Manager of Legal Services (15 months)

This position is accountable to the Director General (DG) and will assist the DG by managing employees and overseeing operations of services in the District.

Home Location: St. Catharines Duty Counsel Office
Secondary Location(s): Travel will be required through the Niagara region, St. Catharines and Welland

Reporting to: Director General - Central West District

• Manage staff lawyers, articling students, law students, paralegals and other LAO court staff and contracts
• Manage staff in an unionized environment
• Oversee the administration and operations of DC and court-based services, as well as, support staff offices
• Oversee the roster management of per diem duty counsel and approval of duty counsel accounts and services and track quality assurance measures
• Co-ordination of legal service delivery taking an integrated approach across the district and region, including delivery of legal services in established and developing Hubs
• Train and mentor staff and manage training needs and development, as well as the training budget
• Provide input and expertise (substantive law) on BCM and MCM matters
• Certificate management for high risk cases
• Assist DG with roster management including monitoring, oversight
• Assistance with Certificate management and Settlement Conferences
• Act as liaison between LAO, the Judiciary, the Ministry of the Attorney General and the private bar, including sitting on local Bench and Bar committees, local JOT committees and other consultation groups on behalf of the Director General
• Assist with External stakeholder relations
• Oversee budgets for the staff lawyer offices assigned
• Review and set budgets, e.g., per diem and DC contracts, staff offices, MCM budget
• Draft documents, complete forms and statistical reports
• Provide duty counsel services or represent clients as required
• Perform other duties and administrative tasks as assigned
• Travel required

• Member in good standing of the Law Society of Ontario
• Demonstrated experience in Family Law and/or Criminal Law and practice
Knowledge of the Legal Aid Services Act and Regulations
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• Knowledge of federal and provincial legislation regarding criminal and family law
• Intermediate level skills in Microsoft Word, PeopleSoft and other computer office applications
Assets section:
• Demonstrated advanced experience in Family Law and Criminal Law and practice
• Experience managing in a unionized environment
• Experience in training and managing lawyers or other professionals
• Assets would include experience in representing Aboriginal clients and cultural competency, strong interpersonal and oral advocacy skills, and excellent research and writing skills
• The ability to communicate in both French and English is an asset.


Only those candidates selected for an interview will be notified.

Please note that all applicants are encouraged to provide a valid email address for communication purposes. Applicants may receive written correspondence regarding this job posting directly to the email address provided on their resume or to the one used to set up their Candidate Profile if applying on Njoyn. As an applicant, it is your responsibility to ensure that you check your email regularly.

To apply submit a cover letter & résumé.

This position is represented by The Society of United Professionals and the employee will be governed by the provisions of the collective agreement and union dues will be deducted bi-weekly from date of hire.

First Preference will be given to current members of the Society of United Professionals.
Please note that all applicants are encouraged to provide a valid email address for communication purposes.

Applicants may receive written correspondence regarding this job posting directly to the email address provided on their resume or to the one used to set up their Candidate Profile if applying on Njoyn. As an applicant, it is your responsibility to ensure that you check your email regularly.
First time applying to a position with LAO? You will need to create a profile AND then apply for the position.

Already have an Njoyn account? Just sign in and select "my jobs" to apply.
Once you have successfully applied you will receive a confirmation email.

Trouble applying? For telephone support please call 1-877-427-7717 or email support:
candidate.njoynhelp@cgi.com.