Legal Services Manager

THIS JOB COMPETITION IS CLOSED

Competition Number: LAA-21-10

Job Type: Full-Time, Permanent

Location: Calgary, AB

Posting: External

Competition Ends: November 1, 2021

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

Being a Legal Services Manager means that you enjoy mentoring staff and leading your team to success.   You have excellent communication skills and enjoy coaching your staff.  Fast-paced environments and innovation appeals to you.  You love learning new things, solving problems, and can adapt to change quickly. You care deeply about the success of our team and our organization.

Job Description

Reporting to the Managing Director, some of the key responsibilities include:

Management and Leadership:

  • Provide mentorship, coaching, information sessions and provide legal practice advice to staff lawyers with the respective area of legal expertise.
  • Support Justice Services, Legal Services Leaders with strategic planning, staff development, and day-to-day management activities with an organizational approach to problem solving.
  • Attendance and performance management for direct reports in consultation with other Legal Service Managers, Office Manager and Human Resources (HR).
  • File Allocations and scheduling in consultation with Managing Directors as it relates to organizational lawyer case load requirements and file types.
  • Review file related potential conflicts, in consultation with team members and/or Managing Director
  • Be the first line of contact for complaints and issues in relation to:
    • Law Society of Alberta.
    • Alberta Lawyers Insurance Association.
    • Interoffice conflict and client complaints.
  • Process internal change of counsel requests from clients or direct reports.
  • Participate in Legal Service Manager and other office/leadership meetings and lead team meetings of direct reports.
  • Participate in recruitment activities in consultation with HR.
  • Provide accurate information when requested for Board and other reporting, strategic planning activities and operational planning activities.
  • Participate in various committees and in stakeholder meetings as applicable to enhance access to justice for our clients and to improve Alberta’s overall justice system.
  • Occasional travel as required.
  • Responsible for other duties and/or project work as assigned by the Managing Director.

Legal Representation:

  • Conduct of assigned files to professional standards and in accordance with the Rules and Code of Conduct of the Law Society of Alberta and the Rules of LAA.
  • Duty Counsel representation of assigned dockets or Duty Counsel out of court 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.
  •  Negotiate competent resolutions of files to achieve early, cost effective and lasting outcomes for clients.
  • 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.
  • Relevant experience in, and/or exposure to a leadership role is required.
  • Demonstrated experience practicing criminal law.

Knowledge and Skills:

  • Knowledge:
  • Excellent knowledge of Alberta Rules of Court and applicable legislation within the respective area of practice expertise.
  • Legal research, writing and drafting, legal analysis, preparation of facts and written briefs, application of the law to the relevant facts, negotiation, 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:
  • Excellent communication, facilitation and interpersonal skills.
  • Excellent analytical, logic, problem-solving, and organization skills, as well as sound business judgement.
  • Ability to investigate facts, identify issues, ascertain organizational objectives, consider alternative solutions, analyse risk and advise clients and/or LAA on the appropriate course of action.
  • Strong personal practice management skills.
  • Demonstrated commitment to continuous improvement.
  • Engaged in development and progression of the organization.
  • Ability to engage reports and manage reporting team.
  • Excellent critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
  • Ability to remain calm in crisis and high-pressure circumstances.
  • Ability to provide input, advice and leadership on organizational change.
  • Engages in active listening with reports.
  • Acts as a mentor to others through the organization or externally.
  • Ability to build relationships, earns confidence, and collaborates with all levels across the organization.
  • Well-organized and able to deal with conflicting immediate priorities.

What We Offer

Perks of working with us

  • Competitive total compensation package
  • RRSP employer contribution
  • Health and dental benefits
  • Health and wellness accounts
  • Employee assistance program
  • Work from home opportunities
  • Team environment
  • Weekends off

How To Apply

Please send your resume and cover letter to [email protected]. Reference competition number LAA-21-10.  Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Acceptable criminal record check required.


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