Judicial Paralegal

Role Responsibilities

Are you a senior legal assistant or executive support professional looking to take your career to the next level? 

The Judicial Paralegal role offers a unique and prestigious opportunity to work at the centre of Alberta’s justice system, providing trusted, frontline support to federally appointed Justices. This position carries significant responsibility, discretion, and confidentiality, directly contributing to legal decisions and public confidence in the administration of justice. The work is fast-paced and intellectually engaging, involving a wide range of legal matters, including complex, high-profile, and precedent-setting cases. You will gain deep insight into court operations and judicial decision-making while working independently and providing executive-level support. 

You will play a key role in supporting one or more Justices of the Alberta Court of Appeal. Working in a team environment, you will provide comprehensive legal and executive administrative support, including:

• Coordinating calendars, court sittings, and travel arrangements.
• Documenting and processing budgetary/claim expenses.
• Typing, formatting, editing and proofreading judgments, including researching and verifying case and statute citations to ensure accuracy of the finished product prior to filing and privacy requirements, and publication bans are met.
• Researching and preparing correspondence and memoranda of a highly complex and confidential nature.
• Preparing material for court hearings.
• Establishing and maintaining hard-copy and electronic filing systems including organizing and classifying records.
• Coordinating meetings and conferences, which includes organizing and assembling all documents required.
• Regular interaction with judiciary, legal counsel, court staff, senior leadership, and external partners.
• Manage multiple priorities concurrently, exercise sound judgment, and maintain professionalism and composure when handling sensitive matters.
• Assisting with the training of new Judicial Paralegals as well as performing backup duties for other Judicial Paralegals.

This is not a developmental role – it requires exceptional judgement, ethical conduct, and a high level of trust. You must be highly organized, detail-oriented, and a dependable legal support professional who thrives in a fast-paced environment. 

To be successful in this role, you will bring:

• Strong judgment, discretion, and the confidence to escalate or address issues as needed.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including advanced editing and proofreading.
• A balance of independence and collaboration.
• Strong technological aptitude and adaptability.
• A positive, proactive attitude and a genuine commitment to fostering a collaborative and supportive environment where everyone can succeed.

Please click on this link to view the job description for this position. 

APS Competencies

Competencies are behaviors that are essential to reach our goals in serving Albertans. We encourage you to have an in depth understanding of the competencies that are required for this opportunity and to be prepared to demonstrate them during the recruitment process. 

The successful candidate will demonstrate the following competencies:

• Agility: Ability to anticipate, assess, and readily adapt to changing priorities, manage resilience in times of uncertainty and effectively work in a changing environment.
   
• Develop Networks: Proactively building networks, connecting and building trust in relationships with different stakeholders.
   
• Build Collaborative Environments: Leads and contributes to the conditions and environments that allow people to work collaboratively and productively to achieve outcomes.
   
• Systems Thinking: The work done within the APS is part of a larger integrated and inter-related environment. It is important to know that work done in one part of the APS impacts a variety of other groups/projects inside and outside the APS. Systems Thinking allows us to keep broader impacts and connections in mind.
   
• Creative Problem Solving: Ability to assess options and implications in new ways to achieve outcomes and solutions.

Qualifications

Required: Two (2) year diploma in a related field (e.g., Legal Assistant, Legal Administration, Paralegal, etc.) plus two (2) years of progressively responsible related experience in a legal, court, or judicial environment.

Related experience includes but is not limited to: Judicial Paralegal/Assistant, Legal Assistant, Paralegal, Executive Support/Assistant, Legal Administration.

Equivalencies will be considered on the basis of: 
•    One year of directly related experience for one year of education, or 
•    One year of directly related education for one year of experience.

Assets
Preference will be given to candidates with the following:
•    5+ years of senior legal or executive assistant experience.
•    Experience directly supporting senior staff or executives.  
•    Experience working in a court environment.
•    A Legal Assistant diploma.
•    Experience working in a Microsoft 365 environment.

Cover Letter Requirement: In your cover letter (approximately 400-500 words), please clearly describe your role specific skills relevant to the Judicial Paralegal position, as well as the transferable skills you have developed through your current and past professional experience. The cover letter will be used as a writing sample and will be evaluated for spelling, grammar, clarity, and overall editing quality. It will form part of the assessment of your suitability and readiness to work at a senior, independent level within the justice system. It is essential that you complete your cover letter, by yourself, and without assistance from other people or other resources (e.g., Chat GPT, CoPilot, artificial intelligence tools, search engines, etc.). Applications without a cover letter will not be considered. 

Selected candidates may be asked to complete typing and grammar tests following the interview stage. A typing speed of at least 60 WPM with minimal errors is essential.

Minimum recruitment standards outline the minimum education and experience required for appointment to a job classification. 
Refer to https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-minimum-recruitment-standards.

Notes

The Court of Appeal offers:

• A rewarding career at Alberta's highest court in a prestigious professional environment.
• Direct exposure to leading judges and experienced legal professionals.
• Diverse learning opportunities across a wide range of legal subject areas.
• Strong professional relationships developed through close collaboration with judges, lawyers, and colleagues.
• A supportive, team-oriented workplace that values respect, growth, and excellence.
• Meaningful public service work that contributes to the administration of justice for Albertans.

Position Information:

• Position Available: One permanent full-time position
• Work Location: Court of Appeal, 2600, 450 1 Street SW, Calgary, Alberta
• Hours of Work: Monday to Friday, 36.25 hours per week

Final candidates will be required to undergo a criminal records check (CRC).

Any costs associated with obtaining the required documents/checks as noted or interview travel expenses, will be the responsibility of the candidate. Out-of-province applicants can obtain the required documents/checks from the province they currently reside in. 

Links and information on what the GoA have to offer to prospective employees:

• Working for the Alberta Public Service - https://www.alberta.ca/advantages-working-for-alberta-public-service.aspx.
• Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP) - https://www.pspp.ca
• Alberta Public Service Benefit Information - https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-benefits
• Professional learning and development - https://www.alberta.ca/professional-development-support-directive.
• Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool – https://researchapscareers.alberta.ca.
• Positive workplace culture and work-life balance.