Barrister & Solicitor

Role Responsibilities

Are you ready to use your legal skills in a collaborative and diverse environment while focusing on interesting, challenging, and unique litigation matters for a sophisticated client? If your answer is yes, then we have an exciting opportunity for you!

The Legal Service Division’s Civil Litigation Team operates in Edmonton and Calgary. It handles all types of civil litigation by and against the Government of Alberta except aboriginal law and constitutional matters. One of its clients is the Civil Forfeiture Office (CFO) within the Department of Public Safety and Emergency Services.

Civil Litigation is looking for a lawyer to provide litigation services to the CFO in accordance with the Civil Forfeiture Act. This position will form part of a team dedicated to advising the CFO and advancing litigation involving the forfeiture of proceeds and instruments of crime. Litigation on behalf of other Government of Alberta Clients may be required.

Reporting to an Assistant Director, the position may be based in either Edmonton or Calgary and offer interesting and challenging work including:

• Drafting a variety of court documents, briefs, and opinions
• Developing and implementing strategies and plans for litigation
• Frequently appearing in Alberta courts in various locations across the Province

Civil Forfeiture helps deter and take the profit out of crime by capturing property tainted by illegal activity. The proceeds of forfeited property are used to fund community crime prevention initiatives and for other purposes permitted by the legislation. An increasingly complex practice area at the intersection of civil and criminal law, Civil Forfeiture involves Charter issues and rapidly evolving case law from across Canada.

The CFO is experiencing an increase in complex police referrals. Many involve trafficking in drugs, weapons, or persons by sophisticated criminal organizations, money laundering and other financial crimes, and assets such as cryptocurrency, bank accounts and real estate purchased with criminal proceeds. The CFO is also increasingly involved in interprovincial referrals, where property associated with a crime is located in two or more provinces, requiring collaboration with other provincial CFOs, litigation lawyers, and the referring police agencies.

To succeed in this role, you will need strong analytical skills, superior oral and written advocacy and exceptional communication skills. You must also enjoy working as part of a collegial team including working closely with paralegals and possess strong client relationship skills.

The Job Description is provided for further details on 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.

• 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.
• Develop Self and Others: Desire to invest in the development of the long-term capability of self and others.
• 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

Minimum Requirements:

• 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.
• Experience required:
  • Civil Crown Counsel 1: 0-4 years of legal experience
  • Civil Crown Counsel 2: A minimum of 4 years of legal experience
  • Civil Crown Counsel 3: A minimum of 11 years of legal 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,
  • Reasons for interest in the position, and
  • Whether you are seeking a position in Edmonton or Calgary.

Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.

Assets:

• Criminal or Civil Litigation experience
• Civil Forfeiture experience

Minimum recruitment standards outline the minimum education and experience required for appointment to a job classification.

Notes

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

Positions Currently available: One Permanent position is available. This posting might be used to fill similar opportunities in the future as well.

Location: 10011 – 109 Street, Edmonton OR 639 – 5th Avenue SW, Calgary

Final candidates will be asked 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 we have to offer:

• Working for the Alberta Public Service.
• Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP)  OR 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.