Crown Prosecutor

Role Responsibilities

The Appeals Unit is currently seeking a lawyer for a temporary position based in Edmonton. This role offers a unique opportunity for a legal professional with a strong interest in appellate advocacy and the evolution of the law. The successful candidate will engage deeply with complex legal issues and contribute to shaping and influencing legal developments at both the provincial and national levels.

Appellate Counsel have primary responsibility in advancing and responding to acquittal, conviction and sentence appeals before the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada. Other significant duties include preparation of recommendations with respect to Crown appeals, providing legal advice within ACPS, and contribution to Crown education programs. The incumbent is expected to be capable of handling very serious and complex appeals and must have a comprehensive knowledge of substantive and procedural law. In addition, Appellate Counsel provide advice to senior management, other prosecutors, enforcement agencies, other branches or divisions of ACPS, and other Alberta Government departments concerning criminal law.

The mission of the Appeals Unit is to serve the public and the interests of justice through excellence in prosecutions, continually improving the conduct of criminal prosecutions at trial and on appeal. The core business of the Appeals Unit is to conduct all criminal appeals in the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada, coordinate, advise and assist in all constitutional challenges to federal criminal legislation; and to handle complaints of wrongful convictions or miscarriages of justice.

Specific accountabilities of the position include:

• The public interest is served and a just result is obtained
• The Court is provided with evidence and legal argument that is fair, accurate and complete
• Assigned prosecutions of all serious and complex cases are conducted in a highly competent manner
• Working with victims of crimes and their families

The successful candidate will demonstrate the following:

• Drafting legal opinions/briefings and court documents professionally and appropriately
• Working effectively to build collaborative environments with stakeholders of the justice system
• Problem solving and adapting approach as required to achieve intended outcomes
• Independent decision making
• Prioritizing actions/cases effectively to respond to numerous challenges and demands
• Analyzing situations fully to make informed decisions

Please click on this link to view the job description.

APS Competencies

Competencies are behaviours 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.
• 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

A Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or Juris Doctor (JD), and active membership or immediate eligibility for membership with the Law Society of Alberta is required.

• Crown Prosecutor 3: a minimum of 11 years legal experience is required.
• Crown Prosecutor 4: a minimum of 15+ years legal experience is required

Prosecution experience with criminal law is required.

For Law degrees obtained outside Canada, proof of accreditation from the National Committee on Accreditation (NCA) is required.

A valid Alberta Motor Vehicle Operators License is a requirement. Travel within the province is required.

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 opportunity is located in Edmonton.

The Hours of Work are 36.25 hours per week, Monday to Friday. 

In addition to your resume, please include a cover letter briefly outlining your criminal law experience and your bar call date (applications without the Cover Letter may not be considered).  

Final candidates for this position will be asked to undergo security screening. Any costs associated with obtaining the required documents/checks as noted or interview travel expenses, will be the responsibility of the candidate.

This competition may be used to fill future permanent, temporary, full time and part time vacancies.

Successful candidate(s) may be eligible for relocation expenses up to $10,000.00.

The Alberta Public Service is a great place to work!

Links and information on what the GoA has 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
• 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