Crown Counsel - Divisional Coordinator - Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG)

Ministry of the Attorney General; Toronto; On-site; CAD 110,000 - 170,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension plan

Comprehensive benefits

Vacation and leave options

Job summary

The Crown Counsel - Divisional Coordinator for Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG) is based in Toronto at 720 Bay Street with potential provincial travel. This temporary role supports IGG investigations with policy development, education, and trial advice, ensuring Charter-consistent use of IGG evidence and coordination with MAG and OPS partners.

The position involves leading specialized legal services, training, and complex prosecutions, reporting to the Director of the Crown Law Office -

Qualifications

• Excellent working knowledge of the Criminal Code of Canada, Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, criminal law procedures, rules of evidence and case law.
• Demonstrated understanding, awareness, and litigation experience with IGG cases.
• Experience providing legal advice and training on legal issues to the police and Crowns.

Responsibilities

• Provide timely legal advice and pre-charge guidance to police services conducting IGG investigations.
• Manage complex litigation connected to IGG investigations.
• Coordinate and develop policy and strategic initiatives, education and training.
• Participate in projects and initiatives that enhance the efficient prosecution of IGG cases.
• Develop and share best practices, legal resources, and precedents for IGG related prosecutions.
• Provide litigation support and strategic case management throughout the life cycle of IGG cases.

Skills

Criminal law

IGG cases

Legal advice to police

Prosecutorial work

Litigation support

Job description

Crown Counsel - Divisional Coordinator - Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG)

1 Temporary (up to12 months secondment/contract with possibility of extension)

Job code: OCAA - Crown Counsel

Salary commensurate with legal experience

ELIGIBILITY FOR THIS COMPETITION IS RESTRICTED TO STEP 1 CANDIDATES INCLUDING OPS ALOC AND OCAA LAWYERS living or working within 125 km of this location. Note: Eligible lawyers from outside the Area of Search may apply but will not be entitled to relocation or travel expenses for the transfer as set out below.

Step 1: All regular/fixed-term OCAA and ALOC lawyers on staff, current Redeployment List Members and current Articling Student Hireback Pool Members.

Step 2: In the absence of qualified applicants at Step 1 the competition may be reposted so that external applicants or non-members of the above-mentioned groups would then be eligible to apply.

Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG) is a transformative investigative technique that combines DNA analysis and genealogy research to help solve serious violent crimes, identify human remains, and advance investigations that may have remained unresolved for years.

The Criminal Law Division is establishing a dedicated Investigative Genetic Genealogy Prosecutions Unit to provide specialized leadership, support frontline Crown counsel, and strengthen the province's capacity to respond to emerging investigative and evidentiary challenges. The Unit will also promote training, knowledge sharing, and the development of best practices across Ontario.

The Divisional Coordinator - IGG will be responsible for policy, education and trial advise. The coordinator will provide specialized legal, advisory, and prosecutorial support for investigations utilizing IGG. They will manage complex prosecutions, provide pre-charge advice, and ensure the effective and Charter-compliant use of IGG evidence in Ontario courts.

This coordinator will support policing partners in developing best practices and policy guidance for IGG use in investigations. This coordinator will represent MAG at the Divisional roundtable group with the OPP, CFS, OFPS and other OPS partners. They will also engage with the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario where necessary, and other policy-related stakeholders, to ensure that investigative and prosecutorial considerations are being reflected in policy recommendations.

The Divisional Coordinator's role includes litigation support and coordination with the IGG regional counsel.

This position is based in Toronto at 720 Bay Street with travel across the province.

The successful candidate for this position may be able to work from an alternate Criminal Law Division office within their existing geographical area though may be required to occasionally attend the physical workplace situated at 720 Bay Street in Toronto.

