Associate Labour Lawyer

Nova Scotia Barristers' Society; Nova Scotia; On-site; Full time

Job summary

A leading health organization in Nova Scotia is seeking an Associate Labour Lawyer to provide legal advice and representation within the Labour Relations team. This permanent, full-time role demands substantial labour law experience and includes duties such as negotiating collective agreements and representing clients in disputes. Candidates should have strong client relations skills and relevant legal qualifications.

Benefits

Health and dental insurance

Long-term disability coverage

Defined benefit pension plan

Qualifications

• Minimum of 8 years relevant experience in labour law.
• Practicing member of the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society or eligible.
• Experience in client relations, collective bargaining, and labour arbitrations.

Responsibilities

• Provides sound legal advice and advocacy for labour relations.
• Acts as lead negotiator for collective bargaining.
• Provides representation before labour boards and courts.

Skills

Client Relations

Collective Bargaining

Essential Services

Labour Arbitrations

Alternative Dispute Resolution

Education

Bachelor of Laws (LLB/JD)

Job description

Associate Labour Lawyer
Req ID: 204497
Location: Central Zone, Halifax Infirmary Robie Street Entrance – QEII
Department: GC Legal Services Labour
Type of Employment: Permanent Hourly FT (100%) x 1
Management/Non Union Position
Posting Closing Date: 23-Jun-25

Nova Scotia Health is the largest provider of health services in Nova Scotia, with some specialized services also offered to clients throughout Atlantic Canada. We’re on a mission to achieve excellence in health, healing, and learning through working together, which is reflected in the hospitals, health centres, and community-based programs we operate across the province. Our passionate team of professionals provides a variety of high-quality inpatient and outpatient services including academic, tertiary, and quaternary care, as well as continuing care, primary health care, public health, and mental health and addictions. Join a diverse team of innovators, collaborators, and creative thinkers today.

Nova Scotia Health employs professionals in all corners of our beautiful province. We believe there’s a place here for everyone to call home, from vibrant cities with exuberant nightlife to quaint towns with picturesque trails. The work-life balance that comes with a Nova Scotia Health role means you’ll have the time to explore, discover, and participate in that coveted Atlantic lifestyle. Visit us today and check out www.novascotia.com to see why more people from across the globe are moving here.

About the Opportunity
Reporting directly to the Managing Lawyer, Labour Law Department, Legal Services, acts as a corporate resource to NSHA and IWK as an integral member of the Labour Relations team.
Working closely with senior leaders within each client’s organization, the Labour Lawyer learns the strategic direction, values and operational needs of each organization (NSHA and IWK) and provides sound legal advice, advocacy, representation, education and targeted capacity development in labour law within a context of supporting the client’s strategic objectives and understanding and working within broader health and public sector parameters.

The Labour Lawyer provides collective agreement interpretation, legal advice and strategic direction; analyses and provides advice on complex, sensitive and multidimensional problems, both independently and as a part of the labour law team on issues with potential operational and financial impacts across the health sector and the broader public sector. The Labour Lawyer provides assessment and advice in relation to grievances and acts as legal counsel at labour arbitrations and other forms of dispute resolution. The Labour Lawyer provides legal representation before the Labour Board and occasionally the courts. The labour lawyer acts as lead negotiator for collective bargaining and essential services negotiation

About You
We would love to hear from you if you have the following:
• Bachelor of Laws (LLB/JD);
• Practicing member of the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society or eligible to become a practicing member; and
• Minimum of 8 years’ relevant experience in labour law. (If you have less than 8 years experience please apply for the Junior Labour Lawyer competition here).

Particular consideration will be given to candidates with labour law experience which includes demonstrated skills in client relations, collective bargaining, essential services, labour arbitrations and alternative dispute resolution.

Practice experience in one or more of the following areas would be considered an asset:
• Administrative law
• Employment law
• Human Rights law
• Privacy law

Experience in one or more of the following areas would be considered an asset:
• Health sector and/or public sector labour relations.
• Advising health authorities, government departments or agencies.
• Providing advice in relation to labour legislation and regulations
• Representing clients before labour and other administrative tribunals.
• Representing clients with a unionized workforce

Please ensure your resume is up to date and includes all relevant education, experience, training, and certifications.

Hours
Permanent, full-time position, 75 hrs bi-weekly
Compensation and Benefits
$52.16 – $65.20 Hourly

Successful candidates may be eligible for our benefits package which includes health, dental, travel, long-term disability, and life insurance coverage as well as a defined benefit pension plan.

Once You’ve Applied

Thank you for your interest in this position. Only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted. Some opportunities may be eligible for our Employee Referral Program. If a Nova Scotia Health employee refers a candidate who is not working for the organization and the candidate is hired, the employee who made the referral may be eligible to earn up to $1000. For more details and instructions, please visit Recruitment – Incentives

Nova Scotia Health is committed to being a workforce that is free of discrimination, values diversity, and is representative, at all job levels, of the people we serve. We encourage all qualified applicants who self-identify as Indigenous, Black/African Nova Scotian, Persons of Colour, Foreign Nationals/Newcomers, Persons with Disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ to apply and self-identify.

Nova Scotia Health’s Employee Career Advice (ECA) Program supports internal employees in their career development and progression with résumé-building, interview skill development, resources and advice for optimizing job searches, and more. Employees can book a one-on-one meeting or view upcoming workshops on the ECA Intranet page or via email at [e-mail] .