Lawyer jobs in Canada

Thursday, February 27, 2025

LEGAL AID BC

POSTING

TO: LABC STAFF (cc: PEA)

FROM: HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT

(until May 8, 2026, or the return of the incumbent)

COMPETITION NO: P126-24

DATE POSTED: February 27, 2025

CLOSING DATE: March 10, 2025

STARTING DATE: April 1, 2025

SALARY CLASSIFICATION: Maximum Year Call 15

SALARY: Based on year of call - $73,059.89 (Yr1) to $142,773.62 (Yr15) + 10% Staff Lawyer Benefit Plan (As per the PEA Salary Schedule)

Legal Aid BC is in the early stages of, and committed to a transformative journey to embedding Truth and Reconciliation, and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in all aspects of our work. We seek talent from equity-seeking groups, including but not limited to individuals who self-identify as First Nations, Inuit, or Metis descent, persons with diverse abilities, gender diverse, racialized, and members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community be a part of this exciting stage of Legal Aid BC’s growth. We care deeply about the culture we are building and are looking for staff members who not only excel in their respective areas but are also passionate about supporting the people we serve and each other.

PRIMARY FUNCTION:

Reporting to the Manager, Family Law Services, this position will have primary responsibility to assess family law and child protection cases under the Family and CFCSA Case Management Programs and Intake Policies and Procedures to provide support to the organization on family and CFCSA tariff policy. This position is responsible for making coverage and funding decisions which enable private/tariff bar lawyers to properly represent LABC clients.

DUTIES:

1. Provides advice and support to Lawyer Services regarding application of tariff policy to ensure that mandated and contracted services are effectively and efficiently delivered.
2. Make decisions regarding discretionary services (such as extended services, exception reviews, representation for cancellation of CCOs) and case management budgets, while adhering to LABC policy and procedures.
3. Provides advice and support to Intake regarding coverage issues and change of counsel requests.
4. Provides advice and support to Family Advice Services, Lawyer Services and Intake staff regarding coverage and operations.
5. Provides advice and support to Lawyer Services regarding Case Management authorizations for services, disbursements, and other coverage issues and change of counsel requests.
6. Responds to lawyer inquiries regarding family and CFCSA tariff services.
7. Oversees office procedures and administrative systems including file management in accordance with LABC policy and standards.
8. Records and monitors the number of requests for discretionary services and the outcomes of requests.
9. Maintains a record for rationale of all decisions, highlighting key factors considered and any trends on the types of requests being made.
10. Monitors the financial impact of approved funding requests.
11. Reports to Manager, Family Law Services on request volumes, decision outcomes, budget and any notable trends or concerns.
12. Participates in divisional planning and in the development of goals and priorities for the department through ongoing assessment of departmental needs.
13. Liaise with private/tariff bar lawyers, courts and community groups across B.C. to gather feedback and identify issues on matters of material interest relating to family law and CFCSA services and initiatives.
14. Supports LABC Committee work, including the Family Law Tariff Advisory Committee, among others.
15. Participates in community, departmental, divisional and organizational projects, as time permits, including Canadian Bar Association sub-section meetings, Court Users meetings and functions where appropriate.
16. Ensures coordination of departmental resources with other departments providing related services.
17. Provides backfill to LABC advice services as required.
18. Performs other related duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Basic requirements

1. A degree from a Law School of recognized university and membership or eligibility for membership in the Law Society of British Columbia
2. A Minimum of five (5) years recent experience in the area of family and child protection law
3. Experience at B.C. Provincial and Supreme Court levels involving the full range of family and child protection law issues is preferred
4. Or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

1. Significant experience with a legal aid family law and child protection practice
2. Significant knowledge of the principles and practices relating to family and child protection law;
3. Excellent knowledge of family and child protection law, particularly:
4. Practice and procedure in Supreme Court under the Divorce Act and Family Law Act;
5. Practice and procedure in the Provincial Court under the Family Law Act, the Child Family and Community Services Act and the Family Maintenance Enforcement Act;
6. Practice and procedure under the Interjurisdictional Support Orders Act;
7. The Provincial Court (Family) Rules, Provincial Court (CFCSA) Rules and Supreme Court Family Rules, including prescribed forms.
8. An understanding of Indigenous issues, cultures as well as Indigenous community groups and agencies and current issues affecting Indigenous communities.
9. Ability to communicate and relate to Indigenous people and their communities, with sensitivity to cultural and Tribal/Nation differences.
10. Knowledge of local community resources and familiar with the structure and history of Indigenous communities within BC.
11. Knowledge of Legal Services Society Policy and Procedures, including the Legal Services Society Act and the Guide to Legal Aid Tariffs;
12. Knowledge of the Professional Conduct Handbook, the Law Society Rules, and the Legal Profession Act;
13. Excellent oral and written communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills;
14. Excellent computer skills coupled with a good understanding of the use of new technologies within a dynamic work environment;
15. Excellent project management skills and the demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously;
16. Experience and skills demonstrated in administrative, analytic, organizational, budget management, planning activities and decision-making skills;
17. Ability to produce concise and clear reports and correspondence and present legal information in understandable layman’s language;
18. Ability to exercise sound judgment and problem solve with diplomacy and tact;
19. Ability to cope with a heavy volume of work and to work well under pressure;
20. Ability to work independently and to foster effective working relationships with peers, subordinates and external contacts, and to work within a multi-disciplinary team environment;
21. Ability to diffuse conflict situations and respond to angry individuals by utilizing effective conflict resolution skills;
22. Ability to supervise staff;
23. Experience with Windows and an intermediate level of knowledge of MS Word;
24. Familiarity with Outlook, MS Teams, Zoom and other web-based platforms for communication and scheduling;
25. Willingness to work independent of legal secretarial support, as needed.

Employment is conditional upon completing and obtaining clearance from the following:

1. Criminal Record Check (CRC) in accordance with the Criminal Records Review Act
2. Law Society Check
3. Current and previous vendors with Legal Aid BC are subject to a standard internal review of audit and investigation files

We offer (based on your employment status and affiliation):

1. Four weeks paid vacation to start that grows the longer you are with LABC
2. An excellent employee benefits package, where premiums are 100% paid by LABC
3. Support for training and development
4. An Employee and Family Assistance program
5. The opportunity to participate in various Employee programs (Employee Wellness, etc.)
6. Support for a healthy work/life balance
7. Generous leave provisions (sick time, special leaves)
8. 13 paid statutory holidays
9. An opportunity for a flexible hybrid work arrangement for some positions (LABC reserves the right to change this policy at any time)
10. Transit friendly employer for eligible staff to have their commute subsidized
11. Dog-friendly offices
12. Dedicated Cultural Leave provisions for Indigenous employees
13. An Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Council, and Indigenous employees Council and Accessibility Committee of employees from equity-seeking groups that advises on ongoing improvements and investments in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at our workplace

We would like to thank all external applicants for their interest but regret that only those shortlisted will be contacted.