Legal Services Technician 1-2

Closing Date: 03-Dec-24 (Applications are accepted until 11:59 PM Atlantic Time)

About Us

The Legal Services Division is the government’s law firm, providing a full range of legal advice and services to support government operations and help government achieve its corporate priorities. With a staff of more than 160 lawyers, paralegals, researchers and administrative professionals, the Division is one of the largest law offices in the Province.

Under general supervision from the Legal Services Supervisor, as the Legal Services Technician 1-2 you will provide high quality, specialized legal administrative assistance, and file management support under the direction of two or more lawyers. You will utilize strong secretarial/administrative skills, knowledge of legal terminology and specialized procedures pertaining to certain areas of law. You will perform effectively under the pressures and strain of inflexible deadlines in a highly confidential office setting under minimal supervision.

You will be responsible for creating, tracking, and managing litigation files. The opportunity requires you to be able to adapt to shifting priorities, balance your efforts between providing legal assistance and administrative support, respond in a timely and appropriate manner to inquiries and to be organized in your day to day file management.

Primary Accountabilities

1. Legal Assistance / Support to Lawyers
   Provide specialized legal assistance for lawyers who provide legal advice/litigation services to government departments and various agencies, boards, and commissions.
2. Ensure documents assigned by a lawyer are prepared, filed, and/or served within prescribed or assigned deadlines.
3. Query and retrieve legal case law, precedent materials/documents, or other relevant information as identified by a lawyer.

1. Secretarial / Administrative Support
   Prepare correspondence, presentations, and documents of a legal and non-legal matter.
2. Respond to inquiries from internal and external clients and the public.
3. Schedule appointments and maintain lawyers’ calendar and schedule, and book rooms, court reporters, travel, discoveries, witnesses, interpreters, case conferences.
4. Book travel and related accommodations when necessary.
5. Work in a team environment, providing coverage to assistants on their team and other teams as assigned by the Legal Services Supervisor.

1. Responding to Inquiries and File Management
   Act as a point of contact to ensure clients have the appropriate information including file updates, process or procedural changes, Division updates and other general matters.
2. Manage files in the Central Registry filing system, electronic shared directory and in the file/document management databases.
3. Organize all hard copy and electronic files including filing of documents, data entry and the use of the STAR/STOR classification system.
4. Ensure that files/filing is up to date and brought forward for review by lawyers as required.

Qualifications and Experience

As our successful candidate, you will possess a certificate/diploma from a Legal Assistant or Paralegal program. You have experience and competency in an automated environment, with proficient and accurate typing, dicta typing, MS Word, and data entry skills. You have knowledge of legal terminology, procedures, and documentation, as well as excellent research, analytical and organizational skills. Your excellent communication skills, both written and oral, give you the ability to deal with clients, lawyers and co-workers in a fair, caring, and impartial manner communicating in a clear and concise manner while maintaining confidentiality and impartiality.

Assets include:

• Knowledge of the various levels of Court.
• Knowledge of Civil Procedure Rules.
• Knowledge of provincial government departments and agencies.
• Experience utilizing STAR/STOR record classification system, or other file management systems.

We will assess the above qualifications using one or more of the following tools: written examination, standardized tests, oral presentations, interview(s), and reference checks.

Working Conditions

Normal work week is 35 hours/week, 7 hours/day. May be required to work overtime on occasion. Typically located in a comfortable office environment. Considerable periods of time sitting at desk interspersed with movement to and from printers, file storage areas or to deposit/retrieve mail. At times required to bend and lift file boxes from storage shelving and transport to review area. Regular need to read and analyze information and significant time focusing on a computer monitor. Must balance multiple priorities and the demand for accuracy and attention to detail in the preparation of legal documents requires acute concentration and may increase physical and mental stress. The nature of the work environment may bring staff into contact with individuals who are verbally abusive and physically threatening, exposure to disturbing images or content in some files may occur.

Additional Information

This competition is to fill one (1) permanent and one (1) term position, with anticipated end date of November 3, 2026, employment opportunities based in Halifax, NS. The appointment status (‘term’, ‘temporary’ or ‘casual’) is dependent on the start date of the successful candidate. This position offers an option for flexible work arrangements.

What We Offer

Career Development where you have access to career guidance, tools, resources, and ongoing training for every stage of your career. Engaging workplace. Our Employees feel valued, respected, connected, and tuned in. We have forward-thinking policies and strategies. Countless career paths.

Pay Grade: TE 13 – TE 19

Salary Range: $1,566.66 – $2,273.69 Bi-Weekly

Employment Equity Statement: Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative, at all job levels, of the citizens we serve. The Government of Nova Scotia has an Employment Equity Policy, and we welcome applications from Indigenous People, African Nova Scotians and Other Racially Visible Persons, Persons with Disabilities and Women in occupations or positions where they are under-represented. If you are a member of one of these equity groups, you are encouraged to self-identify on your electronic application.

This is a bargaining unit position initially restricted to current civil service employees represented by the Nova Scotia Government Employees Union (NSGEU). If applying from outside a government office, employees must apply correctly via the link on our job page. Failure to apply correctly means that your application will not be given first consideration as a bargaining unit applicant, and will only be included if external applications are pursued. External applicants and current casual employees will only be considered if there are no qualified civil service bargaining unit candidates. PLEASE NOTE: Candidates will not be considered for an interview if applications are incomplete or are missing information.

Offer of employment is conditional upon the completion of all applicable background checks and confirmation of credentials, the results of which must be satisfactory to the employer. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. All questions and concerns may be directed to Competitions@novascotia.ca.