Legal Aid Alberta is a Centre of Excellence that helps vulnerable Albertans across the province at some of the most difficult times in their lives. Through professional, effective and accessible services that support better outcomes for our clients, we make a difference in the lives of Albertans and deliver value that extends beyond those who receive our services.
Job Description
Reporting to the Team Lead some of the key responsibilities of the Lawyer are to:
Duty Counsel representation to professional standards and in accordance with the Rules and Code of Conduct of the Law Society of Alberta and the Rules of LAA.
Provide effective representation to clients at bail hearings before Justices of the Peace
Where required, represent clients at bail hearings and in entering guilty pleas in docket courts.
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.
Qualifications
Education and Experience:
Law degree from a recognized law school.
Active member of the Law Society of Alberta.
Minimum 3-5 years of experience in criminal law practice.
Knowledge:
Rules of Court and court proceedings.
LAA Governance Agreement and LAA Rules.
Alternative dispute resolution, including mediation and negotiation skills.
Excellent understanding of police and arrest procedures.
Youth Criminal Justice Act.
Criminal Code and sentencing.
Legal research, writing and drafting, legal analysis, preparation of court documents, and application of law to relevant facts.
Advocacy, problem solving 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, Excel, PowerPoint, CRM), web-based legal research tools, and other web-based resources.
Skills:
Demonstrated time management and ability to deal with conflicting priorities and deadlines.
Ability to manage work in high pressure and high conflict situations.
Ability to investigate facts, identify issues, ascertain organizational objectives, consider alternative solutions, analyze risk and advise clients and/or LAA on the appropriate course of action.
Ability to build rapport and negotiate effectively with Crown Counsel.
Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively.
Ability to work with clients who have complex needs either through frequent requests for alternate representation, physical or mental disability, substance abuse, or living situations that impair their ability to resolve legal matters.
How To Apply
If you got excited at the prospect of being a part of our team when you reviewed this posting and you meet the minimum qualifications, please forward your resume to [email protected] referencing posting number LAA-20-55.
Only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.
