Paralegal

Role Responsibilities

Are you looking for a role where you can actively provide paralegal support using your advanced legal administration skills? Legal Services Division is seeking a motivated and highly organized paralegal to join their Civil Litigation Calgary Office. 

Within the Civil Litigation Calgary team this paralegal position provides a broad range of support including but not limited to:

• Supporting senior and junior lawyers.
• Independently drafting and filing court documents (pleadings, applications, affidavits, orders, bills of costs, etc.) at all levels of court (Provincial Court, Court of Queen’s Bench, Court of Appeal, Federal Court, Federal Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canda).
• Assisting in drafting and formatting Briefs/Factums. 
• Managing and organizing files and voluminous records in preparation for complex court proceedings. Collaborating with Court Centre staff in various locations across the Province.
• Building and maintaining a precedent bank of pleadings, legal opinions, filed written arguments.
• Handling reception and switchboard duties.

Performing any other administrative duties assigned by supervisor, lawyer or legal team Director.

The paralegal will need to:

• Have a high comfort level with and knowledge of civil litigation processes, the Alberta Rules of Court, and their assigned lawyers’ practice areas.
• Know the procedural requirements for preparing and filing court documents.
• Know protocols for email court filing.

The successful candidates will be highly motivated and able to work independently and as well as part of a team. The ability to take on many tasks without instruction and self prioritize a high volume of workload is vital in all of these roles. Strong written and technical/computer skills are required for drafting, editing and formatting. 

To succeed in this role, you will need to pay attention to detail and demonstrate an ability to encourage others and work as part of a team. You must also be able to work independently and handle a high-volume workload for multiple lawyers and executive directors while meeting necessary deadlines and ensuring high quality standards are met.

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.

This link will assist you with understanding competencies: https://www.alberta.ca/system/files/custom_downloaded_images/psc-alberta-public-service-competency-model.pdf.

• Systems Thinking: Seeks Clarity - Identifies several analytical techniques and sources of knowledge to break apart complex problems.
• Agility: Seeks out new opportunities - Identifies alternative approaches or courses of action in unclear and complex situations. Supports others to identify, assess, and use alternative approaches.
• Drive for Results: Plan for results - Sets goals and prioritizes work to accomplish them. Follows through on duties and tasks and reports on progress.
• Build Collaborative Environments: Encourages diversity – Promotes collaboration and positive relationships (even in challenging circumstances) within and across groups and builds commitment to reach desired results.

Qualifications

Requirements:

• Two year diploma in a related field such as Legal Assistant or Paralegal plus three years progressively responsible related experience in positions such as Legal Assistant or Paralegal with a Law Firm or other agency.
• Proficiency in the Microsoft Office program (Word, Excel,) and Adobe is required.
• Experience with civil court procedures, relevant legislation, and high volume litigation experience is required. 

Applications without a cover letter will not be considered. In your cover letter, please make sure that you have explained how you meet the requirements for this position.

Equivalency: Directly related experience or education considered on the basis of: 

• One year of experience for one year of education or
• One year of education for one year of experience.

Assets include experience with: 

• Action Request Tracking System (ARTS) or equivalent tracking systems
• Prolaw
• Legal research
• Civil litigation experience in a paralegal role
• Priority will be given to those candidates with a firm foundation in civil law.

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

Hours of work: Monday - Friday, 8:15 am - 4:30 pm (36.25 /week)

Positions currently available: One permanent salaried position is available.

Final candidates will be required to undergo a security screening.

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. 

What we offer:

• 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.
• Opportunity to participate in flexible work arrangements such as working from home up to two days per week and modified work schedule agreement.