Crown Counsel

ELIGIBILITY FOR THIS COMPETITION IS RESTRICTED TO STEP 1 CANDIDATES INCLUDING OPS ALOC AND OCAA LAWYERS living or working within 125 km of this location. Note: Eligible lawyers from outside the Area of Search may apply but will not be entitled to relocation or travel expenses for the transfer as set out below.

Step 1: All regular/fixed-term OCAA and ALOC lawyers on staff, current Redeployment List Members and current Articling Student Hireback Pool Members.

Step 2: In the absence of qualified applicants at Step 1 the competition may be reposted so that external applicants or non-members of the above-mentioned groups would then be eligible to apply.

Are you an experienced counsel with expertise advising on Indigenous law issues? Are you ready to apply that expertise to supporting us in developing a safe, reliable and affordable energy supply across the province? Can you bring your client service orientation, proactivity, and responsiveness to our work in building a strong, innovative economy that can provide jobs, opportunities, and prosperity for all Ontarians?

The Ministry of the Attorney General has an exciting and challenging opportunity for an experienced counsel to provide legal advice to the Ministry of Energy and Electrification , and the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade (MEDJCT).

OPS Commitment to Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Anti-Racism:

We are committed to build a workforce that reflects the communities we serve and to promote a diverse, anti-racist, inclusive, accessible, merit-based, respectful and equitable workplace.

We invite all interested individuals to apply and encourage applications from people with disabilities, Indigenous, Black, and racialized individuals, as well as people from a diversity of ethnic and cultural origins, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions.

Visit the OPS Anti-Racism Policy and the OPS Diversity and Inclusion Blueprint pages to learn more about the OPS commitment to advance racial equity, accessibility, diversity, and inclusion in the public service.

We offer employment accommodation across the recruitment process and all aspects of employment consistent with the requirements of Ontario's Human Rights Code. Refer to the "How to apply" section if you require a disability-related accommodation.

What can I expect to do in this role?

In this fast-paced and collegial work environment, the successful candidate will:
• Provide advice on Indigenous law aspects of the expansion and advancement of electricity transmission, generation, and storage undertaken by the province and its agencies in the energy sector;
• Advise on Indigenous law matters as related to the energy sector, particularly with respect to Indigenous consultation and duty to consult considerations;
• Provide advice on Indigenous law aspects, including the duty to consult, on major provincial investments in the auto, steel and battery sectors as well as other funding decisions;
• Provide risk-based legal advice to support client policy and program development, agency matters, board governance, appointments and operational work relating to the energy sector;
• Negotiate, review and interpret term sheets, grant agreements, secured loan agreements, memorandums of understanding, purchase agreements, and other complex commercial legal documents;
• Prepare legal opinions, and brief senior ministry officials;
• Provide litigation support on various politically-sensitive litigation matters;
• Develop and deliver related training and education initiatives.
The successful candidate should also have a proven client service orientation and demonstrated ability to be proactive on files, be responsive to client requests and inspire client confidence.

The Legal Services Branch welcomes applications from candidates who can contribute to the goal of promoting a diverse, respectful and supportive workplace.

How do I qualify?

Mandatory

• Membership in good standing as a lawyer with the Law Society of Ontario

Knowledge and Skills

• Extensive knowledge and understanding of Indigenous issues, and law in particular the Duty to Consult, as they pertain to the resource and corporate sectors
•Experience reviewing legislative and regulatory projects and government policy initiatives, particularly with respect to Indigenous consultation and duty to consult considerations
•Ability to recognize and assess legal implications in proposed and existing programs and initiatives and able to provide innovative, strategic, risk-based and helpful and solutions-oriented legal advice on complex, time-sensitive and high-profile issues that arise
•Knowledge of the energy sector, energy law, corporate governance, Indigenous legal issues and government policies and practices
•Experience drafting and interpreting commercial agreements and transactions. This includes project financing, secured lending, and Crown financial directives
•Appreciation of the role of a Crown counsel, including familiarity with Crown liability, government directives, delegations and financial and other approvals
•Experience working with litigation counsel to support complex and politically-sensitive litigation matters
•Ability to handle a high-volume practice with short turnaround times while working proactively, professionally and cooperatively with sophisticated clients and colleagues
•Demonstrated experience mentoring others and as a valuable team member on collaborative work projects
•A proven record of valuing and contributing to a diverse and inclusive workplace
•Demonstrated political acuity and issues management skills
•A proven track record of client service orientation, and a demonstrated ability to be proactive on files, and responsive to client requests and inspire client confidence