Duty Counsel - Criminal

To provide criminal duty counsel services in St. Catharines and throughout the Niagara Region, including Welland. Since this role requires occasional travel, applicants with readily available transportation or an ability to rent a vehicle are preferred.

Criminal Duty Counsel is responsible for providing client service for criminal law matters, both virtually and in person at the courthouse. Criminal Duty Counsel will be responsible for the intake and assessment of criminal law clients to determine the appropriate service for those charged with criminal offences, including service through duty counsel or referrals for legal aid certificate and senior counsel representation. Duty Counsel is responsible for providing services including, but not limited to: providing legal advice; reviewing and drafting criminal court documents; negotiating resolutions with the prosecutor; in-court representation at various stages of criminal court proceedings; supporting per diem duty counsel lawyers; maintaining records, and other duties as assigned.

Experienced candidates may also be assigned to mentor other staff and per diem lawyers, and to represent Duty Counsel/LAO at stakeholder meetings.

Home position: St. Catharines
Secondary/Tertiary locations can include: Welland, other locations in Niagara

Reports to: Manager of Legal Services, Niagara Region

• Assist unrepresented clients who have been charged with criminal offences;
• Represent clients at bail hearings, guilty pleas, case management appearances and pre-trials, both in-person and remotely;
• Assess clients’ needs, including the early identification of vulnerable clients, to facilitate referrals to appropriate services;
• Provide in-person and remote summary legal advice to clients in or out of custody;
• Assist colleagues in preparation of bail hearings, guilty pleas and other forms of resolutions;
• Conduct disclosure review and representing clients in Crown pre-trial (CPTs) negotiations for purposes of resolution;
• Provide assistance and representation in relation to specialized courts, including Mental Health and Drug Treatment Court (MHDTC), and Indigenous Peoples’ Court;
• Assist clients with applications to the MHDTC and various diversion programs, including Extra Judicial Sanctions and Early Intervention Program for youth;
• Ensure a high quality of legal work in a cost effective manner;
• File management as per LAO requirements including use of computer technology; data input for statistics measurements in a timely manner;
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislation, case law and court procedure, and facilitating knowledge-sharing and best practices among court locations and staff offices;
• Perform other duties and administrative tasks as assigned and remain adaptable and flexible in a changing environment;

• Lawyer in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario;
• Sound knowledge of the Criminal Code of Canada, Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, criminal law procedures, rules of evidence and case law;
• Practical understanding of the Rules of Professional Conduct;
• Proven communication, interpersonal, negotiation and advocacy skills;
• Proven judgment and analytical ability to determine appropriate legal remedies and strategies;
• Knowledge and appreciation of impact of criminal proceedings on immigration, family and other poverty law issues; and the integrated nature of legal issues faced by LAO clients;
• Proven experience in providing excellent client service to vulnerable populations such as racialized communities, Indigenous peoples, youth, and those experiencing disabilities, mental health or addiction challenges and/or homelessness;
• Ability to prioritize and complete tasks and manage time wisely with minimal supervision;
• Ability to collaborate and communicate well with colleagues and stakeholders;
• Ability to use computer-based file management and data entry systems such as PeopleSoft and Excel;
• Demonstrated ability to use latest communication technologies and video conferencing platforms in order to deliver services virtually (including Zoom, Teams);
• Ability and willingness to travel/access to transportation;
• Ability to communicate in French and/or other languages is an asset.


To apply submit a cover letter & résumé.

This position is represented by The Society of United Professionals and the employee will be governed by the provisions of the collective agreement and union dues will be deducted bi-weekly from date of hire.

First Preference will be given to current members of the Society of United Professionals.

Only those candidates selected for an interview will be notified. Final candidates for this position will be required to undergo a criminal record check.

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 résumé 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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