COMPANY BIO

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.

PRIMARY FUNCTION

One of the largest providers of legal services in North America, Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) has a statutory mandate to promote access to justice throughout Ontario for low-income individuals by providing consistently high quality legal aid services in a cost-effective and efficient manner and encouraging and facilitating flexibility and innovation in the provision of legal aid services. An agency of the Government of Ontario, and accountable to the Attorney General for the performance of the Agency, Legal Aid Ontario offers a range of legal services through a mixed services delivery model in both official languages, extending from summary legal advice to full representation.
Building on this important mandate, Legal Aid Ontario is seeking a forward-thinking General Counsel to provide strategic legal guidance and contribute to high-level decision-making across the organization. This role will advise the Board of Directors, President & CEO, and senior leadership, ensuring operations are legally sound, ethically grounded, and aligned with LAO’s public mandate. The General Counsel will oversee a broad legal portfolio, including litigation, regulatory compliance, business law, privacy, eligibility review, and internal audit, while guiding legislative and policy development. As Corporate Secretary, the role will also ensure strong Board governance through policy oversight, training, and best practices, fostering a culture of integrity and collaboration in support of LAO’s mission.
To succeed in this role, LAO is seeking a strategic and principled leader who will serve as both a trusted advisor and collaborative partner across the organization. The ideal candidate brings at least 10 years of progressive legal experience across areas such as public law, litigation, governance, and regulatory compliance, paired with a strong record of leading high-performing teams in complex environments. They will demonstrate exceptional strategic acumen, the ability to manage risk, and expertise in guiding litigation, business law, and policy development. With superior communication skills and a deep commitment to public service, equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging, this individual will help shape LAO’s culture of integrity, compliance, and accessible justice.

EQUITY STATEMENT

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.

Please refer the Job description for details