Legal Counsel

Role Responsibilities

Are you a lawyer with strong analytical and research skills, ready to accelerate your career? Do you have in-depth knowledge of litigation and a background in family law? If so, Legal and Legislative Initiatives (LLI) has an exciting opportunity waiting for you!

As Legal Counsel, you will primarily support the Business and Resolution Services (BRS) branch, which is mandated to assist Albertans with legal issues that may result in a court appearance.

You will build and maintain relationships with the judiciary, court administration, staff, and management, as well as external and internal stakeholders. Additionally, you will contribute to the successful delivery of BRS programs by providing legal and strategic advice, and by supporting the BRS leadership team with oversight and training of staff and program development. 

Key Responsibilities:

• Acting as designated authority and friend of the court for interjurisdictional support matters in the Court of King’s Bench (Edmonton).
• Collaborating with BRS management and staff to ensure staff have the legal and practical knowledge necessary to provide accurate legal information and referrals to Albertans. 
• Providing guidance based on legal knowledge and practical experience to ensure the successful operations of BRS Programs and Court Administration.
• Providing legal education and information to Albertans, including explaining court processes, preparing and/or explaining complex child or spousal support calculations, and notarizing Interjurisdictional Support Order applications going to other provinces or countries.
  
  

To be successful in this role, you will bring:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong diplomatic abilities to engage with various stakeholders on complex and sensitive matters.
• The ability to work independently with minimal supervision, manage competing priorities, and perform well under pressure.
• Agility and flexibility to provide backup support to other Legal Counsel as needed.
  
  

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.

As the successful candidate, you will demonstrate the following competencies:

• Agility: Ability to anticipate, assess, and readily adapt to changing priorities, manage resilience in times of uncertainty and work effectively in a changing environment.
• Develop Networks: Proactively build networks and connect and build trust in relationships with different stakeholders.
• Build Collaborative Environments: Lead and contribute to the conditions and environments that allow people to work collaboratively and productively to achieve outcomes.
• Systems Thinking: The work done within the APS is part of a larger integrated and interrelated environment. It is important to know that work done in one part of the APS impacts a variety of other groups/projects inside and outside the APS. Systems Thinking allows us to keep broader impacts and connections in mind.
• Creative Problem-Solving: Ability to assess options and implications in new ways to achieve outcomes and solutions.
• Drive for Results: Determine what outcomes are important and maximize the use of resources to achieve results that are aligned with the goals of the organization, while maintaining accountability to each other and all stakeholders.
• Develop Self and Others: Commitment to lifelong learning and the desire to invest in the development of the long-term capability of self and others.

Qualifications

Requirements:
A Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or Juris Doctor (JD) degree with 11+ years of legal experience. Demonstrated experience in litigation, legal research, and the interpretation of policy, legislation, and regulations is an asset.

Candidates with less experience may be considered at a Civil Crown Counsel 2 level (4 to 11 years of directly related legal experience). A Civil Crown Counsel 2 level is a lower classification and salary.

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

Membership in good standing with the Law Society of Alberta or eligibility for membership is required.

All applicants are encouraged to submit a cover letter (approximately 300–400 words) outlining how your skills and qualifications make you a strong candidate for this role.

Assets
Preference will be given to candidates with:

• Litigation experience. 
• Previous practice in the area of family law. 
• Experience working with self-represented litigants.
• Working knowledge of the Alberta Rules of Court, along with a solid understanding of court policies and procedures. 
  
  

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

Position Information:

• This posting will be used to fill one (1) permanent, full-time position.
• Hours of Work: 7.25 hours per day (36.25 hours per week), Monday to Friday. 
• Location: John E. Brownlee Building, Edmonton.

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.

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.