Paralegal

Role Responsibilities

Ready to put your advanced legal administration skills to work?  Grande Prairie Crown Prosecution Office is seeking a motivated and highly organized paralegal to join their team.
Within the Grande Prairie team this paralegal position provides a broad range of support including: 

You will play a critical role in the ACPS prosecutorial process, contributing significantly to the effective and efficient prosecution of serious and complex cases, reporting to a designated supervisor (i.e. Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor). As an integral part of the prosecution team, this position manages and assumes substantive and procedural legal work, including administrative responsibility, for assigned files to assist with ensuring compliance with common law principles, legislation, and regulations.

In addition to providing comprehensive file management and associated consultation and specialized services for assigned cases, the Paralegal attends court proceedings to facilitate witness and courtroom management and provide research and technical support to Crown Counsel. This position is also relied on to carry out legal research and analysis for diverse and complex issues associated with cases, as well as serve as the primary contact with legal professionals, law enforcement representatives, witnesses, victims and other stakeholders in relation to the files being managed.

Your detailed knowledge of legal theory and provincial and federal legislation, regulations, and guidelines relevant to the criminal justice system to all aspects of responsibilities. Work is performed with a high degree of independence and personal accountability, with the Paralegal expected to provide guidance and advice to other members of the prosecution team, particularly in relation to explaining, troubleshooting and facilitating completion of complex legal processes pertaining to assigned cases.

The Paralegal functions within the parameters of applicable legislation, regulations, policies, directives, and procedures.

The Paralegal requires comprehensive knowledge and understanding of:

• The criminal justice system and legal theory 
• File management and court documentation requirements and processes
• Early case resolution processes
• Legal research techniques and processes
• Police investigative techniques and respective Criminal Code requirements
• The Ministry and ACPS vision, business plan, organizational structure, and strategic priorities
• The client and stakeholder community impacted by the ACPS mandate and operations, the public, including relevant organizations, committees, advisory groups, and representatives
• Relevant common law principles; legislation and regulations (i.e. Canada Evidence Act, Alberta Evidence Act, Jury Act, Criminal Code, Provincial and Federal Victims of Crime Legislation, Youth Criminal Justice Act, Tackling Violent Crime Act, Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act); and Ministry policies, guidelines and procedures.

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.

• Agility – Must be able to anticipate, assess, and readily adapt to changing priorities, maintain resilience, and work effectively in changing environments
• Drive for Results – Sets goals and prioritizes work to accomplish them.  Follows through on duties and tasks and reports on progress.
• Develop Self and Others – Desire to invest in the development of the long-term capability of self and others
• Build Collaborative Environments – Leads and contributes to the conditions and environments that allow people to work collaboratively and productively to achieve outcomes.
• Develop Networks – Proactively builds networks, connects and build trust in relationships with different stakeholders
• Systems Thinking – Understands how work contributes to the achievement of departmental goals.  Anticipates changes in own area based on activities in other areas.
• Creative Problem Solving – Have the ability to assess options and implications in new ways to achieve outcomes and solutions.

Qualifications

A two-year Paralegal diploma, supplemented with at least 4 years of progressively responsible related experience as a Paralegal or experience working in a criminal law office.

Equivalencies for education and experience will be considered on the basis of 1 year of education for 1 year of experience; or 1 year of experience for 1 year of education e.g 1 year of Paralegal Certificate plus 5 years of progressively responsible related experience.

Assets:

• Strong knowledge of legal processes, as well a firm foundation of Legal Assistant experience. A candidate must have demonstrated experience performing analytical, organizational, report writing and research tasks in a work environment
• Candidate must possess relevant paralegal functions which consist of the exercise of some of the core paralegal skills listed in this job description, such as trial management, legal research and analysis. 
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint) 
• Proficiency with JOIN, PRISM, Criminal E-File (Search Programs) is required.  
• A valid Alberta Motor Vehicle Operators License is an asset.
• Candidates with 5+ years of progressively responsible, relevant experience will be given priority

In addition to your resume, please include a cover letter briefly outlining your Paralegal experience (applications without the Cover Letter may 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 opportunity is located in Grande Prairie.
The Hours of Work are 36.25 hours per week, Monday to Friday.
Travel within Alberta to circuit court locations is a requirement for this role.
Final candidates for this position will be asked to undergo security screening. Any costs associated with obtaining the required documents/checks as noted or interview travel expenses, will be the responsibility of the candidate. 

This competition may be used to fill future permanent, temporary, full time and part time vacancies.
 
The Alberta Public Service is a great place to work!

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
• Leadership and mentorship programs
• Opportunity to participate in flexible work arrangements such as working from home up to two days per week and modified work schedule agreement.