Feminist Lawyer and Researcher / Avocat·e et chercheur·se féministe

at  Pesce Associates

Come join our dynamic feminist team! The National Association of Women and the Law (NAWL) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing substantive equality for all women in Canada through law reform, particularly at the federal level. Our work addresses many areas of women’s rights, including violence against women, reproductive justice, climate justice, and women’s economic empowerment. In 2024, we celebrate 50 years of feminist legal leadership. We are proud to have had a major role in achieving significant milestones for women’s rights, and for our advocacy to have impacted numerous laws and policies across the country. A key focus over the next two years will be to emphasize women’s economic security and prosperity, and ensuring that policies account for the unique challenges faced by low-income women, racialized women, and those living with disabilities.

JOB SUMMARY

The new hire will work closely with, and report to, NAWL’s Director of Legal Affairs in research, advocacy and stakeholder relations to advance NAWL’s feminist law reform mission.
This is a full-time contract with an anticipated start in the summer of 2024 and ending March 31st, 2026. Possibility of contract renewal subject to funding.

SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Law degree (graduate studies an asset)
• Minimum of three years of relevant professional experience
• Excellent writing skills in at least English or French (fluency in both languages an asset)
• Excellent speaking skills in at least English or French (fluency in both languages an asset)
• Excellent understanding of feminist issues and the social justice sector (expertise in at least one of the following areas an asset: climate / environmental law, poverty law, women’s economic empowerment, legislation and regulation, reproductive justice, family law. If you have expertise in a particular area of federal law, indicate it in your cover letter)
• Expertise in racial justice and/or disability rights an asset
• Demonstrated legal creativity an asset
• Demonstrated ability to quickly understand and develop arguments around complex issues an asset
• Experience in media relations, public speaking, legal education or lobbying an asset

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

NAWL values the unique skills and experiences each individual has to offer and we are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible organization. We are committed to providing barrier-free and accessible employment practices in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). If you require accommodation to participate fully in our recruitment processes, please let us know when we contact you.
NAWL is an equal opportunity employer seeking to live its values in all we do. We are committed to taking proactive steps to provide and create opportunities for historically marginalized groups. We seek applicants who will strengthen our commitment to diversity, equality, and inclusion. We strongly encourage qualified candidates from Indigenous, Black, and other racialized persons, 2SLGBTQI+ people, individuals with disabilities, and other members of marginalized communities to consider working with and for NAWL. We recognize that structural barriers shape experiences and job qualifications, and therefore we seek to use employment equity to evaluate candidates who meet the required qualifications.
If you are comfortable doing so, you are encouraged in your cover letter to identify as a member of an equity-deserving group.
Women and gender-diverse individuals often hesitate to apply when they do not meet 100% of the posted criteria. If you believe you would be a good match, please apply indicating your strengths and opportunities for growth, even if you don’t have every skill we are looking for.

COMPÉTENCES ET QUALIFICATIONS

• Diplôme en droit (études supérieures un atout)
• Minimum de trois ans d’expérience professionnelle pertinente
• Excellentes compétences rédactionnelles au moins en anglais ou en français (maîtrise des deux langues un atout)
• Excellentes compétences orales au moins en anglais ou en français (maîtrise des deux langues un atout)
• Excellente compréhension des enjeux féministes et du secteur de la justice sociale (expertise dans au moins un des domaines suivants un atout : justice climatique et droit de l’environnement, droit relatif à la pauvreté, autonomisation économique des femmes, législation et réglementation, justice reproductive, droit de la famille. Si vous avez une expertise dans un domaine particulier du droit fédéral, indiquez-le dans votre lettre de motivation)
• Expertise en justice raciale et/ou en droits des personnes handicapées un atout
• Créativité juridique démontrée un atout
• Capacité démontrée à comprendre et à développer rapidement des arguments autour de questions complexes un atout
• Expérience en relations avec les médias, en présentations orales, en éducation juridique ou en lobbying un atout

• Conduct research and prepare briefs and memos on current and emerging law reform issues
• Engage and consult with experts and key stakeholders and develop NAWL’s intersectional positions
• Work with the Director of Legal Affairs to improve NAWL’s feminist law reform education tools, such as NAWL’s free online course, and deliver law reform training to students, partners and other stakeholders
• Study bills, research issues, and propose recommendations for upcoming legislation
• Supervise student interns and volunteers
• Assist with grant proposals
• Draft op-eds on NAWL’s priority issues
• Work closely with NAWL’s Director of Communications and Development to communicate NAWL’s legal work in an accessible manner
• Create an expert working group on women’s economic empowerment and, with the working group, identify priority areas for advocacy for women, including low-income, racialized, and disabled women.
• Other duties as assigned.