J0826-0241

Njoyn; Toronto; On-site; CAD 52,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Pension plan

Paid time off

Job summary

Legal Aid Ontario is seeking a Legal Aid Worker to provide client service under the direct supervision of a lawyer. The role focuses on intake and triage for family law matters, confirming financial eligibility and guiding clients to the most appropriate services.

You will draft documents and coordinate referrals with duty counsel. Based in Toronto Central, the position is 100% onsite, with duties across multiple locations.

Qualifications

• Excellent writing, drafting and communication skills.
• Exceptional interpersonal, communication and interview skills.
• Ability to work well in a professional office and team environment, and to deal sensitively with vulnerable clients.
• Ability to prioritize and work efficiently under time constraints.
• Ability to manage client expectations.
• Discretion and client confidentiality.

Responsibilities

• Provide client service under the direct supervision of a lawyer.
• Intake, triage and assess family law clients.
• Confirm financial eligibility and determine appropriate service.
• Communicate with clients, stakeholders and agencies.
• Gather and organize information and documentation.
• Draft court documents and provide procedural guidance.
• Coordinate services with duty counsel and referrals to programs.
• Perform administrative tasks to support the team.

Skills

Excellent writing

Drafting & communication

Interpersonal skills

Teamwork

MS Office

Client-focused

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

Job description

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.

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.

Primary function

This role is responsible for providing client service under the direct supervision of a lawyer. The Legal Aid Worker will be responsible for the initial intake and triage/assessment of family law clients; to confirm financial eligibility and determine the most appropriate service for clients, communicate with clients, stakeholders and various agencies; support clients in the gathering of material evidence and financial disclosure; organize and sort through documentation provided by clients; draft court documents; provide general information, procedural guidance and referrals to other services and agencies; co‑ordinate services with duty counsel; facilitate referrals to the certificate program and other tasks as required. The Legal Aid Worker will also carry out any other administrative tasks or duties, as assigned, to support the Manager and other team members.

• Assessment of the client's needs, including the early identification of vulnerable clients, to facilitate referrals to appropriate services
• Confirming financial eligibility of clients as needed
• Assisting with telephone calls, email correspondence and in-person inquiries
• Managing client files, including certificate files, under the direct supervision of a lawyer, including interviewing and communicating regularly with clients to gather and organize information and documentation about their legal issues
• Drafting and preparation of court documents, including pleadings and briefs and any other documents required by the Family Law Rules as well as drafting of other legal documents as instructed by the lawyer/manager such as statutory declarations, affidavits in support of subsidized housing etc.
• Liaising with various community and government agencies, stakeholders and duty counsel
• Working within established systems to prioritize and manage caseloads
• Ensuring that statistical data is captured and reported accurately
• Demonstrating some flexibility in terms of work hours including occasionally working partly through lunch breaks or past regular work hours
• Performing office administration tasks such as data input, ordering supplies, maintaining files and other administrative tasks as assigned (such as training)

Primary Location: FLSC - Toronto Central (730-20 Dundas Street West)

Secondary Location: Rexdale Community Hub (21 Panorama Court, Suite 24), Courthouses (311 Jarvis St., 47 Sheppard Ave E., 10 Armoury St.), and any other location in Toronto where Toronto district services are provided.

This position is 100% onsite at the location listed above. The successful candidate(s) must be able to commute to the office(s) and work in-person on a full‑time basis.

Reporting to: Manager Of Legal Services - Family Law Service Centre - Toronto Central

Key accountabilities

• Assessment of the client's needs, including the early identification of vulnerable clients, to facilitate referrals to appropriate services
• Confirming financial eligibility of clients as needed
• Assisting with telephone calls, email correspondence and in-person inquiries
• Managing client files, including certificate files, under the direct supervision of a lawyer, including interviewing and communicating regularly with clients to gather and organize information and documentation about their legal issues
• Drafting and preparation of court documents, including pleadings and briefs and any other documents required by the Family Law Rules as well as drafting of other legal documents as instructed by the lawyer/manager such as statutory declarations, affidavits in support of subsidized housing etc.
• Liaising with various community and government agencies, stakeholders and duty counsel
• Working within established systems to prioritize and manage caseloads
• Ensuring that statistical data is captured and reported accurately
• Demonstrating some flexibility in terms of work hours including occasionally working partly through lunch breaks or past regular work hours
• Performing office administration tasks such as data input, ordering supplies, maintaining files and other administrative tasks as assigned (such as training)

Required skills & experience

• Excellent writing, drafting and communication skills
• Exceptional interpersonal, communication and interview skills, including sound judgment in relating to clients, lawyers and other stakeholders
• Ability to work well in a professional office and team environment, and proven ability to deal effectively and sensitively with vulnerable and marginalized clients on the phone and in-person
• Ability to prioritize and work efficiently under severe time constraints
• Ability to manage client expectations
• Ability to be resilient, solution-oriented, possess a calm temperament and adapt to working well in a constantly changing environment
• Proven ability to learn and adapt to new or modified policies and procedures
• Good understanding of family court processes and the rules and practice directions for all levels of court serviced by Toronto duty counsel
• Understanding and knowledge of legal aid application process, including financial and legal eligibility guidelines and other LAO policies and practices
• Intermediate knowledge and familiarity with Microsoft programs, such as Word, Excel,PowerPoint, and LAO’s PeopleSoft and Legal Files programs
• An understanding and adherence to discretion and client confidentiality

• Client Focus
• Adaptability and Flexibility
• Personal Motivation and Accountability
• Focus on Quality and Best PracticeProblem Solving and JudgmentOrganizational AwarenessTeamwork and CollaborationWhat 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) coverage.

  Employees at Legal Aid Ontario also enjoy generous paid time-off policy including vacation days, illness days, discretionary days and statutory holidays.

  Employees are eligible to be enrolled to OPSEU Pension Plan, administered by OPSEU Pension Plan Trust Fund (OPTrust).

  Are you interested in this job?

  Legal Aid Ontario (LAO), an independent but publicly funded and publicly accountable non-profit corporation. None of this material may be commercially reproduced, but copying for other purposes, with credit, is encouraged.