Parenting Legal Advocacy & Navigation Support Assistant

NOVA SCOTIA LEGAL AID COMMISSION
PARENTING LEGAL ADVOCACY & NAVIGATION SUPPORT ASSISTANT

Type of Employment: 1-year Term with potential for permanency
Location: Dartmouth Family Office, 1210-99 Wyse Road, Dartmouth
Salary: TE 13-1 to TE 19-5 ($40,733.16 to $59,115.94)
Closing Date: April 3, 2025 at 4:30 pm

Who we are:
Nova Scotia Legal Aid Commission (NSLAC) delivers quality legal aid services throughout the Province, providing some level of help to all Nova Scotians with a focus on assisting those who are systematically disadvantaged. NSLAC’s focus is in the practice areas of criminal, family, and social justice law.

NSLAC employs staff in 24 offices and 3 sub-offices throughout the Province. Our staff are comprised of Staff Lawyers, Legal Assistants, Paralegals, Court Support Workers, Social Workers, a Social Justice Support Worker, and a Prison Law Support Worker. Our staff help thousands of clients every year. We are committed to helping overcome historical and ongoing barriers to access to justice and our Staff Lawyers have litigated many important cases to protect the rights of individuals.

We value a workplace where diversity, in all its forms, is encouraged and recognized for its contribution to a more creative, rewarding workplace that is representative, at all job levels, of the citizens we serve. 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, cover letter or resume.

Primary Functions:
Reporting to the Managing Lawyer and under direction of the Executive Office and Parenting Legal Advocacy & Navigation Staff Lawyers, the Parenting Legal Advocacy & Navigation Support Assistant (PLANSA) will work with the Parenting Legal Advocacy & Navigation team, providing comprehensive administrative support to the Parenting Legal Advocacy & Navigation Staff Lawyers, as well as some direct work with clients and community partners. An understanding of and commitment to client service is imperative. This practice group serves parents needing advice before a court application has begun or in the early stages of a child protection court proceeding. This position will have responsibility for a wide range of assignments involving the day-to-day operations and must have a broad range of knowledge relating to the activities and policies of the Commission.

Ideal Attributes and Skills:

1. Effectively manages PLAN client applications and intake, obtain basic information, draft forms and documents, review and summarize PLAN files and disclosure.
2. Manages, coordinates, and ensures the smooth flow of work in a Staff Lawyer’s practice.
3. Ensures management of administrative related duties.
4. A good working knowledge of legal terminology, legal research and court procedures.
5. Provides accurate and appropriate information on Commission programs and policies to members of the public, Staff Lawyers, Directors of the Commission, senior government officials and government agencies in a tactful, professional, and courteous manner.
6. Prepares and arranges for the service of Subpoenas.
7. Prepares files for transfer to family offices for continued service as required.
8. Organizes file materials and exhibits for hearings/pre-trial/settlement conferences and prepare file for closure by lawyer.
9. Willingness to assist other staff members and cross train on other skills when required.
10. Ability to work independently, to take initiative, and to use judgment in matters of extreme confidentiality and sensitivity.
11. Be able to work with clients who have complex needs and works independently in a fast-paced environment as well as part of a team.
12. Compliance with NSLAC’s policies and procedures.
13. Demonstrated time management and ability to deal with conflicting priorities and deadlines.
14. Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively.
15. Experience and proficiency with computer software packages including legal research applications, MS Office and Outlook.
16. Any other additional projects and tasks as required.

Qualifications:

If you are talented, conscientious and want to be a member of a team that is highly experienced, very caring, dedicated and committed to their clients, we would like to hear from you.

Please indicate Position Title and Location and whether you are an internal or external applicant in the email subject line. Please send your resume and cover letter to NSLA-Careers@nslegalaid.ca.

While we appreciate receiving all applications, only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted. All applications will be held in strict confidence.