Inquest Counsel - Thunder Bay, Canada - Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General

Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General

Verified Company

Thunder Bay, Canada

3 weeks ago

Posted by:

Sophia Lee

beBee Recruiter

Description

Step 1:

All regular/fixed-term OCAA and ALOC lawyers on staff, current Redeployment List Members and current Articling Student Hireback Pool Members.

Step 2:

In the absence of qualified applicants at Step 1 the competition may be reposted so that external applicants or non-members of the above-mentioned groups would then be eligible to apply.

Do you wish to make a difference by contributing to positive public safety change for Ontarians? Are you interested in a unique kind of litigation that does not seek to assign liability, guilt or blame, but rather identifies and potentially closes gaps in policy, protocol, law and operation?

This is an exciting opportunity for counsel wishing to join a dynamic and progressive organization and have an integral role in a recently modernized inquest system.

Reporting to the Chief Counsel to the Chief Coroner for Ontario, you will have carriage of a large caseload of complex mandatory and discretionary inquests while working directly with a presiding inquest officer and investigator in each case.

OPS Commitment to Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Anti-Racism:

We are committed to build a workforce that reflects the communities we serve and to promote a diverse, anti-racist, inclusive, accessible, merit-based, respectful and equitable workplace.

Visit the OPS Anti-Racism Policy and the OPS Diversity and Inclusion Blueprint pages to learn more about the OPS commitment to advance racial equity, accessibility, diversity, and inclusion in the public service.

We offer employment accommodation across the recruitment process and all aspects of employment consistent with the requirements of Ontario's Human Rights Code.

Refer to the "How to apply" section if you require a disability-related accommodation.

What can I expect to do in this role?

Duties and responsibilities will include:

Preparing for and conducting inquests, including meeting with interested parties, working with the presiding inquest officer to develop inquest scope and a strategy for the inquest, bringing forward relevant evidence, and working collaboratively with parties and the inquest team to arrive at appropriate recommendations to present to the jury
Providing advice to the presiding inquest officer and direction to the investigator and constable members of the inquest team
Identifying issues raising broader implications for the inquest system and reporting on them to legal management
Contributing to the strategic development and overall operations of the Inquest Unit, and the modernization of inquest practices and approaches
Assisting in building and maintaining positive working relationships with relevant stakeholders, such as government ministries and agencies, justice sector members, community organizations, public interest advocacy groups and the general public, on inquestrelated matters
Participating in committees, training and administrative duties as assigned

How do I qualify?
Mandatory
Membership in good standing as a lawyer with the Law Society of Ontario

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Expert knowledge of workplace health and safety issues
Demonstrated experience and expertise in construction or miningrelated legal issues, with experience in the inquest context an asset
Demonstrated litigation experience and expertise, with experience as an inquest counsel an asset
Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of the role and function of a quasijudicial decision maker and his or her counsel's role, function and obligations
Proven ability to identify and problemsolve contentious issues
Awareness of the richness of many different cultures of people within Ontario with whom he or she will interact as colleagues, partners, participants at inquests and members of the public
Knowledge and understanding of Indigenous cultures and history and, particularly, how the justice system impacts on Indigenous peoples, including understanding of Indigenous perspectives, histories, cultures, and traditions (including legal traditions)
Knowledge of administrative law, criminal and/or regulatory law and procedure, rules of evidence and case law
Knowledge of conflict of interest and bias principles
Awareness of and sensitivity to the unique difficulties and emotions associated with inquests
Proven ability to handle a highvolume practice and function well under the pressure of timelines and unexpected demands
Experience in providing training and education to clients and/or the legal profession

Interpersonal and Communication Skills

Demonstrated judgement and analytical ability to determine appropriate legal approaches and solutions
Demonstrated highlevel interpersonal, presentation and communication skills

Computer Skills and Other

Ability to use Word, Outlook and PowerPoint
Technical skills to work effectively with computer technology and databases made available to professional staff
Ability and willingness to travel throughout Ontario as req