NOVA SCOTIA LEGAL AID COMMISSION
LEGAL ASSISTANT
Type of Employment: Term
Location: Halifax Appeals Office, 400-5475 Spring Garden Road
Salary: Clerical Pay Plan (CL), CL 14 Step 1 to CL 22 Step 5 ($39,764.37 to $55,623.05)
Closing Date: April 10, 2024 at 4:30 pm
Who we are:
Nova Scotia Legal Aid Commission (NSLAC) delivers quality legal aid services throughout the Province, providing some level of help to all Nova Scotians with a focus on assisting those who are systematically disadvantaged. NSLAC’s focus is in the practice areas of criminal, family, and social justice law.
NSLAC employs staff in 24 offices and 3 sub-offices throughout the Province. Our staff are comprised of Staff Lawyers, Legal Assistants, Paralegals, Court Support Workers, Social Workers, a Social Justice Support Worker, and a Prison Law Support Worker. Our staff help thousands of clients every year. We are committed to helping overcome historical and ongoing barriers to access to justice and our Staff Lawyers have litigated many important cases to protect the rights of individuals.
Primary Functions:
Reporting to the Managing Lawyer, under the direction of Staff Lawyers, the Legal Assistant provides comprehensive administrative support to Staff Lawyers in criminal, child protection and family law appellate cases. An understanding of and commitment to client service in the day-to-day conduct of clients’ legal affairs is imperative. The Legal Assistant must have a broad range of knowledge relating to the functions, activities, policies and practices of the NSLAC.
Ideal Abilities and Skills:
• Strong writing, grammar, and word processing skills are essential, including:
• Accurate and timely transcription of dictated letters, memorandums, factums (written submissions to the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal), affidavits, notices, and orders.
• Formatting, proofreading, and editing of letters, memorandums, factums, affidavits, notices, orders, and any other Criminal, Children & Family Services Act (CFSA) & Family Court materials & documents.
• Ensuring timely and professional production and assembly of court documents, including factums, books of authorities, and appeal books.
• Coordinating on-time filing of legal documents at the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal.
• Effectively manage incoming client calls, online and phone applications, enter files into internal intake system, and prepare hard copies of new intake files.
• Assuring timely preparation, transmission and documentation of internal and external correspondence, including electronic and hard copies of correspondence for files.
• Manage, organize and co-ordinate Lawyers’ Practice, including time-management and communication with two busy lawyers.
• Other duties as required by the Managing Lawyer.
Qualifications:
• Post-secondary diploma in Legal Administration or Paralegal or equivalent training and related relevant experience.
• Minimum 2 years of experience with criminal court practices, family/CFSA law cases, social justice matters, procedures and systems would be an asset.
• University-level research and writing experience would be an asset.
Skills:
• Demonstrated time management skills and ability to deal with conflicting priorities and deadlines, while maintaining high standards of quality.
• Ability to learn LexisNexis and Canlii to perform basic legal research under the direction of appellate counsel.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively.
• Have knowledge of or be willing to learn the rules of procedure under the Criminal Code, CFSA, other family law statutes, Civil Procedure Rules and the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal requirements.
• Can take initiative and use judgment in matters of extreme confidentiality and sensitivity.
• Work independently in a fast-paced environment as well as part of a team.
• Ability to communicate effectively with clients, opposing counsel, and staff at Correctional Facilities, Family Court and at the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal.
• Ability to work with clients who have complex needs.
• Compliance with NSLAC’s policies and procedures.
We value a workplace where diversity, in all its forms, is encouraged and recognized for its contribution to a more creative, rewarding workplace that is representative, at all job levels, of the citizens we serve. We welcome applications from Indigenous People, African Nova Scotians and Other Racially Visible Persons, Persons with Disabilities and Women in occupations or positions where they are under-represented. If you are a member of one of these equity groups, you are encouraged to self-identify on your electronic application, cover letter or resume.
If you are talented, hardworking and want to be a member of a team that is highly experienced, very caring, dedicated and committed to their clients, we would like to hear from you.
Please indicate Position Title and Location and whether you are an internal or external applicant in the email subject line. Please send your resume and cover letter to [email protected].
While we appreciate receiving all applications, only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted. All applications will be held in strict confidence.
Link to Job Posting:
Job Deadline/Expiry Date: 04/10/2024