Legal Assistant

Role Responsibilities

Are you looking for a great opportunity to provide support for the prosecution of criminal and provincial offences?  The Alberta Crown Prosecution Service has opportunities available for Legal Assistants in Edmonton Prosecutions’ file ownership unit. 

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Managing, organizing and maintaining Crown files.
• Preparing and filing complex legal documentation such as Notices of Motion, search warrant extensions, Orders and a wide variety of other court documents.
• Liaising with external and internal stakeholders to ensure appropriate handling of criminal files.
• Responding to and following up from enquiries from the public, defense counsel and the accused.
• Drafting, preparing, processing and filing routine court documents.
• Creating and completing all forms of correspondence.
• Preparing and organizing court briefs (Trial Books) and Exhibit Books.
• Scheduling witness interviews that may involve attending and taking notes for Crown Prosecutors.
• Preparing witnesses for court by explaining the criminal process, answering questions or concerns, and resolving issues.
• Liaising with policing agencies to ensure that subpoenas have been served.
• Participating in legal research activities at the direction of Crown Prosecutors.
• Tracking and maintaining disclosure.
• Utilizing the Justice Online Information Network (JOIN) and Prosecutor Information System Manager (PRISM) to verify charges, court dates, assigned prosecutors, locations and subpoenaed witnesses.
• Maintaining Crown Prosecutors diary and diarization system.
• Assisting other Legal Assistants as required

As the ideal candidate you will possess:

• A comprehensive understanding of the justice system and processes.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
•  Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Exceptional organizational ability and attention to detail.
• Problem solving skills.
• Good interpersonal skills.
• The ability to work independently.
• A high degree of initiative.

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.
• 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 area.
• Creative Problem Solving – Have the ability to assess options and implications in new ways to achieve outcomes and solutions
   

Qualifications

Two- year Diploma in a related field such as a legal assistant, paralegal, or criminology, plus a minimum of one year progressively related experience working in a legal administrative role within an office setting.

Equivalencies will be considered:

• 1 year of education for 1 year of experience
• 1 year of experience for 1 year of education

Required

• Experience working with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook) is required.
• At minimum 6 months direct experience in a legal administrative role.

Assets 

• Experience working with Adobe, JOIN, PRISM, Criminal eFile are considered assets.
• Experience in a legal environment specializing in criminal law is preferred. 

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 per week: 36.25 hours/week.
• Office Location: John E. Brownlee Building, Edmonton.
• Final candidates will be required to undergo a security screening.

This competition may be used to fill current and future vacancies across government at the same or lower classification.  

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 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