Paralegal Officer

Role Responsibilities

Are you an experienced legal professional with strong analytical, negotiation, and case-management skills? Reporting to the Team Lead, the Paralegal Officer manages a substantial portfolio of overdue receivables for Government of Alberta ministries and pursues effective legal strategies to maximize recovery. From investigating files and preparing legal documents to obtaining judgments and representing the Crown in mediations, pre-trial conferences, and Provincial Court trials, this role offers the opportunity to apply your legal expertise in a complex and collaborative environment.

Key responsibilities include:

• Managing a large inventory of overdue receivables belonging to GoA Ministries, investigating and analyzing financial history and circumstance, determining suitable repayment amounts, negotiating accordingly and monitoring for compliance.
• Researching, investigating, drafting and filing correspondence including numerous legal documents in accordance with Alberta Rules of Court, Provincial legislation and Client Ministry policy.
• Analyzing situations and obtaining judgment through the Courts on accounts where debtors are not complying with established criteria.
• Investigating and utilizing available resources to recover the debt according to departmental policies, legal remedies and investigative findings.
• Representing/negotiating the Crown’s position at mediation hearings, pre-trials conferences and Provincial Court trials to resolve disputed actions and communicating developments/resolution with stakeholders.
• Working with various parties/stakeholders and determining resolutions/best practices.

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.

Systems Thinking - Consistently takes a holistic and long-term view of challenges and opportunities at multiple levels across related areas.  

Build Collaborative Environments - Involves key stakeholders in the diagnosis of problems and in developing solutions to effectively transfer knowledge inside and outside the APS. Proactively shares resources with other groups.

Creative Problem Solving - Focuses on continuous improvement and increasing breadth of insight.

Plans for results - Clarifies objectives and taps into a variety of available resources within the organization, ensuring that roles and contributions are clear. 
 

Qualifications

University graduation in a related field, such as Law, Legal Studies, Justice Studies, Criminology, Political Science, or Business Administration, plus two years of progressively responsible related experience; or equivalent as described below.

Equivalency: Directly related education or experience considered on the basis of: 

• 1 year of education for 1 year of experience; or
• 1 year of experience for 1 year of education.

Requirements:

• Experience interpreting and applying legislation, policies, regulations, and legal or court documents.
• Experience in collections, debt recovery, insolvency, civil enforcement, or a related legal, regulatory, or compliance environment.

Assets:

• Knowledge of legislation related to collections and debt recovery, including the Civil Enforcement Act, Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, and related legislation.
• Experience using case management, collections, or student financial assistance systems, such as ACTRS or SFS.
• Experience using registries and search tools, such as Personal Property Registry, Corporate Registry, Credit Bureau, or similar databases.
• Knowledge of Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIP) requirements.
• Commissioner of Oaths designation
• Paralegal level membership with the Alberta Association of Alberta Paralegals (AAPP)
• Previous experience working in complex program administration 

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

Notes

This is a temporary 24-month full-time position working 36.25 hours per week, Monday to Friday.

This position is located in downtown Edmonton.

Final candidates will be required 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)  
• Alberta Public Service Benefit Information
• Professional learning and development
• Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool
• Positive workplace culture and work-life balance.