Counsel

at  Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General

JOB ID:

226421
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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.
The Office of the Chief Justice, Ontario Court of Justice (OCJ) is seeking an experienced counsel, who can work in a fast-paced environment to provide strategic legal, policy and research advice to support the senior administrative judiciary, senior management, judges and justices of the peace on criminal law and procedure, provincial offences, operational, jurisdictional and other court related matters.
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?

Knowledge and Skills

• Thorough knowledge of criminal, provincial offences law and procedures, federal and provincial legislation and municipal by-laws containing regulatory offences, Courts of Justice Act and Justices of the Peace Act
• Thorough knowledge of the Ontario Court of Justice, including expertise in judicial administration for trial courts,
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of adult legal education, program planning, development, delivery and evaluation
• Demonstrated experience providing direct, accurate legal advice to judiciary (including non-lawyers), often with short deadlines
• Demonstrated experience conducting in-depth legal research to provide strategic, legal, operational and policy advice/opinions on a range of court related matters, and ability to articulate legal and policy advice clearly and concisely
• Experience providing pedagogical and strategic advice; managing projects; and developing, designing and delivering effective skills-based, experiential education to both judges and justices of the peace in relation to substantive law, judicial skills and judicial craft and career.
• Demonstrated analytical, legal research, problem-solving and project management skills;
• Demonstrated oral and written communication skills with proven experience writing, drafting and presenting detailed reports, justice option papers and legal materials
• Ability to take initiative, manage work priorities and provide effective advice under pressure in a high-profile environment
• Demonstrated experience in stakeholder relations
• Demonstrated computer skills and excellent knowledge of related software
• Willingness and ability to travel throughout the province, as require

• Providing expert, timely, concise and authoritative legal research, advice and opinions directly to senior administrative judiciary, senior management, judges and justice of the peace on criminal, provincial offences, operational, policy and legislative implementation matters
• Providing leadership and support on educational programming offered by the Ontario Court of Justice, under the direction of the Chief Justice, Associate Chief Justices, Deputy Director or Executive Legal Officer
• Advising and guiding matters relating to judicial education, for both judges and justices of the peace, including the planning, development, delivery and evaluation of judicial education, oversight of the curriculum and the introduction and development of educational resources
• Providing strategic legal, policy and research advice on issues relating to administration of justice and judicial independence; access to justice, justice system reform and stakeholder relations
• Providing advice and support to operationalize aspects of the modernization agenda for the Ontario Court of Justice
• Interpreting new and existing legislation, policies and procedures
• Writing, editing, regularly updating and maintaining reference materials for the judiciary, including manuals of substantive, evidentiary and procedural law and emerging issues
• Drafting complex legal memoranda, speaking notes and other strategic communications to the judiciary, as directed, on behalf of the Chief Justice, Associate Chief Justices, Senior Advisory Justice of the Peace, Executive Legal Officer and Deputy Director
• Assisting in the identification, development, design and delivery of special research projects and participating in educational programming for OCJ judiciary, as required
• Providing legal and administrative support to a variety of judicial committees and working groups with the judiciary, Ministry officials, and a broad range of other justice system participants
  How do I qualify?

Mandatory

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

Knowledge and Skills

• Thorough knowledge of criminal, provincial offences law and procedures, federal and provincial legislation and municipal by-laws containing regulatory offences, Courts of Justice Act and Justices of the Peace Act
• Thorough knowledge of the Ontario Court of Justice, including expertise in judicial administration for trial courts,
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of adult legal education, program planning, development, delivery and evaluation
• Demonstrated experience providing direct, accurate legal advice to judiciary (including non-lawyers), often with short deadlines
• Demonstrated experience conducting in-depth legal research to provide strategic, legal, operational and policy advice/opinions on a range of court related matters, and ability to articulate legal and policy advice clearly and concisely
• Experience providing pedagogical and strategic advice; managing projects; and developing, designing and delivering effective skills-based, experiential education to both judges and justices of the peace in relation to substantive law, judicial skills and judicial craft and career.
• Demonstrated analytical, legal research, problem-solving and project management skills;
• Demonstrated oral and written communication skills with proven experience writing, drafting and presenting detailed reports, justice option papers and legal materials
• Ability to take initiative, manage work priorities and provide effective advice under pressure in a high-profile environment
• Demonstrated experience in stakeholder relations
• Demonstrated computer skills and excellent knowledge of related software
• Willingness and ability to travel throughout the province, as required

Additional information:Address:
1 English Permanent, 1 Queen St E, Toronto, Toronto Region, Criminal Record Check