The position reports to the Director of the Crown Law Office - Criminal

Our values: Integrity, Judgment, Commitment, Justice, Accountability, Courage, Collaboration

About the job

Duties will include:

• Provide timely legal advice and pre-charge guidance to police services conducting IGG investigations.
• Manage complex litigation connected to IGG investigations
• Coordinate and develop policy and strategic initiatives, education and training
• Participate in projects and initiatives that enhance the efficient prosecution of Investigative Genetic Genealogy cases
• Develop and share best practices, legal resources, and precedents for IGG related prosecutions
• Provide litigation support and strategic case management throughout the life cycle of IGG cases.
• Develop and contribute to legal policies, best practices, guidance materials, and training related to IGG investigations and prosecutions.

Mandatory requirements

Membership in good standing as a lawyer with the Law Society of Ontario

Legal Experience

• Excellent working knowledge of the Criminal Code of Canada, Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, criminal law procedures, rules of evidence and case law
• Demonstrated understanding, awareness, and litigation experience with IGG cases
• Experience working on major/lengthy cases involving forensic/scientific evidence, voluminous amounts of disclosure, and complex legal and factual issues
• Experience providing legal advice and training on legal issues to the police and Crowns
• Knowledge and understanding of the role and function of a prosecutor in the criminal justice system in Ontario

Interpersonal and Communication Skills

• Proven interpersonal, presentation and communications skills
• Excellent writing skills
• Proven judgment and analytical ability to determine appropriate key issues and set priorities accordingly
• Proven ability to research, analyze and organize a principled approach to cases and issues
• Ability to work as part of a team within the criminal justice system and with community stakeholders

Other Essential Skills

• Technical skills to work effectively with computer technology and databases made available to professional staff

How we support diversity, inclusion and accessibility

We are building an inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We encourage everyone interested in working with us to apply, including people with disabilities, Indigenous, Black and racialized individuals, as well as people from all ethnicities, cultures, sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions.

Our hiring process is accessible, consistent with Ontario's Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005. We are working to prevent and remove barriers in our hiring processes and can offer accommodation to address specific needs related to Code-protected grounds such as disability, family status and religion. For more information about accommodation during the hiring process please contact us.

Learn more about the work the OPS is doing to create an inclusive, anti-racist, accessible and diverse workplace:

• diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives
• accessibility
• Anti-Racism Policy

What we offer

Who we are

The Ministry of the Attorney General is committed to a responsive, innovative justice system that upholds the Rule of Law. The Criminal Law Division, with approximately 2,200 staff (1,400 legal and 800 business professionals):

• Prosecutes offences under the Criminal Code, Youth Criminal Justice Act, and Provincial Offences Act.
• Conducts criminal appeals at all court levels.
• Provides specialized services (e.g., wiretaps, extraditions, search warrants).
• Advises police and government officials on criminal law.
• Sets prosecution policy across Ontario.
• Develops justice system efficiencies with stakeholders.
• Offers world-class education for prosecutors.

Additional information can be found here .

This role comes with a comprehensive compensation and benefits package that includes:

• a defined-benefit lifetime pension plan (guaranteed, ongoing inflation-protected income after retirement)
• group health, dental, life and disability benefits
• a range of vacation and leave options
• an Employee and Family Assistance Program, which provides confidential counseling services

Additional information:

• 1 English Temporary, duration up to 12 months, 720 Bay St, Toronto, Toronto Region, Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check, Intelligence, Local Police Databases Search, PIP/NICHE/RMS
• About security checks: A criminal or other federal offence record does not automatically disqualify you from the position. We consider each situation based on the position's responsibilities. If a check is needed and you've lived outside of Canada in the past 5 years for 6 or more months in a row, or if you are not a Canadian resident, you'll need to provide an out-of-country police clearance certificate from the country you lived in. Employment screening checks are only reviewed and evaluated by the Transition and Security Office, which also maintains them and keeps them strictly confidential.

Language requirements and assessment:

All external Ontario Public Service (OPS) job ads are posted in English and French. Check the "position(s) language" section at the top of each job ad for the language requirements. For all roles, candidates are assessed in English, the business language of the OPS. If the position is bilingual (English/French), you'll also need to pass a French-language proficiency test.