Senior Legislative Counsel

at  Government of Alberta

The Legal Services Division of Alberta Justice (the Division) is the civil legal advisor to the Government of Alberta. Legal officers in the Division practice in diverse areas of law. They carry out a variety of functions, including providing legal advice to Government departments; managing risks; conducting civil litigation; and drafting bills, regulations, Orders in Council and Ministerial orders.
The Legal Services Division is proud to be a learning organization and offers employees opportunities to learn and grow in their careers. With its inclusive workforce, employees are engaged and supported at all career stages.
The Legislative Counsel Office is responsible for drafting government bills, regulations and Orders in Council. The office also works with the King’s Printer to make the laws of Alberta available to the public.

QUALIFICATIONS

A Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) or Juris Doctor (JD) is required. You must be an active member or must have immediate eligibility for full membership with the Law Society of Alberta. A minimum of 10 years of legislative drafting experience is required.
Intellectual inquiry, problem-solving and innovative thinking, combined with precision and thoroughness, are required in this position. Strong client focus, effective verbal and written communication skills, and effective interpersonal skills are essential to your success in this role, as you must understand your client’s policy goals and be able to express them in a legislative framework that the clients can understand and explain to others. The ability to work both independently and collaboratively will ensure you are successful in meeting the demands of this position.

As the ideal candidate you possess:

• A minimum of 10 years experience drafting government legislation while employed as a legislative drafter for a Government Legislative Counsel Office or a Parliamentary Counsel Office;
• Experience drafting the most complex, politically sensitive government bills and regulation projects;
• Demonstrated experience in a leadership role in a legislative counsel office;
• Demonstrated experience mentoring and coaching other legislative drafters;
• Demonstrated experience dealing with multiple complex files.

A graduate diploma or professional certificate in Legislative drafting is considered an asset.

The Alberta Legislative Counsel Office is looking for a self-motivated, energetic individual with demonstrated legislative drafting and leadership skills who will use their excellent English language writing ability to draft high quality Government Bills for introduction in the Legislative Assembly and to draft Regulations and Orders in Council for Government. You will provide advice to the Government and Crown agencies on the development of legislation and regulatory policies.
Reporting to the Deputy Chief Legislative Counsel and Registrar of Regulations, your primary responsibility will be to provide advice and mentorship to legislative drafters to assist the Alberta Government and its Ministries in achieving their legislative objectives. Additional duties involve drafting complex bills and regulations in accordance with Legislative Counsel Office standards and performing related legal services.

This position will ensure client Ministries’ policy objectives are met by:

• Mentoring legislative drafters with less drafting experience;
• Contributing to the drafting resources of the Legislative Counsel Office;
• Providing legal and legislative advice and opinions on legislative proposals made by Ministries;
• Advising ministry officials on their legislative proposals and assisting them in achieving their policy goals through legislation where appropriate;
• Providing impartial, high-quality legislative drafting services to the government;
• Drafting bills and regulations in a timely and effective manner in accordance with drafting standards; and
• Responding to client ministries’ concerns and questions regarding the making, drafting, and filing of regulations.