Legal Counsel

Role Responsibilities

Are you a legal professional with a passion for research, mentorship, and supporting judiciary? Join the Court of King’s Bench as Justice Legal Counsel and make a meaningful impact by providing expert legal analysis, guiding the next generation of articling students, and shaping institutional knowledge for one of Alberta’s most respected judicial bodies. As a Justice Legal Counsel at Court of King’s Bench, you will be reporting to Senior Legal Counsel, Court of King’s Bench, and be responsible for:

• Providing legal analysis, drafting, editing and research services for the King’s Bench judiciary.
• Providing legal support services for Court committees, projects and initiatives; and
• Supervising the Court’s articling students and overseeing various legal research projects. 
  
  

The successful candidate is required to work both independently and closely with others, including the Chief Justice, Associate Chief Justices, Justices, Court Executive, other Legal Counsel, and articling students. The incumbent will be highly autonomous, executing and advertising on standard, non-standard, and complex legal issues and research projects. The incumbent must be capable of assessing and balancing workloads and competing priorities.

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.

Systems Thinking - Ability to create innovative and sustainable solutions that meet the short-term and long-term needs of the GoA as an employer. You consistently take a holistic and long-term view of challenges and opportunities at multiple levels across related areas.

Develop Networks – Proactively building networks, connecting and building trust in relationships with different stakeholders in the branch, division, department, judiciary and GOA.

Build Collaborative Environments – Foster superior collaboration, work closely with Justices, other Legal Counsel, and articling students.

Agility – Works in a changing environment and takes initiative to change: Quickly adapt policies and practices. You are able to anticipate, assess and readily adapt to changing priorities and maintain resilience in times of uncertainty. 

Qualifications

A cover letter is required in your application. Please explain in your cover letter how your education and experience relate to this position. 

A Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or Juris Doctor (JD) Degree supplemented with the following:

• Civil Crown Counsel 3 (CCC3) must have a minimum of eleven (11) years directly related post bar legal experience. 
• Membership in good standing with the Law Society of Alberta or eligibility for membership is required.
  
  
• We also accept applications for Justice Legal Counsel 2 that must have a minimum of four years directly related post bar legal experience. 
  
  

Other Requirement:

• The incumbent must possess excellent research, analytical and organizational skills; a deep understanding of the legal foundations of the Court; significant substantive knowledge of Criminal and International case law and legislation. Knowledge of the Alberta Rules of Court, Alberta statutes and case law are mandatory.
  
  

Assets include:

• Supervisory experience is considered an asset.
• Proficiency in French legal language, both written and oral, is considered an asset.
  
  

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

This is a permanent position, full-time, working Monday to Friday 8:15AM - 4:30PM, 36.25 hours a 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 has to offer to prospective employees.

•  Working for the Alberta Public Service  
•   Management Employee Pension Plan (MEPP) 
•  Alberta Public Service Benefit Information  
•  Professional learning and development 
• Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool  
• Positive workplace culture and work-life balance