Paralegal

Role Responsibilities

As a Paralegal with the MVAC team, you will work closely with senior counsel, Bodily Injury Specialists, program administrators, and outside law firms to manage legal processes, prepare critical documentation, and oversee financial due diligence. You will be the key to ensuring MVAC's legal pleadings are robust, accurate, and timely, preventing financial losses and safeguarding the program's reputation. This is a challenging, high-stakes position requiring sharp analytical skills, strong legal knowledge, and exceptional communication abilities.

In this role, you will:
•    Prepare Statements of Defence, Court Applications, Affidavits and other legal pleadings, primarily in the Court of King's Bench of
      Alberta, on instructions from Bodily Injury Specialists and in-house counsel,
•    Review and provide feedback on pleadings and consent judgments from opposing counsel and their legal assistants;
•    Draft and finalize settlement letters to plaintiffs' counsel.
•    Audit and recommend payment for invoices from law firms, ensuring compliance with GOA fee schedules and guidelines.
•    Access GOA databases to gather critical case information and analyze data for legal and financial decision-making.
•    Provide the MVAC Administrator, Bodily Injury Specialists and Counsel with timely and thorough administrative support.
•    Communicate tactfully with external legal counsel to address and correct billing errors.
•     Perform other administrative duties as assigned by the Supervisor.

This is more than just a paralegal role—it's an opportunity to:
•    Make an Impact: Your work directly influences legal outcomes and financial decisions, protecting the GOA and the public from undue
      losses
•    Develop Expertise: You'll build a deep understanding of legal, financial, and procedural requirements while working on high-profile
      cases.
•    Work Collaboratively: Be part of a supportive team while liaising with legal counsel, Bodily Injury Specialists, and external law firms.
•    Thrive Under Pressure: Grow your ability to handle challenging deadlines and complex problems in a high-stakes environment.

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.

•    Drive for Results: Attend courses and training sessions; cross training with co-workers.
•    Develop Self and Others: Communicates honestly and in a respectful manner.
•    Systems Thinking: Preparing searches on parties, along with correspondences and legal documents to advance the claim, and
      understanding that if these are not done correctly, it impacts co-workers and the outcome of the file. Overseeing Outside Counsel
      invoices so they can be submitted for payment in a timely manner.
•    Creative Problem Solving: Constantly offering ideas to better the way of completing tasks.

Qualifications

Education and Experience Requirements:

•    Preference will be given to candidates with a paralegal diploma with at least 2 years of relevant experience, or
•    A minimum of 3 years of directly related experience in lieu of formal education.

Required experience includes:
•    Knowledge of the Alberta Rules of Court
•    Experience with legal terminology and practices, court processes and relevant legislation and regulations.

Assets for this role include:
•    Strong analytical skills to prepare high-quality legal pleadings.
•    Exceptional attention to detail to review consent judgments and other legal documents.
•    A thorough understanding of government financial policies, legal processes, and accounting principles.
•    Proficiency with GOA databases (CASES, JOIN, ORCA, ROADS, etc.) and the ability to gather and analyze case information effectively.
•    Excellent communication and negotiation skills for liaising with external legal counsel and addressing billing concerns.
•    The ability to manage competing priorities under strict deadlines with professionalism and accuracy.

Equivalency:
•    1 year of education for 1 year of experience; or
•    1 year of experience for 1 year of education

A cover letter outlining how your experience relates to the qualifications of this role is required. The cover letter may be used to assess your communication and writing skills.

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 is a permanent, full-time position

Hours of Work: Monday to Friday (36.25 hours per week)

Location: Sun Life Place, 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.
•    Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP) - https://www.pspp.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.
•    Opportunity to participate in flexible work arrangements such as working from home up to two days per week and modified work
      schedule agreement.
•    Leadership and mentorship programs.