Intake Legal Assistant, Casual

Legal Aid; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 43,000 - 49,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Four weeks paid vacation

Excellent employee benefits package

Pension plan

Training and development support

Hybrid work arrangement for some roles

Job summary

Legal Aid BC is seeking an Intake Legal Assistant on a casual basis through March 31, 2027, to support intake operations in Vancouver. The role requires empathy, active listening, and a trauma-informed approach to determine eligibility for legal aid and to manage client information systems.

Duties include issuing contracts, liaising with private counsel, and assisting with case files. Qualifications include Grade 12 plus related coursework, at least 2 years of relevant experience, strong typing

Qualifications

• Grade 12 education supplemented by courses in Law, Criminology, Sociology, or related discipline.
• Minimum 2 years relevant experience as outlined in rated requirements.
• Minimum typing speed 40 wpm.
• MS Word – Basic Level.
• Spelling.

Responsibilities

• Provide intake services with an empathetic, client-centered approach and identify legal issues.
• Issue legal aid contracts to private bar lawyers and staff; arrange duty counsel and contractions.
• Review and analyze court and financial documents to determine eligibility; enter data into client information system.
• Perform reception coverage and other related duties as required.

Skills

Empathy and client-centered approach

Active listening

Trauma-informed intake

Communication skills

Judgment and decision making

Education

Grade 12 + law/criminology/sociology courses

Tools

MS Word – Basic Level

Job description

LEGAL AID BC

POSTING

TO: LABC STAFF (cc: BCGEU)

FROM: HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT

POSITION: INTAKE LEGAL ASSISTANT – CASUAL to March 31, 2027

VANCOUVER

COMPETITION NO: B007-26

DATE POSTED: NOVEMBER 4, 2026

CLOSING DATE: ON‑GOING

STARTING DATE: ASAP

SALARY: Job Class 10 ($31.23 – $35.63)

HOURS OF WORK: Monday to Friday 8:30 am – 4:30 pm, on an as‑needed basis

This position is not on the modified workweek

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 Mètis descent, persons with disabilities, 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.

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, ableism, 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:

1. PROVIDE INTAKE SERVICES:

1. Provide an empathetic, non-judgemental, open-minded and person-centered approach aimed at building trust with clients in order to identify legal issues and urgency, meeting them where they are at;
2. Practice active listening, non-violent communication, non-violent crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques in order to achieve communication and information sharing with clients facing barriers to service through a lens of Truth & Reconciliation and Equity, Diversity & Inclusion;
3. Use trauma informed approach to complete client intake by obtaining client information to complete legal aid application;
4. Interview large volume of clients in person and by phone to answer enquiries, analyse and clearly identify client’s legal issue(s), urgency of issue and provide legal information / verified legal advice;
5. Identify client’s needs and circumstances and decide on course of action, including completion of intake application, provide legal information, redirect to other LABC or community resources;
6. Determine coverage and assess eligibility for legal aid based on legal aid coverage policies and guidelines;
7. Explain LABC coverage and financial eligibility criteria;
8. Keep current and be familiar with changes to policies, processes and procedures that affect clients’ eligibility to Legal Aid;
9. Determine if eligibility criteria can be waived based on current circumstance and past practice, as well as discuss and provide recommendation to supervisor in more complex situations;
10. Communicate decisions on legal aid application and provide rationale for decision of legal aid applications that are not approved; and
11. Refer complex applications to supervisor;

1. ISSUE LEGAL AID CONTRACTS TO PRIVATE BAR LAWYERS AND STAFF:

1. Appoint duty counsel in local courts;
2. Conduct lawyer search and facilitate warm hand offs for clients / cases where it is difficult to obtain lawyer;
3. Contact lawyers to arrange representation for clients; issue contracts to private bar lawyers; and
4. Respond to follow up requests and / or issues regarding duty counsel and contracts.

1. PERFORM DUTIES RELATING TO CLIENT CASE FILES:

1. Review and analyze court and financial documents to determine clients’ eligibility for legal aid;
2. Enter client and case information into client information system;
3. Ensure information is entered accurately and appropriately in client information system;
4. Update client information in client information system;
5. Open, maintain and close case files;
6. Draft routine correspondence and legal documents; obtain crown particulars etc; and
7. Maintain bring forward system and limitation diary;

1. PERFORM OTHER DUTIES:

1. Provide informal orientation and training to casual and new staff;
2. Assist in updating training materials and job aids;
3. Provide reception coverage, as needed; and
4. Other related duties, as required.

Basic Requirements

1. grade 12 education supplemented by courses in Law, Criminology, Sociology, or related discipline
2. minimum 2 years relevant experience as outlined in rated requirements
3. minimum typing speed 40wpm
4. MS Word – Basic Level
5. Spelling
6. OR an equivalent combination of education and experience

Rated Requirements

1. Knowledge of court and tribunal procedures
2. Knowledge of registry practice and procedures, and civil law rules related to poverty law
3. Knowledge of community resources and other social services agencies
4. Knowledge of client information system applications, an asset
5. Knowledge of LABC policies and procedures an asset
6. Ability to work effectively with a wide range of people including those with low incomes, physical/emotional disabilities, limited literacy, or otherwise disadvantaged
7. Ability to practice cultural competency using extensive knowledge of Truth & Reconciliation and Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
8. Ability to use judgement to make decisions
9. Ability to interpret policies and guidelines
10. Ability to adapt to changing circumstances and information
11. Ability to provide excellent client care
12. Ability to deal with distressed, demanding and/or hostile clients
13. Ability to work independently, take initiative and function as part of a team
14. Ability to organize workload, identify urgent work items, and set priorities
15. Ability to cope with heavy workload
16. Ability to draft routine correspondence
17. Ability to enter data quickly and accurately
18. Must have excellent interpersonal and communication skills
19. Must have a strong desire to assist disadvantaged clients, including those with mental disabilities, those with low income, or those whose first language is not English
20. Must be discreet and able to manage confidential information
21. Must be familiar with general software applications (MS Word, Outlook)
22. Second language an asset
23. Demonstrated awareness of the community's cultural diversity

This competition may require skills testing based on the qualifications for this position such as:

1. Typing
2. MS Word
3. Spelling
4. Written assessment

Employment is conditional upon completing and obtaining clearance from the following:

• Criminal Record Check (CRC) in accordance with the Criminal Records Review Act
• Security clearance check by BC Corrections including a Canadian Police Information Computer (CPIC) system check

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
• A generous defined benefit pension plan
• 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

VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT www.legalaid.bc.ca

Legal Aid BC is recognized as one of BC’s Top 100 Employers:

https://reviews.canadastop100.com/top-employer-legal-aid-bc

We would like to thank all external applicants for their interest but regret that only those shortlisted will be contacted.