General Counsel

Role Responsibilities

The General Counsel, within the Justice Deputy Minister Office (DMO) is a senior legal advisor responsible for providing expert legal, legislative, and policy advice to the Deputy Minister, other departments’ Deputy Ministers and/or Minister(s) and the Premier’s Office. This role exists to ensure that legal considerations are fully integrated across the Government of Alberta.

As the General Counsel, you will support the DMO as the primary legal contact, offering strategic legal guidance on complex and high-impact issues. You will serve as a key liaison between the DMO, the Minister’s Office, Executive Council, and other ministries, ensuring legal consistency and alignment with government priorities.

In addition, you will play a critical role in upholding the rule of law in public administration, carrying out public law responsibilities on behalf of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice. These responsibilities include advising on civil litigation and ensuring that government actions comply with legal and constitutional standards.

Your job duties will include, but are not limited to:

• Providing confidential, privileged legal advice to the Deputy Minister (DM), Minister(s), and senior ministry staff.
• Lead legal strategies and risk assessments across multiple departments and programs.
• Support decision-making on complex files with province-wide implications.
• Represent the DMO in cross-government coordination through the Executive Operations Network.
• Manage relationships with senior leaders in client ministries, external counsel, and key stakeholders.
• Identify emerging legal issues and trends, and provide proactive recommendations.
• Lead legal staff within the DMO and contribute to executive leadership within the ministry.

To be successful in this role, you will demonstrate:

• Knowledge of relevant legislation (Acts and Regulations – provincial, federal, and international), Canadian constitution, court rules, and processes and the common law.
• Well developed verbal and written communication skills and using these to transfer information to inform and influence executives and senior officials.
• A proven ability to complete in-depth analysis of complex and wide-ranging legal issues.
• Proven ability to identify key issues, including legal implications, risks, and risk mitigation strategies.
• An understanding of the importance of defining the problem, developing solutions, and analyzing the solutions so that robust decision-making can occur.
• Change management, project management, and organizational skills, including managing several complex issues simultaneously and delivering on results.
• Knowledge of the Access to Information Act (formerly FOIP) legislation, policies, and procedures.
• Knowledge of government decision making processes, standards, systems, and protocols.
• Strategic thinking skills to assess legal impacts both short and long-term.
• Political acumen and understanding of Alberta’s political system, Government of Alberta mandate and related policies, and government structure.
• Understanding of the business of the ministry, including knowledge of various stakeholder groups and familiarity with issues, trends, and directions.

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.

Essential Competencies for this role include:

• Systems Thinking: Take a long-term view towards organization’s objectives and how to achieve them.
• Drive for Results: Removes barriers to collaboration and achievement of outcomes.
• Develop Networks: Leverages relationships to build input and perspective.
• Creative Problem Solving: Works in open teams to share ideas and process issues.
• Agility: Proactively incorporates change into processes.

Qualifications

Minimum requirements:

• A Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or Juris Doctor (JD).
• Membership in good standing with the Law Society of Alberta or eligible for immediate membership.
• Minimum of eleven (11) years of legal experience in a variety of areas of law.

Assets:

• A Master’s Degree in public policy or a related area.
• Mediation or conflict resolution training.
• Experience with Canadian and foreign research tools.
• Experience in court governance, justice systems, and public policy.
• Experience in several areas of law, including legal process and civil procedure.
• Experience with political/public service environments and knowledge of the policy development cycle, decision-making process, and legislative procedures.

Candidates with lesser qualifications may be considered at a lower classification and salary.

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.

Location: Bowker Building, 9833 – 109 Street, Edmonton, Alberta T5K 2E8.

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.

This position may be used to fill future vacancies across the Government of Alberta at equal or lower classification and salary.

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
• Public Service Benefit Information - https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-benefits.
• Professional learning and development - https://www.alberta.ca/professional-development-support-directive.
• Positive workplace culture and work-life balance.
• Leadership and mentorship programs.
• Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool - https://researchapscareers.alberta.ca.