Duty Counsel - Cornwall, Canada - Legal Aid Ontario

Legal Aid Ontario

Verified Company

Cornwall, Canada

2 weeks ago

Posted by:

Sophia Lee

beBee Recruiter

Description

Union:
The Society

Job Number: J
Job Title: Duty Counsel
Family & Criminal
French Bilingual (12 month)
Job Type: Contract

Contract Duration: 12 months

City, Province, Country: Cornwall, Ontario, Canada
Job Location: Cornwall
Job Category: Legal
Job Classification: SL
Role Designation:

LAO Workplace Based

Role is physically based in an in-person LAO workplace
Open Positions:
Posting Date: May 17, 202
Closing Date: May 31, 2023
Salary: $83, $142,422.00/Year

Legal Aid Ontario employees are committed to making a difference in the lives of our clients.

As an integral partner in the Justice system, working at Legal Aid Ontario is more than just a job.

It's an opportunity to help people who need it the most; to ensure each client receives the access to justice afforded to them under the law.

If you are looking for a new challenge in your already meaningful career with a team dedicated to justice, and innovation in a flexible and supportive work environment consider this opportunity below.

Primary function:

This Duty Counsel will be required provide criminal and family duty counsel services in Cornwall and occasionally at the satellite offices of Morrisburg and/or Alexandria.

This role may require travel throughout the district on occasion. As such, applicants with readily available transportation or an ability to rent a vehicle are preferred.

Criminal Duty Counsel is responsible for providing client service for criminal law matters in the courthouse, both virtually and in person.

Criminal Duty Counsel will be responsible for the intake and assessment of criminal law clients to determine the appropriate service for those charged with criminal offences, including but not limited to providing procedural and summary legal advice; drafting and reviewing criminal court documents; in court representation at various stages of criminal court proceedings; and other duties as assigned.

Family Duty Counsel is responsible for providing client service for family law matters in the courthouse, both virtually and in person.

Family Duty Counsel will be responsible for the intake and assessment of family law clients to determine the appropriate service for the clients, including but not limited to providing procedural and summary legal advice; drafting, reviewing and commissioning of family court documents and pleadings such as Applications, Answers, Motions, Affidavits and Financial Statements; in court representation at various stages of a family court and/or child protection proceeding; and other duties as assigned.

As a result of the pandemic, services are currently being provided both virtually and on site, with mínimal "on-site" supervision.

Some courts require appearances in person, for others it is a combination of in person and virtual. Flexibility is required based on operational needs.

This position will appeal to a lawyer experienced in a broad range of criminal and family proceedings who can effectively navigate the demands of a busy workplace, both in-person and remotely.

Home Location:
Cornwall

Secondary:
Satellite Courts - Alexandria and Morrisburg

Reports to:
Manager of Duty Counsel Services, Eastern District

Key accountabilities:

Act as Criminal and Family Duty Counsel
Representing clients both inperson and remotely
Ensure high quality of legal work in a cost effective manner
File management as per LAO requirements including use of computer technology; data input for statistics measurements in a timely manner

Criminal law:

Assisting unrepresented clients who have been charged with criminal matters
Representing clients at bail hearings, guilty pleas and remands both inperson and remotely
Assessing clients' needs, including the early identification of vulnerable clients, to facilitate referrals to appropriate services.
Provide criminal law services as defense counsel in the Ontario Court of Justice
Providing assistance and representation at federal, provincial, and youth, remand, bail and plea courts, including specialty courts (Drug Treatment Court / Mental Health Court / Gladue Court)
Providing summary legal advice (SLA)
Interviewing clients, sureties, and witnesses
Disclosure review and Crown pretrials meetings
Assisting with various motions and hearings (may include trials), including judicial pretrials
Preparing and arguing bail hearings
Other duties as assigned

Family law:

Advocate for clients in court and on court forms
Provide family law duty counsel services, including providing instructions to Legal Aid Workers (and students), preparation of court documents for eligible clients, make appropriate referrals when required, including to mediation services
Providing representation in the Superior Court of Justice (Unified Family Court) at first appearances, conferences, motions, negotiations, Family Responsibility Office (FRO) matters, Children's Aid Societies matters and other court hear