Duty Counsel – Edmonton

Who We Are

As a publicly funded, non-profit organization, Legal Aid Alberta provides affordable legal services in family law, domestic violence, child welfare, immigration, and youth and adult criminal defense. We are Alberta-wide, with 300 staff and 1,200 private practice lawyers helping people overcome their legal challenges in more than 75 communities across the province.

Who You Are

Working at Legal Aid Alberta means you care about people and empathize with their situation. You have excellent communication skills especially in tough situations. You are an expert in criminal law and can advise clients of their rights and legal obligations in that area. You are a quick thinker, able to provide sound advice and thrive in a fast-paced work environment. You have strong communication and interpersonal skills, enjoy learning new things and can adapt to change quickly. You care deeply about the success of our team and have a solid understanding of our organization’s mission and values.

Job Description

Reporting to the Legal Services Manager, some of the key responsibilities include:

• Duty Counsel representation in adult and youth criminal courts to professional standards and in accordance with the Rules and Code of Conduct of the Law Society of Alberta and the policies and procedures of LAA.
• Travel to attend various circuit courts on provided schedule (compensation for travel provided).
• Interviewing clients, determining their needs, and providing them advice about their legal options.
• Negotiate release conditions and/or plea arrangements with Crown counsel for clients
• Review and provide legal opinions and summaries in relation to service eligibility for summary offences.
• Complete and accurate statistical record keeping.
• Compliance with office policy and procedures.
• Participate in performance and staff meetings as required.
• Assessment services in youth and adult criminal law.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

• Law degree from a recognized law school.
• Active member in good standing with the Law Society of Alberta or eligible for immediate membership.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in adult and youth criminal law practice.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Rules of Court and court proceedings.
• Thorough understanding of:
  • Criminal Code, including bail and sentencing provisions.
  • Youth Criminal Justice Act.
  • Protection Against Family Violence Act.
• Ability to build rapport and negotiate effectively with Crown Counsel.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively.
• Advocacy, problem solving, communication, negotiation skills and conflict resolution.
• A high level of comfort working with technology and a keen enthusiasm for learning new systems including, computer literacy in MS Office (Outlook, Word, SharePoint), Remote Courtroom Scheduling (RCS), web-based legal research tools, and other web-based resources.
• Ability to work with clients who have complex needs including: physical or mental disability; substance abuse; or living situations that impede their ability to resolve legal matters.
• Possess a valid driver’s license and be able to drive to circuit court locations.

What We Offer

Perks of working with us

• Competitive wage
• RRSP with 8% employer contribution
• Health and dental benefits
• Health and wellness accounts
• Employee assistance program
• Weekends off
• Winter/Christmas closure (paid time off)

How To Apply

Click Apply Now. You can also  send your resume and cover letter to [email protected]. Reference competition number [LAA-21-52]. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

The successful candidate will be required to provide an acceptable criminal record check.