflecting the community it serves & recognizing Diversity & Inclusion as one of the Municipality’s core values. We have an Employment Equity Policy & we welcome applications from African Nova Scotians & Other Racially Visible Persons, Women in occupations or positions where they are underrepresented in the workforce, Indigenous/Aboriginal People, Persons with Disabilities & 2SLGBTQ+ Persons. Applicants are encouraged to self-identify on their electronic application.

HRM Legal Services provides quality, cost effective, timely and accessible legal services to meet the needs of HRM through its Council, various departments, boards, commissions, and employees. This Solicitor would be a member of the Litigation Team, reporting to a Managing Solicitor and the Executive Director. The Litigation Team represents and provides legal advice to the Municipality with respect to a broad range of legal proceedings including legislative challenges, personal injury litigation, employment law and labour arbitrations, commercial litigation and arbitrations, before various levels of court and administrative tribunals.

The successful candidate(s) will be client focused and a self-motivated individual who will work both independently with minimal supervision and with a team of lawyers and support staff. They will be responsible for the conduct of litigation including managing their own caseload and assisting senior counsel with the conduct of more complex cases. They will demonstrate professional and ethical behaviour expected of the legal profession.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Provides general litigation and dispute resolution services and advice to HRM; its business units, agencies, boards and commissions;
2. Complies with HRM Legal Services’ Client Service Standards and Service Level Agreements;
3. Represents clients in legal proceedings before courts and administrative tribunals;
4. Assists senior counsel with preparation and conduct of litigation and dispute resolution;
5. Maintains up to date knowledge and expertise in areas of law including statutes, case law, legal proceedings, and trends in the context of public law;
6. Conducts legal research and provides legal opinions;
7. Participates as part of the litigation team;
8. Maintains positive relationships and effective communication with client business units;
9. Attends meetings such as community councils or regional council, as required or assigned;
10. Case management of legal files;
11. Updates administrative records/databases/information systems as required.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience

1. Law Degree from a recognized university
2. 1 to 5 years relevant experience in the practice of law
3. Member of the Nova Scotia Barristers Society or be qualified to be admitted
4. Experience in one or more of the following areas of practice: litigation, labour and employment, administrative and public law.

Technical and Job Specific Knowledge

1. Technical Skills: possesses basic legal skills with emphasis on an understanding of the fundamentals of municipal law, ability to analyze legal documents, litigation basics and ability to write comprehensive yet concise legal opinions.
2. Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office: (Word, Outlook, Teams).
3. Research Skills: possesses a sound knowledge of legal research techniques and software. Has the ability to research and synthesize complex legal and factual materials.
4. Business Fundamentals: understands tactical business fundamentals and risk/benefit analysis and incorporates them into decision making or advice provided. Also ability to use basic rules, common sense, and past experiences to identify and address problems.

Security Clearance Requirements: Applicants may be required to complete an employment security screening check.

Please note – Testing may be conducted as a component of the selection process to assess technical and job specific knowledge. Candidates, who are selected for testing, may be tested in a group setting, scheduled at the employer’s discretion.

COMPETENCIES

Customer Service, Communication, Organization & Planning, Values & Ethics, Valuing Diversity

HOURS OF WORK

Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. with additional hours as required to meet organizational needs.

SALARY

Non-Union, Level S1, $90,074 – $119,991. Compensation is commensurate with experience and education.

WORK LOCATION

7th Floor, CIBC Building, 1809 Barrington Street

CLOSING DATE

Applications will be received up to 11:59 p.m on March 25, 2025.

Please note: We thank all applicants for their interest in this position. Only those applicants selected for interview/testing will be contacted.

During the recruitment process, applicants have the right to request an accommodation. Applicants invited to participate in an assessment process (such as interview or testing) and who require an accommodation, should discuss their needs with the recruiter when invited to the assessment process. For more information on our accommodation process please click on the link; Accommodations | Hiring | Employment | Halifax.