Duty Counsel, Criminal

Legal Aid Ontario; Kitchener; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and life insurance

Public Service Pension Plan

Paid time off incl. vacation and stats

Job summary

Legal Aid Ontario in Kitchener seeks a Duty Counsel to provide criminal duty counsel services five days a week in person at the Waterloo Region Courthouse. You will handle intake, advise, draft and review court documents, and represent clients in bail hearings and court appearances.

The role requires Ontario licenced lawyer with criminal law experience, adept at complex cases and serving vulnerable clients, including those facing immigration or youth matters.

Qualifications

• Member in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario.
• Experience representing clients with complex criminal issues, including bail hearings and guilty pleas.
• Strong knowledge of the Criminal Code, Charter rights and court procedures.

Responsibilities

• Act as Criminal Duty Counsel and represent clients five days a week in person.
• Perform intake and assessment to determine appropriate services for charged individuals.
• Provide procedural and legal advice, draft and review criminal documents, and appear in court.
• Assist unrepresented clients and manage bail hearings, remands and pre-trials in Waterloo Region.

Skills

Criminal law

Bail hearings

Legal research

Advocacy skills

Education

Ontario Law Licence

Tools

Word

Excel

Outlook

PowerPoint

Job description

Company BioLegal 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 functionThis Duty Counsel will be required to provide criminal duty counsel services in Kitchener.Criminal Duty Counsel is responsible for providing client service for criminal law matters in the courthouse, 5 days a week 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 Position: Kitchener Duty Counsel OfficeSecondary/Tertiary location(s): Not applicableReports to: Manager of Legal ServicesKey accountabilities

• Act as a Criminal Duty Counsel
• Representing clients 5 days/week in person
• Ensure high quality of legal work in a cost effective manner
• Assess client financial eligibility using LAO criteria in order to effectively capture data
• File management as per LAO requirements including use of computer technology; data input for statistics measurements in a timely manner
• Assisting unrepresented clients who have been charged with criminal matters
• Representing clients at bail hearings, guilty pleas, remands and judicial pre-trials in-person
• Assessing clients’ needs, including the early identification of vulnerable clients, to facilitate referrals to appropriate services.
• Provide criminal law services as defense counsel at the Waterloo Region Courthouse in Kitchener, Ontario
• Providing assistance and representation at federal, provincial, and youth, remand, bail and plea courts, including specialty courts (Drug Treatment Court / Mental Health Court / Intimate Partner Violence Court)
• Providing summary legal advice (SLA)
• Interviewing clients, sureties, and witnesses
• Disclosure review
• Preparing and arguing bail hearings
• Other duties as assigned

Required Skills & Experience

• Member in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario
• Demonstrated experience in representing clients with complex legal issues including conducing 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
• Demonstrated experience in providing criminal law services including experience with complex legal issues and bail hearings, guilty pleas, remands, judicial pre-trials and youth court.
• Sound knowledge of the Criminal Code of Canada, Youth Criminal Justice Act, Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, criminal law procedures, rules of evidence and case law
• Practical understanding of the Rules of Professional Conduct
• Proven interpersonal, communication, presentation and negotiation skills coupled with strong advocacy skills
• Proven judgment and analytical ability to determine appropriate legal remedies and demonstrated research skills
• Knowledge and appreciation of impact of court proceedings on immigration, criminal, 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 or victims of domestic violence and/or homelessness
• Ability to communicate with accuracy and fluency when speaking with clients and providing advice, as well as when representing clients in court.
• Ability to work independently and unsupervised in a busy environment while also demonstrating collaboration and teamwork with colleagues and other stakeholders
• Ability to work as a team with other Legal Aid Workers, staff lawyers, and per diem Duty Counsel
• Sound knowledge and understanding of Legal Aid Ontario’s operations and mandate
• Demonstrated ability to use Service Integration and the latest communication technologies including tablets and smartphones and ability to utilize video conferencing platforms in order to deliver services virtually (Zoom/Teams)
• Demonstrated knowledge of Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint, Divorcemate and Legal Files
• 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, Short-Term Disability (STD), and Long-Term Disability (LTD).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).Equity StatementBuilding 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.