Paralegal

Role Responsibilities

Are you a self-motivated paralegal looking for a new role where you can actively provide high level paralegal support using your advanced legal administration skills? If so, we have a Paralegal opportunity with the Legal Services Division that could be right for you!

Reporting to the Paralegal Manager, you will be responsible to provide a broad range of support to advisory and litigation counsel handling complex legal matters within the Civil Forfeiture Litigation Team. The lawyers will rely heavily on you, and you will serve as the primary contact with division clients, legal professionals, law enforcement, witnesses, experts, victims, general public, and the courts.

Your responsibilities as a Paralegal will include, but will not be limited to the following:

• Independently draft and provide comprehensive planning and organizational support to the Civil Forfeiture Office (CFO) by managing the administrative functions related to reporting, promotion, organizational file management, policies procedures, precedents, and knowledge management/sharing.
• Coordinate CFO files by preparing comprehensive file structure and organization, perform legal research, draft correspondence and court documents for legal counsel review and attendance at court.
• Perform high-quality work, sometimes under stress and time pressures, while meeting critical deadlines. The ability to proactively handle many tasks with limited instruction and self-prioritize a high-volume workload is vital.
• Perform work accurately and promptly, applying correct spelling, grammar, and legal terminology utilizing strong writing, research, and technical/computer skills.
• Coordinate with the CFO team for final discharges, reporting, documenting and ensure we can close the files securely.
• Manage and coordinate civil forfeiture files from referral to closure, ensuring accurate file organization, tracking of timelines, and compliance with court rules, legislation, policies, and procedures.
• Conduct legal and factual research, analyze information from multiple databases and registries, and prepare summaries, correspondence, pleadings, and court documents to support legal counsel.
• Develop, maintain, and update civil forfeiture databases, procedural resources, precedents, and reference materials to support consistent and efficient file management practices.
• Support the Civil Forfeiture Litigation Team by coordinating meetings, maintaining records, providing information and training on processes and procedures, and acting as a liaison with internal and external stakeholders.
• Exercise independent judgment and initiative in managing a high-volume workload, maintaining confidentiality, meeting critical deadlines, and contributing to a collaborative team environment through mentoring, training, and operational support.
• Use Nuix Discover software to create CFO databases, ingest records and get documents ready for review.

To be successful in this role, you will need to have:

• Knowledge of provincial legislation including an extensive understanding of the Civil Forfeiture Act.
• Understanding of legal practices in civil litigation for the accurate and precises process in preparation, filing and serving legal documents.
• Ability to prioritize work with the flexibility to adjust to changing situations.
• Strong communication both written and oral and interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office 365, Adobe and various search tools.
• Strong technical skills, including the ability to troubleshoot some computer and software issues, set up and manage Teams and Webex calls.
• Organizational skills to handle the volume and complexity of the work and strong attention to detail.
• Sound judgment skills in applying policies, procedures and disclosing information.
• Understanding of government structure, Ministry and Division business plan and organizational reporting structures as well as strategic priorities for civil forfeiture matters.
• Experience with high level of initiative and independent work with limited supervision while in a team environment.
• Strong ability to manage highly sensitive and confidential information.

The Job Description is provided for further details on 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.

Below is the list of critical competencies required for this role:

• Creative Problem Solving: Ability to gather information from varied sources, analyze and interpret information to formulate reports and make decisions related to case planning.
• Agility: Ability to prioritize competing workload pressures in an effective manner and contribute to the organizational goals.
• Drive for Results: Sets and accomplishes goals and priorities in order to deliver outcomes consistent with departmental objectives and directives.
• Building Collaborative Environments: Ability to work cooperatively and collaboratively with a variety of teams within the workplace, community and other Government ministries/agencies to meet client and ministry goals and objectives.
• Developing Networks: Ability to interact positively, build relationships and work effectively with others.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements:

• Two-year diploma in a related field, such as Paralegal, Legal Assistant, etc.
• Plus, three years of progressively responsible related experience as a Paralegal, Legal Assistant, or other similar roles; or equivalent as described:
  • Directly related experience or education considered on the basis of one year of experience for one year of education or one year of education for one year of experience.

Assets for this role include:

• Experience in civil filing procedures and legal citation.
• Experience working within the Microsoft Office suite (Adobe, Outlook, Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint)
• Experience in Civil Litigation/Forfeiture in a paralegal and/or legal assistant capacity.

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

Notes

Hours of work: Monday – Friday, 8:15 am - 4:30 pm (36.25 /week)

Positions Currently available: One Temporary position is available for one year. This posting might be used to fill other similar opportunities in the future as well.

Location: Bowker Building, 9833 - 109 St NW, Edmonton

Assessments: Written test may be a part of the selection process as well as interview.

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.