Barrister & Solicitor

Role Responsibilities

Do you seek interesting and highly varied legal work in a collaborative and rewarding environment? Are you an exceptional lawyer looking for a unique challenge with meaningful impact? Alberta Justice - Legal Services Division has an opportunity for you to join the Municipal Affairs, Education and Service Alberta Legal Team (MESA)!
 
MESA is a team of 17 lawyers who deliver a full range of solicitor services and related strategic advice to the Departments of Municipal Affairs, Education and Childcare, Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction, Technology and Innovation and to the Alberta Emergency Management Agency. The team performs a full range of solicitor services, including general legal and related strategic advice related to legislative interpretation and development, administrative and regulatory law, procurement, contracting, and privacy law.
 
Your responsibilities in this role will include but will not be limited to:
•    Providing general corporate counsel legal and related strategic advice to multiple client Departments, with a likely focus on Technology and Innovation and Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction,
•    Advising on procurements and supporting negotiations, and drafting contracts, grant agreements, multi-lateral agreements, and other documents and possibly including issues touching on administrative law, privacy or corporate law,
•    Assisting clients with the development of legislation and various orders and directives,
•    Statutory interpretation,
•    Developing and effectively communicate legal options and risk assessments directly with client Departments,
•    Conducting legal research and drafting substantive legal opinions (often with cross-ministry involvement), and
•    Collaborating effectively with colleagues on the team and across the various legal teams within Alberta Justice, as well as with clients and outside legal counsel.
 
Our ideal candidate will be capable of forming good client relationships and will have:
•    Experience in public procurement and contracting,
•    A strong focus on client needs, priorities, and communications,
•    Excellent issue identification and creative problem-solving skills,
•    Exceptional verbal and written communication skills,
•    Strong legal drafting skills (contracts, procurement documents, grant agreements, multilateral agreements, legal memoranda, and other documents), and
•    High flexibility and the ability to work as part of a team and to respond with agility and professionalism to address changing client needs, issues, and 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.

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

• Agility - Must be able to anticipate, assess, and readily adapt to changing priorities, maintain resilience, and work effectively in changing environments.
• Drive for Results - Sets goals and prioritizes work to accomplish them. Follows through on duties and tasks and reports on progress.
• Build Collaborative Environments - Leads and contributes to the conditions and environments that allow people to work collaboratively and productively to achieve outcomes.
• Develop Networks - Proactively builds networks, connects and build trust in relationships with different stakeholders.
• Systems Thinking - Understands how work contributes to the achievement of departmental goals. Anticipates changes in own area based on activities in other areas.
• Creative Problem Solving - Have the ability to assess options and implications in new ways to achieve outcomes and solutions.

Qualifications

Requirements:

• A Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) or Juris Doctor (JD). For Law degrees obtained outside Canada, proof of accreditation from the National Committee on Accreditation (NCA) is required.
• You must be an active member or must have immediate eligibility for full membership with the Law Society of Alberta.
• Below is the minimum number of years required for each classification:

• • Civil Crown Counsel 1 (0-4 years of related experience)
  • Civil Crown Counsel 2 (Minimum of 4 years of related experience)
  • Civil Crown Counsel 3 (Minimum of 11 years of related experience)
• A cover letter is required along with your application. In your cover letter, please briefly summarize your:

• • Legal experience and expertise,
  • Relevant strengths and skills, and
  • Reasons for interest in the position.

Assets

• Experience in contracting and public procurement.

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 (1) Permanent Salaried position is available.

Location: 1st floor, Bowker Building, 9833 - 109 Street, Edmonton, Alberta.

Final candidates will be asked 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.

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.
• Management Employees Pension Plan (MEPP) - https://www.mepp.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.
• Leadership and mentorship programs.