Articled Clerk or Junior Staff Lawyer

About Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University is Atlantic Canada’s leading research-intensive university and a driver of the region’s intellectual, social and economic development. Located in the heart of Halifax, Nova Scotia, with an Agricultural Campus in Truro/Bible Hill, Dalhousie is a truly national and international university, with more than half of our almost 21,000 students coming from outside of the province. Our 6,000 faculty and staff foster a vibrant, purpose-driven community, that celebrated 200 years of academic excellence in 2018.

Job Summary
Dalhousie Legal Aid Clinic has been in operation since 1970 and is the only community law clinic in Nova Scotia. The Clinic is a unique partnership of community groups, law students, community legal workers, lawyers, and articled clerks working together. In addition to individual representation, the Clinic does community outreach, education, organizing, lobbying and test case litigation to combat injustices affecting persons with low incomes in Nova Scotia. Areas of service include family, criminal, and poverty (administrative) law matters. Preference will be given to applicants who completed the clinical law course.

Dalhousie Legal Aid Clinic is seeking to hire either a junior staff lawyer or an articling clerk, depending upon candidate qualifications. In either case, this position will focus on researching and preparing litigation strategies designed to improve the state of mental health treatment in penal institutions.

As an articling opportunity, you will also have the opportunity to do some work with clients, grapple with complex fact situations and find or create solutions to problems. In addition to the practical skills of interviewing, counseling, negotiating, and trial advocacy, you can learn the basics of running a practice: tickler systems, file management, ethical considerations such as conflicts, confidentiality, and the interpersonal aspects of lawyering.

Key Responsibilities

1. Engage in background research such as a jurisdictional scan and interviews with those working in the field. This first stage will ensure DLAS is focusing on areas where there are gaps and where success is most likely.
2. Conducting a jurisdictional scan to identify existing programs and policies in other jurisdictions.
3. Oversee and expand the current Prison Justice community file to ensure third-year law students are exposed to and assisting with the work. Build partnerships to maximize focus and expertise.
4. Interview community stakeholders and persons with lived experience to gather ideas, identify gaps, and determine where the greatest need lies.
5. Conduct research in support of advocacy and test litigation. Identify and if needed retain experts to support the advocacy and litigation strategies.
6. Develop law reform papers and circulate to government and political people to build momentum and agreement. Identify potential test cases and frame out litigation.

Note
Due to operational requirements, the successful applicant is required to work in-person on campus.

Required Qualifications

Currently articling, eligible to begin articling in June 2025, a practicing member of the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society, or eligible for admission in a short time frame, as either a new call or with up to three years’ experience as a lawyer.

Assets

• A solid track record of advocacy work and knowledge of anti-oppressive practice.
• Familiarity with criminal and prison law.
• A broad perspective on the role of a community law office working in the context of a low-income community.

Application Consideration

Applications from university employees and external candidates are given concurrent consideration. Among short-listed candidates, university employees will be given special consideration.

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Diversity Statement

Dalhousie University commits to achieving inclusive excellence through continually championing equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. The university encourages applications from Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island (especially Mi’kmaq), persons of Black/African descent (especially African Nova Scotians), and members of other racialized groups, persons with disabilities, women, persons identifying as members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, and all candidates who would contribute to the diversity of our community. In accordance with our Employment Equity Policy, preference will be given in hiring processes to candidates who self-identify as members of one or more of the equity-deserving groups listed above. For more information, including details related to our Employment Equity Policy and Plan and definitions of equity-deserving groups please visit www.dal.ca/hiringfordiversity