Senior Legislative Counsel

Apply now »

Posting Date: Sep 2, 2023

Location: Edmonton, AB

Company: Government of Alberta

Job Information

Job Title: Senior Legislative Counsel 

Job Requisition ID: 44218

Ministry: Alberta Justice

Location: Edmonton

Full or Part-Time: Full-time

Hours of Work: 36.25 hours per week

Regular/Temporary: Temporary - 12 months (with the possibility of extension)

Scope: Open Competition

Closing Date: Open until suitable candidate found

Classification: Justice Legal Counsel 5

About Us

The Government of Alberta is committed to a diverse and inclusive public service that reflects the population we serve to best meet the needs of Albertans. Consider joining a team where diversity, inclusion and innovation are valued and supported. For more information on diversity and inclusion, please visit: https://www.alberta.ca/diversity-inclusion-policy.aspx.

One of Alberta Justice's core businesses is to provide Legal and strategic services to government and is done by the Legal Services Division. It includes providing legal advice, managing risks, conducting civil litigation, drafting legislation, regulations and orders-in-council, and retaining outside counsel. Legal Services is proud to be a learning organization and offers employees opportunities to learn and grow in their careers.

Role

The Legislative Counsel Office is responsible for drafting government bills, regulations and Orders in Council. The office also works with the King’s Printer to make the laws of Alberta available to the public.

The Alberta Legislative Counsel Office is looking for a self-motivated, energetic individual with demonstrated leadership skills who will use their excellent English language writing ability to draft high quality Government Bills for introduction in the Legislative Assembly and to draft Regulations and Orders in Council for Government. You will provide advice to the Government and Crown agencies on the development of legislation and regulatory policies.

Intellectual inquiry, problem-solving and innovative thinking, combined with precision and thoroughness, is required in this position. Effective communication and interpersonal skills are essential to your success in this role, as you must understand your client's policy goals and be able to express them in a legislative framework that the clients can understand and explain to others. The ability to work both independently and collaboratively will ensure you are successful in meeting the demands of this position. 

Reporting to the Deputy Chief Legislative Counsel and Registrar of Regulations, you will assist the Alberta Government and its Ministries in achieving their legislative objectives by drafting complex bills and regulations in accordance with Legislative Counsel Office standards and performing related legal services. 

This position will ensure client Ministries’ policy objectives are met by: 

  • Mentoring legislative drafters with less drafting experience.
  • Contributing to the drafting resources of the Legislative Counsel Office.
  • Providing legal and legislative advice and opinions on legislative proposals made by ministries;
  • Advising ministry officials on their legislative proposals and assisting them in achieving their policy goals through legislation where appropriate;
  • Providing impartial, high-quality legislative drafting services to the government;
  • Drafting regulations in a timely and effective manner in accordance with drafting standards.
  • Responding to client ministries’ concerns and questions regarding the making, drafting, and filing of regulations. 


Competencies: 
The key competencies we are looking for include: 

  • a strong client focus; 
  • excellent problem solving and interpersonal skills; 
  • strong research, verbal and writing communication skills; 
  • refined drafting skills; 
  • high flexibility and the ability to work independently and in a team environment

Qualifications

A Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) or Juris Doctor (J.D). Must be an active member or must have immediate eligibility for full membership with the Law Society of Alberta.

11 years legal experience, with 

  • a minimum of 10 years drafting the most complex, politically sensitive government bills and regulation projects in a legislative counsel office (or similar office with different title);
  • demonstrated experience in a leadership role in a legislative counsel office;
  • demonstrated experience mentoring and coaching other legislative drafters;
  • demonstrated experience dealing with multiple complex files. 


The following will be considered assets:

  • more extensive experience drafting in a legislative counsel office or a parliamentary counsel office
  • a graduate diploma or professional certificate in legislative drafting 

APS Competencies

Competencies are behaviours 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.

The link below will assist you with understanding competencies:
https://www.alberta.ca/assets/documents/psc-alberta-public-service-competency-model.pdf.

In this role, you will contribute to our team by demonstrating the following behavioral competencies: 

Problem Solving: The Issue Manager is expected to competently manage intermediate level to senior level legal matters with medium to high risk and complexity. Their advice should be solution-focused, clear, concise and practical.

Agility: Able to manage conflicting priorities and function well in a dynamic, fast paced environment.

Creative Problem Solving: Works creatively within policies and procedures to proactively meet goals.

Develop Networks: Excels in a collaborative team environment Communicates clearly and effectively with a variety of individuals and departments. 

Drive for Results: Identifies and acts on opportunities to partner with other groups to achieve desired outcomes. Holds self and others responsible for achieving results and agreed upon targets. 

Salary

$6,599.55 to $7,543.57 bi-weekly ($172,248 - $196,887/year)

Notes

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

This competition will be ongoing and be used to full current and future permanent and temporary vacancies at the same or lower level within the Government of Alberta. Candidates with lower qualifications may be considered at a lower classification and salary.

Positions Currently available:

  • 1 temporary position


In your resume, please include dates (including months and years) associated with all education and work experience. As well, please indicate whether your work experience is casual, part-time or full-time. For example, January 15, 2006 - June 25, 2009: Assistant (PT three 8 hrs. shifts/week).

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.

How To Apply

Click on the “Apply Now” button.  

Candidates are required to apply for a job online. Please visit https://www.alberta.ca/navigating-online-jobs-application.aspx to learn more about creating a candidate profile and other tips for the Government of Alberta’s online application system. 

If you are not currently an employee with the Government of Alberta, the first step in applying for a job is creating your candidate profile within our online application system, click here to access the main log in page where you are able to ‘Create an account’, reset your password (‘Forgot your password’) or ‘Sign  In’ should you already have an account. 

Existing employees should access the Career tile in 1GX to submit their application in order to be recognized as an internal applicant. 

Once you have created your candidate profile, visit the Alberta Public Service job site to apply for jobs at https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-jobs.aspx.

Tips for applicants: https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-hiring-process.aspx.

It is recommended applicants who have completed post-secondary studies from outside of Canada obtain an evaluation of their credentials from the International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) or from recognized Canadian Credential Evaluator; please visit the Alliance of Credential Evaluation Services of Canada for more information.

Closing Statement

We thank all applicants for their interest. All applications will be reviewed to determine which candidates' qualifications most closely match the advertised requirements. Only individuals selected for interviews will be contacted.

If you require any further information on this job posting or a copy of the role profile, and/or require a disability related accommodation during the recruitment process, please contact Veronica Noronha at Veronica.Noronha@gov.ab.ca.

If this competition is closed as per the closing date noted above, please continue to check http://www.jobs.alberta.ca for a listing of current career opportunities with the Government of Alberta.