LAA-25-15 - Lawyer - Family Duty Counsel (18-Month Temp)

Legal Aid Alberta; Edmonton; On-site; CAD 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dedicated Duty Counsel Staff Family Lawyer for a full-time temporary role in Edmonton. This position is ideal for a legal professional with a solid understanding of family law, including the Divorce Act and Family Property Act, and the ability to navigate complex court processes. In this role, you will represent clients in high-stakes family law matters, ensuring compliance with legal standards while providing empathetic support. Join a team committed to making a difference in the lives of individuals facing legal challenges, while enjoying a supportive work environment that values work-life balance and professional growth.

Benefits

Competitive wage

Paid professional days

Winter closure (paid time off)

Work-life balance

Health and dental benefits

Health and wellness accounts

Employee assistance program

Qualifications

• Law degree and active membership in the Law Society of Alberta required.
• Minimum 2 years of family law experience in relevant courts.

Responsibilities

• Represent clients in family law matters and child welfare cases.
• Manage high conflict situations and maintain professional standards.

Skills

Effective dispute resolution

Legal analysis

Trial advocacy

Problem solving

Time management

Conflict resolution

Communication skills

Education

Law degree from a recognized law school

Active member of the Law Society of Alberta

Minimum 2 years of related experience

Tools

Computer-based programs

Job description

LAA-25-15 - Duty Counsel Lawyer - Family (Temp)

Tuesday, April 15, 2025

Legal Aid Alberta is seeking to fill a full-time temporary 18-month term Duty Counsel Staff Family Lawyer role in our Edmonton office. This position will appeal to an individual familiar with Court of King’s Bench family law processes, Court of Justice Child Welfare and family law processes, and initial applications for an emergency protection order.

Who We Are

As a publicly funded, non-profit organization, Legal Aid Alberta provides affordable legal services in family law, domestic violence, child welfare, immigration, and youth and adult criminal defense. We are Alberta-wide, with 300 staff and 1,200 private practice lawyers helping people overcome their legal challenges in more than 75 communities across the province.

Who You Are

Working at Legal Aid Alberta means you care about people and empathize with their situation. You have excellent communication skills especially in tough situations. You are knowledgeable in many areas of family law and practice in the Court of King’s Bench, including but not limited to Divorce Act, Family Property Act, Family Law Act, Alberta Rules of Court, and other applicable legislations. You have a thorough understanding of the various legal processes of the Court of King’s Bench. You are familiar with Child Welfare legislation and processes. You are a quick thinker, able to provide sound advice and thrive in a fast-paced work environment. You have strong communication and interpersonal skills as well as enjoy learning new things and can adapt to change quickly. You care deeply about the success of our team and have a solid understanding of our organization’s mission and values.

Job Description

Reporting to the Legal Services Manager, some of the key responsibilities include:

• Represent clients within professional standards and in accordance with the Rules and Code of Conduct of the Law Society of Alberta and the policies and procedures of LAA.
• Represent clients in family law matters in the Court of King’s Bench, including but not limited to Divorce Act, Family Property Act, Family Law Act, Alberta Rules of Court and other applicable legislations.
• Represent clients in the Alberta Court of Justice for child welfare, family matters and Emergency Protection Order matters.
• High level competence with computer-based programs is necessary.
• Able to manage high conflict situations.
• Complete and accurate statistical record keeping.
• Compliance with office policy and procedures.
• Participate in performance reviews and staff meetings as required.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

• Law degree from a recognized law school.
• Active member of the Law Society of Alberta.
• Minimum 2 years of related experience in Family law matters in the Court of King’s Bench and Alberta Court of Justice, including but not limited to in the areas of Divorce Act, Family Property Act, Family Law Act, Protection Against Family Violence Act, Alberta Rules of Court and other applicable legislation.
• Familiarity with child welfare proceedings and emergency protection order applications.
• Training and/or experience in settlement of family files from an “interest-based” approach is an asset.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Effective dispute resolution and negotiation skills.
• Legal analysis and application of law to relevant facts.
• Trial and pre-trial advocacy is an asset.
• Problem solving and conflict resolution.
• Ability to re-direct emotionally driven clients to a reasonable outcome.
• Demonstrated time management and ability to deal with conflicting priorities and deadlines.
• Ability to manage work in high pressure and high conflict situations.
• Ability to investigate facts, identify issues, consider alternative solutions, analyze risk and advise clients on the appropriate course of action.
• Understanding of community referral resources available to assist clients in complex situations.

What We Offer

Perks of working with us:

• Competitive wage.
• Paid professional days.
• Winter closure (paid time off).
• Work-life balance.
• Health and dental benefits.
• Health and wellness accounts.
• Employee assistance program.

How to Apply

If you are interested in applying, select ‘Apply Now’ to create your candidate profile. This position will remain open until suitable candidates are found. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.