Legal Assistant - Legal Services Division Open Talent Pool

Role Responsibilities

Are you looking for a new and exciting opportunity to utilize your legal administration skills? If so, take the next step and develop a career with us in an atmosphere that fosters learning and growth in a supportive, respectful, and healthy work environment!

The Legal Assistants within our division play an integral part in all of our teams. In these challenging legal assistant roles you will assist the legal team by:

• Preparing and processing a variety of documents from lawyer’s written or verbal instructions
• Preparing and drafting letters, memos, agreements and reports
• Editing and formatting various documents in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Uploading documents into Prolaw 
• Preparing and filing pleadings and other court documents such as briefs, orders, books of authorities, factums, affidavits, affidavit of records, responses to undertakings and trial binders
• Preparing and editing all electronic court documents, often from numerous lawyers’ input, and filing/e-filing those documents according to the Rules of Court
• Continuing to stay up to date and following all procedural changes from the Court
• Maintaining and organizing electronic and paper filing system, calendars and diary systems
• Maintaining strong Outlook calendar management through arranging appointments, scheduling meetings, making travel arrangements
• Managing files by liaising with a variety of clients, counsel, and the courts
• Working in a team environment, assisting several lawyers and working closely with other legal assistants on the team
• Utilizing research tools such as CanLii, Westlaw to pull and cite various cases and statutes
• Conducting regular case law searches for legal officers 
• Effectively managing and organizing legal files and documents in preparation for court proceedings
• Managing your time effectively under strict deadlines 
• Completing other duties as required

To succeed in this role, you will need to pay attention to detail and demonstrate an ability to encourage others and work as part of a team. You must also be able to work independently and handle a high-volume workload for multiple lawyers and executive directors while meeting necessary deadlines and ensuring high quality standards are met.

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.
 

• Systems Thinking – Seeks Clarity -   Identifies several analytical techniques and sources of knowledge to break apart complex problems.
• Agility – Seeks out new opportunities - Identifies alternative approaches or courses of action in unclear and complex situations. Supports others to identify, assess, and use alternative approaches.
• Drive for Results – Plan for results - Sets goals and prioritizes work to accomplish them. Follows through on duties and tasks and reports on progress.
• Build Collaborative Environments – Encourages diversity – Promotes collaboration and positive relationships (even in challenging circumstances) within and across groups and builds commitment to reach desired results

Qualifications

Requirements:

• A Legal Assistant or Paralegal diploma 
• 1 year of related experience working as a Legal Assistant or Paralegal with a Law Firm or other agency
• Proficiency in the Microsoft Office program (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Adobe is required.
• Strong knowledge of civil court procedures, relevant legislation, and high volume litigation experience is required.

Equivalency: 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 include experience with:

• Action Request Tracking System (ARTS) or equivalent tracking systems
• Prolaw
• Legal research 

Applications without a cover letter that clearly and concisely demonstrates how the qualifications meet the advertised requirements, including education, experience, and relevant examples of required competencies will not be considered.

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 competition will be used to fill current and future vacancies for temporary and permanent salaried positions as well as part-time wage positions in both Edmonton and Calgary within the Legal Services Division. Wage positions have no guaranteed hours of work.

Candidates who are successful in the selection process will be placed in a talent pool for the location(s) they have identified in the application process. The number of positions to be filled has not been identified at this time.

If a security screening is required;

• 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.

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.
 

• 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.