Duty Counsel - Criminal and Family

at  Legal Aid Ontario

Union: The Society
Job Number: J1124-0370
Job Title: Duty Counsel - Criminal and Family
Job Type: Permanent Full Time
City, Province, Country: Perth, Ontario, Canada
Job Location: Perth
Job Category: Legal
Role Designation:
LAO Workplace Based - Role is physically based in an in-person LAO workplace.
Open Positions: 1
Posting Date: November 18, 2024
Closing Date: December 3, 2024
Salary: $90,186.96 - $154,117.41/Year
Legal Aid Ontario employees are committed to making a difference in the lives of our clients.
As an integral partner in the Justice system, working at Legal Aid Ontario is more than just a job. It’s an opportunity to help people who need it the most; to ensure each client receives the access to justice afforded to them under the law.
If you are looking for a new challenge in your already meaningful career with a team dedicated to justice, and innovation in a flexible and supportive work environment consider this opportunity below.
Building a diverse workforce that represents the communities we serve while promoting a safe culture and work environment that dismantles systemic barriers, welcomes fresh perspectives and embraces differences as a priority is a core value at LAO. LAO encourages applicants from equity-seeking groups, including but not limited to individuals who are First Nations, Inuit or Métis, Black and racialized, as well as persons with disabilities, women and members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
We recognize the value of equity, diversity and inclusion and are committed to addressing systemic barriers, and prioritizing, attracting and retaining diverse staff. All interested and eligible people will be considered, with due consideration to all protected grounds under the Ontario Human Rights Code.
Legal Aid Ontario values integrity, respect, responsiveness, excellence, independence, accountability, openness and consistency. Our recruitment process reflects our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion. Accommodations are available throughout the recruitment process as well as during employment at LAO. Please direct any accommodation requests to our recruitment team.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Act as Family and Criminal Duty Counsel
• Representing clients both in-person and remotely
• Ensure high quality of legal work in a cost effective manner
• File management as per LAO requirements including use of computer technology; data input for statistics measurements in a timely manner

Family:

• Advocate for clients in court and with court documents
• Provide family law duty counsel services, including providing instructions to Legal Aid Workers (and students), preparation of court documents for eligible clients, make appropriate referrals when required, including to mediation services
• Providing representation in the Superior Court of Justice – Unified Family Court at first appearances, conferences, motions, negotiations, Family Responsibility Office (FRO) matters, Children’s Aid Societies matters and other court hearings and services as required
• Assist unrepresented eligible clients with LAO family settlement conferences as required
• Assist unrepresented clients with Child Youth and Family Services Act (CYFSA) matters (with document preparation and in court appearances)
• Ability to provide advice lawyer services at the Family Law Information Centre (FLIC)
• Demonstrated ability to provide sensitive and compassionate client service to those who may be victims of domestic violence
• Provide advice lawyer services on the Summary Legal Advice (SLA) telephone service for family
• Maintain client files and conflict lists
• Other duties as assigned

Criminal

• Assisting unrepresented clients who have been charged with criminal matters
• Representing clients at bail hearings, guilty pleas and remands both in-person and remotely
• Assessing clients’ needs, including the early identification of vulnerable clients, to facilitate referrals to appropriate services.
• Provide criminal law services as defense counsel in the Ontario Court of Justice
• Providing assistance and representation at federal, provincial, and youth, remand, bail and plea courts, including specialty courts (Drug Treatment Court / Mental Health Court)
• Providing summary legal advice (SLA)
• Interviewing clients, sureties, and witnesses
• Disclosure review, Crown pre-trials meetings
• Assisting with various motions and hearings (may include trials), including judicial pre-trials
• Preparing and arguing bail hearings
• Other duties as assigned

REQUIRED SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

• Member in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario

Please refer the Job description for details