Lawyer 1-3 (2x Permanent Positions)

Nova Scotia Barristers' Society; Nova Scotia; On-site; CAD 3,000 - 7,000; Full time

Job summary

Join the Legal Services Division of the Nova Scotia Department of Justice as part of the Solicitor Services team. This role provides a unique opportunity to advise government officials on legal matters, helping to shape public policy and ensure legal compliance. Ideal candidates will be a practicing lawyer with at least three years of experience, ready to tackle complex legal challenges in an engaging and supportive workplace.

Benefits

Defined Benefit Pension Plan

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Short and Long Term Disability

Vacation

Employee and Family Assistance Programs

Qualifications

• Must be a practicing member of the Nova Scotia Barristers Society or eligible for membership.
• Minimum of 3 years of legal experience.
• Excellent research, analytical, and organizational skills required.

Responsibilities

• Advising on legal matters and public policy.
• Drafting statutes, regulations, and contracts.
• Presenting information to the public on government and law.

Skills

Research

Analysis

Communication

Teamwork

Education

LL.B. or Juris Doctor

Job description

Closing Date: 11-Jul-25 (Applications are accepted until 11:59 PM Atlantic Time)

About Us
This is an opportunity to join the government’s law firm – the Legal Services Division of the Department of Justice. Legal Services lawyers advise and represent the provincial government on the most pressing legal and public policy issues of the day.

We are the legal counsel for the Government of Nova Scotia, Crown corporations, agencies, boards, and commissions. We help ensure that public affairs are administered effectively, efficiently and in accordance with the law.

This opportunity is for a position on our Solicitor Services team. The Solicitor Services team comprises over 45 lawyers.

For more information on the Department of Justice Legal Services please visit our website.

Primary Accountabilities
Advising Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Executive Directors, and other senior government leaders on matters of law, negotiation, strategy, and public policy
Drafting and interpreting statutes and regulations
Drafting and interpreting contracts
Assisting with submissions to Cabinet
Presenting information about government and law to the public generally or as part of a consultation process for public policy development
Serving on project teams with senior and policy staff of client departments

Qualifications and Experience
As our successful candidate, you will:

Be a practicing member of the Nova Scotia Barristers Society (or eligible for practicing membership), in good standing; and
Have a minimum of 3 years of legal experience at the bar.

The following are assets, but not required:

Experience advising government departments, Crown corporations, agencies, boards, and commissions and other public sector entities; and
Experience with commercial transactions.
Experience in resources law, such as agriculture, energy, environment, fisheries, and natural resources; and
Experience in aboriginal law.

Our successful candidate will have excellent research, analytical, and organizational skills. You communicate effectively and persuasively, orally and in writing, and have the ability to function with minimal supervision in a team environment. Our ideal candidate will demonstrate the ability to offer creative and innovative solutions to complex challenges and have the flexibility to adapt and thrive in a continuously changing and demanding environment.
We will assess the above qualifications using one or more of the following tools: oral presentations, interview(s), and reference checks.

Equivalency
Applicants relying on education and experience equivalencies must demonstrate such equivalencies in their application.

Benefits
Based on the employment status and union agreement, the Government of Nova Scotia offers its employees a wide range of benefits such as a Defined Benefit Pension Plan, Health, Dental, Life Insurance, General illness, Short and Long Term Disability, Vacation and Employee and Family Assistance Programs. For information on all our Benefit program offerings, click here: Benefits for government employees.

Working Conditions
Physical effort includes:
• Sitting at a computer for long periods of time

Sensory attention includes:
• Ability to review voluminous written material, to write, to think conceptually and to think strategically
• Mental focus is required for long periods of time and very good memory is required

Mental pressure includes:
• Ability to handle pressure situations, multiple deadlines and many competing demands.
• Long periods of concentration are required
• May be required to work overtime to respond to government deadline.

Additional Information
This competition is being used to fill two (2) Permanent employment opportunities in the Legal Services Division.

What We Offer
Career development where you have access to career guidance, tools, resources, and ongoing training for every stage of your career
Engaging workplace: our employees feel valued, respected, connected, and tuned in, we have forward-thinking policies and strategies
Countless career paths

Salary Range: $3,297.75 – $6,084.28 Bi-Weekly

Employment Equity Statement:

Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative, at all job levels, of the citizens we serve. The Government of Nova Scotia has an Employment Equity Policy, and we welcome applications from Indigenous People, African Nova Scotians and Other Racially Visible Persons, Persons with Disabilities and Women in occupations or positions where they are under-represented. If you are a member of one of these equity groups, you are encouraged to self-identify on your electronic application.

Accommodation Statement:

We are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. Candidates may request accommodations based on any grounds protected by the Human Rights Act. If you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process, please contact us at [e-mail] .

This is an Association position initially restricted to current Nova Scotia Government Lawyers Association employees. In accordance with the Agreement with the Nova Scotia Government Lawyers Association, the order of consideration will be eligible ‘Expression of Interest’ EOI applicants, eligible internal applicants then external applicants. PLEASE NOTE: Candidates will not be considered for an interview if applications are incomplete or are missing information.