Legal Aid Worker - Family Senior Counsel Program (Toronto)

The Family Senior Counsel Program has provincial scope and complements LAO's existing mixed model of private bar and duty counsel services by providing financially and legally eligible clients with another option for high quality, full-scope representation.

This position is responsible for direct litigation support for the Family Senior Counsel Program. This role will assist staff lawyers who will represent clients on legal aid certificates. It includes file management (opening and closing files, docketing and billing on-line), communication with clients, opposing counsel/parties, family court staff and stakeholders; the preparation of correspondence and family court documents, and providing information on court processes and procedural matters under the direct supervision of a staff family.

The legal aid worker will closely assist staff lawyers with varied tasks and administrative duties required to advance client matters through the family court process.

The position will be responsible for covering the geographic area of the Toronto District, including in-person and virtual attendance at Toronto's Ontario Court of Justice and Superior Court of Justice family court locations.

Reports to: Manager of Operations - Family Senior Counsel Program

• Provide general information by responding to in-person, email, and phone inquiries from clients;
• Perform client file management including tasks like opening and closing files, maintaining a tickler system, preparing, and reviewing correspondence, organizing files as well as motion, conference and trial materials and billing files. Responsible for client intake, drafting and referrals of client to other services as required;
• Liaise with other legal service providers, internal and external, including court-based services, to ensure seamless client service;
• Liaise with shelters and other community agencies;
• Liaise with private bar lawyers, Children's Aid Society counsel and workers, Mental Health and other court workers, police and other court staff as directed by the staff lawyer;
• Preliminary interviews of clients to gather information about their case; primary contact with clients; field inquiries from clients, and assist lawyer with client queries, referrals, requests for information, client interviews, etc.;
• Procedural court document preparation; assistance with information gathering and correspondence, under the direct supervision of the staff lawyer;
• Implement established systems to manage the volume of work, and the ability to compile information for statistical purposes and reporting/analysis;
• Act as floater LAW, including triaging clients and other administrative tasks as assigned;
• Demonstrate flexibility in terms of work hours including occasionally working through lunch breaks or past regular work hours; and
• Provide mentorship and/or training to other staff, information to legal and non-legal staff relating to PLEI, community outreach and drafting.
• Perform other duties as required.

• Fluency in French, and/or in languages other than English and French, will be considered an asset;
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and interview skills, and sound judgment for dealing with clients, lawyers and other agencies;
• Resiliency, solution-oriented, possessing a calm temperament; adaptability to working well in a constantly changing environment;
• Ability to work well under strict time constraints;
• Ability to manage client expectations;
• Ability and willingness to work effectively in a team environment;
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with Legal Aid Workers, staff lawyers, paralegals, per diem Duty Counsel and Managers;
• Solid understanding of court processes, rules and practice directions;
• Knowledge of relevant legislation, including the Legal Aid Services Act, Family Law Act and Child Support Guidelines, Children's Law Reform Act, Child and Youth Family Services Act, Divorce Act, An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families and the Family Law Rules
• Minimum of 3-years demonstrated experience in drafting family law court documents.
• Aptitude and willingness to work effectively with and be sensitive to the needs of vulnerable clients, particularly clients with mental health issues, survivors of domestic abuse, clients from marginalized communities and clients who have concurrent immigration and/or criminal law matters;
• Sound knowledge of legal aid application procedures, financial principles and LAO policies and practices;
• Ability to determine legal and financial eligibility based on LAO eligibility criteria in accordance with office procedures and standard formats;
• Proven ability to learn and adapt to new or modified policies and procedures;
• Ability to assemble child protection and domestic family application records, status review records, motion records, trial records, appeal records, joint briefs and exhibit books;
• An understanding and adherence to discretion and client confidentiality;
• Must have competent computer skills and knowledge of the Microsoft Office programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Divorcemate;
• Experience with Legal Files would be an asset; and
• Diploma or certificate in law practice or court-related area would be an asset.

Organizational Competencies Expected
• Client Focus
• Adaptability and Flexibility
• Personal Motivation and Accountability
• Focus on Quality and Best Practice
• Problem Solving and Judgement
• Organizational Awareness
• Teamwork and Collaboration

As per the requirements of the Collective Agreement governing this position, first consideration is given to current OPSEU member applicants.

Only those candidates selected for an interview will be notified.

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.

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Trouble applying? For telephone support, please call 1-877-427-7717 or email:candidate.njoynhelp@cgi.com.