Staff Lawyer

Are you a Lawyer with litigation experience, a passion for public interest and making a real impact in the lives of marginalized communities? Are you motivated by the desire to see the people and communities you serve thrive? If so, then this opportunity could be the ideal fit for YOU!

Our client is seeking a Staff Lawyer to join their legal clinic in Kelowna, BC. The legal clinic operates under a community-based non-profit organization driven by feminist values that promotes building a just and equitable community where women, gender-diverse people, and families are supported and empowered to thrive.

ABOUT THE ROLE:

Reporting to the Senior Staff Lawyer, with support from a Legal Assistant, the Staff lawyer will ensure successful operations of the Legal Clinic by providing legal advice to clients, supervising Legal Advocates, appearing before administrative tribunals, and in court and leading a team of three employees in meeting annual program goals.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

· Provide legal advice and representation to clients as it pertains to their legal issues (HR, Employment, Judicial Reviews, Residential Tenancy Reviews)

· Act as a resource to legal advocates in the region, offer support and legal opinion on complex cases

· Identify systemic, substantive and procedural issues that affect more than one client with the relevant ministry or decision-maker and collaborate with the Senior Staff Lawyer and other members of the legal community to take steps toward addressing them.

· Lead and provide public legal education (PLE) to the public as required.

· Hire, supervise, coach, evaluate, and manage staff as necessary to fulfil the program goals in accordance with the organization’s policies and the Collective Agreement.

· Maintain and report complete and accurate statistics and records for all program activities

· Perform administrative tasks including record keeping, file management and reporting to accredited standards.

· Coordinate, train and supervise volunteers, students, and contractors as necessary

· Other duties as required

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE WILL HAVE:

Personal Attributes & Characteristics:

· Commitment to social justice issues, particularly as they affect criminalized and/or marginalized women, youth and gender-diverse people

· Ability to run an organized caseload from beginning to end

· Strong attention to detail and accuracy

· Ability to be flexible as situations arise and meet deadlines

· Excellent presentation, interpersonal communication skills, including verbal and written skills

· Team-oriented with leadership, managerial and administrative skills

· Well-developed planning, organization, negotiation, problem solving and decision-making skills

Educational & Experience Requirements:

· Member of the BC Bar (CBA) in good standing with 3+ years of litigation experience

· Experience supporting and advocating for marginalized individuals is an asset

· Non-profit experience, particularly in the social services sector is an asset

· Strong knowledge of women’s issues and demonstrated commitment to women’s equality initiatives

· Experience appearing before administrative tribunals

· Ability to work effectively with clients who are experiencing a range of sensitive issues

· Ability to run an organized caseload from beginning to end

· Ability to use Microsoft Office and learn new technological tools as needed

· Experience with Clio software is an asset but not required

· Ability to travel to several worksites may be required

· Valid BC Drivers Licence with current driver’s abstract

· A Criminal Record Check, Vulnerable Sector, and Criminal Record Review Act Check

WHAT OUR CLIENT OFFERS:

· Annual Salary: $93K – $100K (depending on experience)

· Monday to Friday, 35 hours/week, flexible schedule

· 3 weeks paid vacation

· Extended health benefits package

· Municipal pension plan

· Dedicated office in downtown Kelowna

· Professional development opportunities

· Cellphone, laptop and peripherals provided

· This is a management position and is exempt from the union

This position is available to start ASAP but will remain open until a suitable candidate is found.

Applications will be reviewed as received, and candidate pre-screening interviews will begin in February.

How to apply:

If this sounds like an ideal fit for you, please apply with a resume AND COVER LETTER (in PDF or Word format) explaining “why you would be an ideal fit for this role” to the attention of Stacey Davidson.

Detailed job posting can also be found here: https://www.virtualjobsearchcoach.com/find-a-job/

No phone calls or agencies please. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Job Type: Full-time

Salary: $93,000.00-$100,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Company pension
• Dental care
• Extended health care
• Flexible schedule
• Paid time off

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Experience:

• litigation: 1 year (preferred)

Work Location: One location