ABOUT US

Community Legal Services (CLS) is a Student Legal Services Organization (SLSO) as defined by the Legal Aid Services Act of Ontario (2020). It is a legal clinic within Western Law that provides free legal advice and representation to low income and marginalized members of the London / Middlesex community, as well as Fanshawe College and Western students. Current areas of service include Criminal and Provincial Offences, Housing Law, Civil Litigation (Small Claims Court) and Family Law. CLS also provides public legal education to community members and organizations. We are funded by Legal Aid Ontario, Law Foundation of Ontario, Fanshawe Student Union, Western University Student Council and the Faculty of Law.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• Juris Doctor (JD) or Bachelor of Laws (LLB)
• Member in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario, licensed to practice law in Ontario

Experience:

• 7 years of experience practicing law, with a strong background in litigation and advocacy
• 2 years of experience supervising staff and mentoring law students in a clinical or academic setting
• Preferred:
• Demonstrated leadership in legal clinic operations or public interest law
• Experience in multiple areas of law relevant to CLS (e.g., housing, civil litigation, family law, human rights, academic appeals, employment law)
• Familiarity with legal aid structures and mandates
• Experience in strategic planning, budgeting, and stakeholder engagement

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Strong legal knowledge in substantive and procedural law across CLS service areas
• Advanced advocacy, negotiation, and legal analysis skills
• Familiarity with university policies, legal clinic operations, and funding compliance
• Ability to lead and manage multidisciplinary teams, including legal professionals and students
• Familiarity with Legal Aid and its mandates and structures
• Strategic thinking and operational planning capabilities
• Excellent mentorship and coaching skills, particularly in experiential legal education
• High ethical standards and commitment to professional conduct
• Competency to maintain confidentiality and treat sensitive information with discretion
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to translate complex legal concepts for diverse audiences
• Ability to handle details with a high degree of accuracy to review and revise legal documentation
• Cross-cultural competency and sensitivity in working with marginalized populations
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Intermediate computer skills in Microsoft Office Suite and with case management software
• Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment
• Ability to work well under pressure and handle multiple conflicting priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to apply critical thinking to evaluate information and make appropriate decisions or recommendations
• Ability and willingness to employ a consultative and collaborative approach to addressing issues and making decisions
• Ability to work both independently, taking initiative and following through on work assignments, and effectively as a member of the team to achieve clinic goals
• Familiarity with University policies and procedures is an asset

The Director of Community Legal Services (CLS) provides strategic leadership, operational oversight, and legal supervision to ensure the clinic fulfills its dual mandate: delivering high-quality legal services to marginalized communities and offering experiential learning opportunities to law students. The Director plays a leading role in revitalizing CLS by evaluating its current service model, strengthening its integration with Western Law’s experiential learning agenda, and building new connections with the community. This role oversees and provides comprehensive supervision, mentorship, and evaluation of law students, in accordance with CLS, Western University policies, and the Law Society of Ontario’s Rules of Professional Conduct. The Director supports CLS’s broader mission through community outreach, advocacy projects, and public legal education initiatives, while ensuring alignment with institutional and funder priorities.