Articling Student, PLC Prince George P011-25
Prince George, BC, Canada Req #461
Monday, May 12, 2025
LEGAL AID BC
POSTING
TO: LABC STAFF (cc: PEA)
FROM: HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT
POSITION: ARTICLING STUDENT
(to August 31, 2026)
COMPETITION NO: P011-25
DATE POSTED: May 12, 2025
CLOSING DATE: May 26, 2025
STARTING DATE: September 2, 2025
SALARY CLASSIFICATION: ARTICLES
SALARY: $52,885.25 (As per the PEA Salary Schedule)
Legal Aid BC is in the early stages of, and committed to a transformative journey to embedding Truth and Reconciliation, and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in all aspects of our work. We seek talent from equity-seeking groups, including but not limited to individuals who self-identify as First Nations, Inuit, or Metis descent, persons with diverse abilities, gender diverse, racialized, and members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community be a part of this exciting stage of Legal Aid BC’s growth. We care deeply about the culture we are building and are looking for staff members who not only excel in their respective areas but are also passionate about supporting the people we serve and each other. If this resonates with you, we encourage you to apply. All interested and eligible applicants will be considered with due consideration to all protected grounds under the BC Human Rights Code. If we can do anything to make your application experience a positive and equitable one, we want to hear from you on what we can do better.
PRIMARY FUNCTION:
Reporting to the Managing Lawyer, this position will gain practical experience in child protection, family, criminal, immigration, and administrative law.
The following job duties are illustrative examples, and shall not be construed as an exhaustive description of all the work requirements that may be inherent in the job.
VALUES STATEMENT:
Our commitment to the principles of fundamental justice embedded in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and to Truth and Reconciliation, and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion is ambitious and foundational. It informs everything we do, as we defend liberty, equality, autonomy, and dignity; as we dismantle colonization, racism, sexism, transphobia and homophobia, and all discrimination. These are our values, and they inform our hiring practices too. Our business is aiding people in severe legal distress and necessitates internal and external alignment of practicing these values. Integrating Truth and Reconciliation, and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion throughout every aspect of Legal Aid BC is critical to building that culture, and we prioritize ongoing resources to achieve that goal.
DUTIES:
- Meet with clients for initial meetings and summary advice services.
- Attend court for child protection and family law proceedings.
- Assess the merits of appeal applications to determine whether Legal Aid BC will fund based on established policy and procedures.
- Conduct legal research on a variety of issues as directed by Principal, General Counsel, Managing Lawyer, or staff lawyers.
- Prepare for and attend mediations and other consensual dispute resolution process
- Draft legal documents and pleadings, which may include the following: Notice of Family Claim, Application About a Family Law Matter, Reply, Response, Counterclaim, Affidavit, Financial Statement, List of Documents, Notices of Appeal, Petitions for Judicial review, Factums, and Memoranda of Argument.
- Research and prepare briefing notes for the General Counsel office on various matters of procurement, intellectual property, corporate governance, privacy, professional responsibility and other matters
- Assist with legal research and preparation for hearing
- Attendance at a hearing and/or trial
- Provide legal advice to clients in relation to their child protection and family law matters
- Attendance at Chambers Applications
- Participate in the duty counsel program
- Advising and representing clients in their criminal law proceedings
- Answer telephone and respond to a variety of requests for information from clients, lawyers, Court registry staff, LSS staff, and the public; refer to other departments or resources as appropriate.
- Interview clients and witnesses to gather additional information on their file or issue, as required.
- Participate in the duty counsel program.
- Act as a legal resource to other members of the department:
- Perform other related duties, as required.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Basic requirements
- A degree from a Law School of recognized standing
- Post-secondary education in social work, psychology or criminology or paralegal training at a recognized college or institute is an asset
- A general knowledge of relevant substantive law and procedure
- Experience in dealing with low income clients and their legal problems is an asset
- Experience in providing trauma informed services to people experiencing poverty, survivors of intergenerational trauma, people who experience systemic barriers, and their legal problems is an asset
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Knowledge of Legal Aid BC, it’s vision and mission, including policies and procedures;
- Knowledge of Provincial and Supreme Court rules and procedures;
- Excellent oral and written communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills;
- Excellent organizational skills;
- Ability to produce concise and clear correspondence and present legal information in understandable plain language;
- An understanding of issues affecting Indigenous communities, knowledge of Indigenous cultures and history as well as Indigenous community groups and agencies;
- Ability to apply a self-awareness of one’s own positionality, power and privilege in how they interact with clients and colleague
- Knowledge of cultural humility and cultural safety, including for Indigenous peoples of BC, and how it relates to delivering services to clients
- Ability to exercise sound judgment, diplomacy and tact;
- Ability to cope with a heavy volume of work and to work well under pressure;
- Ability to work independently and to foster effective working relationships in a multi-disciplinary team environment and with peers, colleagues, and external contacts;
- Knowledge of and/or lived experience of systemic barriers, including those who identify as Indigenous, Black, racialized, gender diverse, 2SLGBTQIA, and living with disabilities
- Knowledge of and/or lived experience of accessing justice and surviving challenging legal situations
- Ability to de-escalate emotionally escalated individuals and constructively engage with people in moments of conflict by using effective conflict resolution skills;;
- Experience with Windows and an intermediate level of knowledge of MS Word;
- Familiarity with Microsoft suite and Outlook
Employment is conditional upon completing and obtaining clearance from the following:
- Criminal Record Check (CRC) in accordance with the Criminal Records Review Act
- Current and previous vendors with Legal Aid BC are subject to a standard internal review of audit and investigation files
We offer (based on your employment status and affiliation):
- Four weeks paid vacation to start that grows the longer you are with LABC
- An excellent employee benefits package, where premiums are 100% paid by LABC
- Support for training and development
- An Employee and Family Assistance program
- The opportunity to participate in various Employee programs (Employee Wellness, etc.)
- Support for a healthy work/life balance
- Generous leave provisions (sick time, special leaves)
- 13 paid statutory holidays
- An opportunity for a flexible hybrid work arrangement for some positions (LABC reserves the right to change this policy at any time)
- Transit friendly employer for eligible staff to have their commute subsidized
- Dog-friendly offices
- Dedicated Cultural Leave provisions for Indigenous employees
- An Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Council, and Indigenous employees Council and Accessibility Committee of employees from equity-seeking groups that advises on ongoing improvements and investments in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at our workplace
We would like to thank all external applicants for their interest but regret that only those shortlisted will be contacted.
- Job Family Parents Legal Centres
- Job Start Date Tuesday, September 2, 2025