Legal Aid Worker

Legal Aid Ontario; Toronto; On-site; CAD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health & dental insurance

Paid time off

OPSEU Pension Plan

Job summary

Legal Aid Ontario in Toronto is seeking a Law Assistant to advance client matters at the Toronto East Detention Centre. You will assess complex cases, review financials, and coordinate referrals under supervision.

The role involves interviewing clients, bail preparation, and liaising with staff across LAO offices. Responsibilities include managing certificates, coordinating with CLSC/Central Operations, and outreach to community partners to expand services.

Qualifications

• Advanced writing skills are required.
• Strong knowledge of PeopleSoft system.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and interview skills.
• Solid understanding of court rules and procedures.
• Knowledge of relevant legislation.
• Understanding of criminal court proceedings.
• Familiarity with LAO eligibility and financial rules.
• Ability to collaborate with multiple departments.
• French is an asset.
• Must obtain police clearance.

Responsibilities

• Interview and triage clients to determine legal issues and referrals.
• Interview clients and triage those needing legal advice to duty lawyers.
• Assist with certificate management and the application process for vulnerable clients.
• Review financial eligibility of complex case files.
• Assist in managing mid-level and big case files with LAO departments.
• Coordinate decision making with LAO departments.
• Provide information to lawyers, clients and partners about status of applications, appeals and referrals.
• Perform client and certificate file management and inform about legal aid.
• Support roster management within the district.
• Support Eligibility review office processes.
• Prepare payment agreements, certificates, forms and correspondence.
• Outreach with clinics and community agencies to expand service coordination.
• Process legal aid applications occasionally.
• Provide feedback on trends in certificate management.
• Perform other duties as required.

Skills

Advanced writing

PeopleSoft expert

Interpersonal skills

Criminal court knowledge

LAO rules & procedures

Team collaboration

French language

Police clearance

Job description

Company Bio

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.

Primary function

This position is responsible for supporting the Toronto Criminal Duty Counsel Office by advancing a client’s legal matter for clients who are being held at the Toronto East Detention Centre. The LAW will work under the direct supervision of a Manager Lawyer and will assess complex and high-risk cases and will have decision making authority in criminal matters. The LAW will review financial and legal information with clients and provide them with procedural information and referrals. The LAW will provide directors, managers, supervisor and staff lawyers with the details of the client’s legal matter. The LAW will assist in bail preparation including interviewing clients, preparing surety affidavits and making appropriate referrals to external agencies when needed. The client will refer and triage complex legal matters to the staff duty counsel for legal advice.

Home Location: Toronto East Detention Centre (55 Civic Road)

Secondary Locations: TSDC, 10 Armoury Street, 2201 Finch Avenue West, 21 Panorama Court, and any other location in Toronto where Toronto district services are provided.

Reporting to: Manager of Legal Services

Key accountabilities

• Interview and triage clients being held at the Toronto East Detention Centre to determine their legal issue and to make the appropriate referral. Duties may include assisting the duty counsel lawyers with bail preparation by contacting sureties, preparing affidavits and referring matters to appropriate agencies when necessary.
• Interviewing clients and triaging those clients needing legal advice to duty counsel lawyers.
• Assist with certificate management and the certificate application process and particularly assist clients from vulnerable backgrounds who may be experiencing difficulty in making their legal aid application while in custody.
• Review and determine financial eligibility of complex case files, including big case management.
• Assist in managing mid-level and big case files in co-ordination with other LAO departments; analyse financial eligibility for complex matters, as necessary
• Co-ordinate decision making with other LAO departments, such as CLSC, Central Operations, Investigations, CML, etc
• Provide general information, including procedural legal information, by responding to in-person, written and phone inquiries from lawyers, clients and other legal system partners, on the status of applications, appeals and referrals.
• Perform client and certificate file management activities, including providing clients with information related to legal aid and court proceedings
• Support roster management within the district; review and report any issues to the Directors.
• Support Eligibility review office processes, including facilitating review requests and communicating decisions based on LAO’s financial eligibility and policy criteria
• Prepare and have executed payment agreements, certificates, forms and correspondence
• Outreach work with stakeholders, including clinics and other community agencies to promote and expand service co-ordination opportunities
• Process legal aid applications on occasion
• Provide feedback to the Lawyer Manager on significant trends in certificate management with respect to legal and financial issues
• Perform other duties as required

Required Skills & Experience

• Advanced writing skills
• Advanced knowledge of PeopleSoft
• Strong interpersonal, communication and interview skills
• Solid understanding of processes, rules and practice directions for all levels of court;
• Knowledge of relevant legislation;
• Knowledge of criminal court proceedings and procedures
• Detailed functional and theoretical knowledge of legal aid application rules and procedures, including eligibility review process, legal and financial eligibility criteria, and LAO policies and practices.
• Ability to work collaboratively with other departments, districts and offices.
• French is an asset
• Obtain a Police clearance and participate in any other security / background screening required by Toronto East Detention Centre and Toronto South Detention Centre

What do we offer?

• 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).

Final candidates for this position will be required to undergo a criminal record check.

This position is represented by OPSEU and the employee will be governed by the provisions of the collective agreement and union dues will be deducted bi-weekly from date of hire.

Equity Statement

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.