Legal Aid Worker

Legal Aid Ontario; Toronto; On-site; CAD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and dental insurance

Paid time off (vacation/illness/disc.)

OPSEU Pension Plan

Job summary

Legal Aid Ontario is seeking a Legal Aid Worker to support intake, triage and referral services across Toronto district. The role involves assisting clients with initial assessments for criminal and family law matters, providing legal information, and facilitating referrals to required resources.

You'll support both family and criminal lawyers, attend court locations as needed, and help ensure clients access appropriate LAO services while maintaining accurate case files and processing documents

Qualifications

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for dealing with clients, lawyers and stakeholders.
• Ability to assess vulnerable clients and determine appropriate LAO service.
• Strong interview and client service skills; capable of handling stressful situations.
• Willingness to appear in court and support eligible clients.
• Ability to learn and adapt to LAO policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of Criminal Code of Canada, Family Law Act and Child Youth and Family Services Act is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Determine legal and financial eligibility for certificates and duty counsel services.
• Triage and interview clients; gather information and assess needs to determine LAO service.
• Prepare clients for productive meetings with duty counsel and staff lawyers.
• Provide referrals to internal and external programs and resources.
• Manage client files and reporting; maintain records in LAO systems.
• Assist with training, onboarding colleagues and participating in LAO initiatives.

Skills

Empathy & client service

Interviewing & intake

Oral & written communication

Team collaboration

Judgment under pressure

Legal knowledge (Criminal & Family)

Adaptability to policy changes

Tools

Microsoft Office

Legal Files Access

PeopleSoft

Outlook

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

The Legal Aid Worker (LAW) will be responsible for the initial assessment and intake of criminal and family law clients to assist in determining the appropriate service for clients, providing legal information, making referrals to services and resources, and other duties as assigned.

This LAW position will provide administrative support to both family and criminal lawyers within the Toronto District, and may be required to attend various court locations and institutions within the district.

Home Location: OCJT - 10 Armoury Street

Secondary Location: TRBC, 2201 Finch Ave W, TSDC, 180 Horner Ave, 20 Dundas St W; 47 Sheppard Ave W; 311 Jarvis St; 21 Panorama Ct; 45 Sheppard Ave W., and any other location in Toronto where Toronto district services are provided.

Reporting to: Manager of Legal Services

Key accountabilities

General

• Determine legal and financial eligibility for certificate and duty counsel services based on LAO eligibility criteria.
• Triage and interview clients to:
• Gather information about the client’s case;
• Assess client needs, including the early identification of vulnerable clients, to determine the appropriate LAO service;
• Prepare client to have a productive meeting with duty counsel;
• Assist in case management procedures.
• Provide basic information about the law, forms, and court process.
• Perform client and certificate file management activities, including providing information to clients relating to legal aid status and court proceedings.
• Provide referrals to other internal and external programs and resources.
• Prepare reports and submit accounts/dockets, as required, in accordance with LAO policies.
• Provide general information, including procedural legal information, both in person and remote.
• Assist with training/onboarding colleagues and per diems.
• Participate in working groups, pilots and LAO initiatives.
• Stakeholder engagement and public legal education.
• Liaise with other legal service providers, including court-based services, to ensure seamless client service.
• Create systems to manage the volume of work and the ability to compile information for statistical purposes and reporting/analysis.
• Assist clients and staff Duty Counsel on the phone and/or in person
• Work cooperatively in a team setting with other Legal Aid Workers, Lawyers, and stakeholders.
• Other duties and administrative tasks as assigned.

Criminal Law

• Interview client's under the supervision of a lawyer to:
• To gather information about the client’s case;
• Assess client needs, including the early identification of vulnerable clients
• To determine the appropriate LAO service for the client and make appropriate referrals;
• Prepare them to have a productive meeting with a staff lawyer.
• Under the supervision of a lawyer, interview potential sureties and make referrals to agencies.
• Under the supervision of a lawyer, speak to routine administrative matters in court.
• Collaborate with colleagues to maintain accurate organized electronic client files.
• Manage email and voicemail system by responding to such communications or directing clients to the appropriate service.
• Determine legal and financial eligibility for certificates and duty counsel services based on LAO eligibility criteria.
• Attend at various office locations in the district to support the Duty Counsel program in that location.
• Other duties and administrative tasks as assigned.

Family Law

• Assist with triage of clients at the Family Law Information Centre.
• Determine the appropriate service(s) and referral(s) for clients.
• Support a team of staff and per diem duty counsel
• Assist with administrative tasks of the Family Duty Counsel (DC) office
• Check conflicts, update and maintain client records in PeopleSoft, Legal Files and other business systems

Required Skills & Experience

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for dealing with clients, lawyers and other stakeholders with the proven ability to exercise judgment when encountering stressful situations including the early identification of vulnerable clients so that the appropriate service and referrals can be made.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and presentation skills.
• Well-developed interview and client service skills.
• Ability and willingness to appear in court to assist eligible clients.
• Proven ability to learn and adapt to new or modified policies and procedures.
• Demonstrated commitment to client service and relationship building skills.
• Possess experience with all types of law and some knowledge of relevant legislation such as the Criminal Code of Canada, the Family Law Act and the Child Youth and Family Services Act.
• Possess significant knowledge of LAO priorities, policies and procedures.
• Ability to maintain detailed functional and theoretical knowledge of legal aid application processing rules and procedures including financial principles and LAO policies and practices.
• Ability to determine legal and financial eligibility based on LAO eligibility criteria and to generate certificates in accordance with office procedures and standard formats and to submit files and appropriate documentation to area office staff for processing.
• Demonstrated ability to use latest communication technologies.
• Intermediate to advanced computer skills, including familiarity and competence with proper maintenance of client and computer information databases. Experience with Legal Files Access and Peoplesoft would be assets.
• Must have intermediate knowledge of Microsoft Office applications including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Adobe.
• French language skills (or a second language) would be an asset.

What 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).

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.