Criminal Staff Duty Counsel - 18 months

Legal Aid Ontario; Barrie; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and life insurance

Paid time off (vacation, sick, discre.

Public Service Pension Plan

Job summary

Legal Aid Ontario in Barrie is seeking a Criminal Duty Counsel to provide client services in criminal matters across the Simcoe/Muskoka area. The role involves intake, assessment, and in-court representation, both virtually and in person, with occasional travel to secondary locations.

You will work with a team to deliver high-quality legal assistance to vulnerable clients, including bail hearings and guilty pleas, while adhering to the Rules of Professional Conduct and LAO guidelines.

Qualifications

• Licensed lawyer in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario.
• Extensive experience representing clients in criminal matters including bail hearings and guilty pleas.
• Strong knowledge of the Criminal Code, Charter, and trial procedures.
• Ability to assess client needs and provide clear legal advice.
• Experience with virtual and in-person court appearances.

Responsibilities

• Assisting unrepresented clients charged with criminal matters.
• Representing clients at bail hearings, guilty pleas and remands both in-person and remotely.
• Assessing clients’ needs and facilitating referrals to appropriate services.
• Providing in-person and remote summary legal advice to clients.
• Preparing for bail hearings and other resolutions with colleagues.
• Representing clients in CPTs/JPTs when appropriate.
• Handling appearances in specialty courts as required.
• Perform other duties and admin tasks as assigned and adapt to changing environment.

Skills

Criminal law expertise

Bail hearings experience

Guilty pleas experience

Advocacy skills

Communication skills

French (asset)

Education

Law degree / JD

Ontario bar admission

Tools

PeopleSoft

DCSW

Microsoft Office

Zoom/Teams

Job description

Company Bio

Legal Aid Ontario employees are committed to making a difference in the lives of our clients.

As an integral partner in the Justice system, working at Legal Aid Ontario is more than just a job. It's an opportunity to help people who need it the most; to ensure each client receives the access to justice afforded to them under the law.

If you are looking for a new challenge in your already meaningful career with a team dedicated to justice, and innovation in a flexible and supportive work environment consider this opportunity below.

Primary function

To provide criminal duty counsel services in Barrie and throughout the Simcoe/Muskoka area. This role may require travel throughout the district on occasion and access to transportation is required.

Criminal Duty Counsel is responsible for providing client service for criminal law matters in the courthouse, both virtually and in person. Criminal Duty Counsel will be responsible for the intake and assessment of criminal law clients to determine the appropriate service for those charged with criminal offences, including but not limited to providing procedural and summary legal advice; drafting and reviewing criminal court documents; in court representation at various stages of criminal court proceedings; and other duties as assigned.

Home Location: Barrie

Secondary and tertiary locations: Orillia, Bradford, Midland, Collingwood, Bracebridge

Reports to: Manager of Legal Services

Key accountabilities

• Assisting unrepresented clients who have been charged with criminal matters
• Representing clients at bail hearings, guilty pleas and remands both in-person and remotely
• Assessing clients’ needs, including the early identification of vulnerable clients, to facilitate referrals to appropriate services
• Providing in-person and remote summary legal advice to clients in or out of custody
• Assisting colleagues in preparation of bail hearings, guilty pleas and other forms of resolutions
• When appropriate, representing clients in Crown pre-trial (CPTs) negotiations and Judicial pre-trials (JPTs) for purposes of resolution
• Representing clients in specialty courts including Mental Health, Gladue, Domestic Violence, and Youth Courts as required
• Ensuring a high quality of legal work in a cost effective manner
• File management as per LAO requirements including use of computer technology; data input for statistics measurements in a timely manner
• Punctual attendance at court to perform daily duties
• Providing assistance with legal aid referrals as required
• Facilitating knowledge-sharing and best practices among court locations and staff offices
• Perform other duties and administrative tasks as assigned and remain adaptable and flexible in a changing environment

Required Skills & Experience

• Lawyer in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario
• Demonstrated experience in representing clients with complex legal issues including conducting bails hearings, and guilty pleas
• Sound knowledge of the Criminal Code of Canada, Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, criminal law procedures, rules of evidence and case law
• Practical understanding of the Rules of Professional Conduct
• Communication, presentation and negotiation skills coupled with strong advocacy skills in the Ontario Court of Justice
• Proven judgment and analytical ability to determine appropriate legal remedies
• Knowledge and appreciation of impact of criminal proceedings on immigration, family and other poverty law issues; and the integrated nature of legal issues faced by LAO clients
• Proven experience in providing excellent client service to vulnerable populations such as racialized communities, First Nations, youth and those experiencing mental health or addiction challenges and/or homelessness
• Ability to work independently and unsupervised in a fast-paced environment while also demonstrating collaboration and teamwork with colleagues and other stakeholders
• Ability to use computer based file management and data entry systems such as PeopleSoft, DCSW, etc as well as Microsoft Office.
• Demonstrated ability to use latest communication technologies including tablets and smartphones and ability to utilize video conferencing platforms in order to deliver services virtually (Zoom/Teams)
• Ability and willingness to travel between the district court locations
• Ability to communicate in French is an asset.

What do we offer?

At Legal Aid Ontario, we are committed to fostering a supportive and rewarding work environment for our employees. Our comprehensive benefits package reflects this commitment and is designed to enhance both professional and personal well-being.

• We have a comprehensive health and wellness program that include dental, health and life insurance along with Basic Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance, and Short-Term Disability (STD).
• Employees at Legal Aid Ontario also enjoy generous paid time-off policy, including vacation days, sick days, discretionary days, and statutory holidays.
• Employees are eligible to be enrolled to the Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP), administered by the Ontario Pension Board (OPB).

Final candidates for this position will be required to undergo a criminal record check.

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.

Equity Statement

Building a diverse workforce that represents the communities we serve while promoting a safe culture and work environment that dismantles systemic barriers, welcomes fresh perspectives and embraces differences as a priority is a core value at LAO. LAO encourages applicants from equity-seeking groups, including but not limited to individuals who are First Nations, Inuit or Métis, Black and racialized, as well as persons with disabilities, women and members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community.

We recognize the value of equity, diversity and inclusion and are committed to addressing systemic barriers, and prioritizing, attracting and retaining diverse staff. All interested and eligible people will be considered, with due consideration to all protected grounds under the Ontario Human Rights Code.

Legal Aid Ontario values integrity, respect, responsiveness, excellence, independence, accountability, openness and consistency. Our recruitment process reflects our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion. Accommodations are available throughout the recruitment process as well as during employment at LAO. Please direct any accommodation requests to our recruitment team.