Legal Counsel

Government of Alberta; Edmonton; On-site; CAD 194,000 - 216,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Job summary

The Government of Alberta, ASIRT, is seeking a Legal Counsel to provide specialized criminal-law advice to the Assistant Executive Director, investigators, and staff. The role covers investigations involving police use of force, evidence, and legal processes under the Criminal Code and Police Act.

You will draft and review judicial authorizations, support ACPS engagements, and maintain relationships with ACPS, police services, and legal counsel.

Qualifications

• Active Law Society of Alberta member or eligible for full membership.
• Advanced knowledge of Police Act, Criminal Code, Canada Evidence Act.
• Extensive experience in criminal law and police-related matters.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialized legal advice on investigative processes and policy.
• Assess legal trends in civilian oversight and criminal law and advise ASIRT.
• Support investigations with timely legal assistance and admissibility of evidence.
• Assist with drafting and reviewing judicial authorizations and wiretap orders.
• Educate investigators on legal principles and high investigative standards.
• Review investigations and provide opinions on reasonable grounds for offences.

Skills

Criminal law

Legal writing

Public sector law

Education

Law Society of Alberta membership

Job description

Job Information

Job Title: Legal Counsel - ASIRT

Job Requisition ID: 87310

Ministry: Public Safety and Emergency Services

Location: Calgary or Edmonton

Full or Part-Time: Full Time

Hours of Work: 36.25 hours per week

Permanent/Temporary: Permanent Full-time

Scope: Open Competition

Closing Date: September 16, 2026

Classification: NJLC3 - Non-Justice Legal Counsel 3

Salary: $7,450.08 to $8,260.75 biweekly ($194.447 to $215,605 annually)

The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT), a branch of the Police Review Commission (PRC), is Alberta's civilian-led police oversight body. ASIRT independently investigates police officers where allegations of criminal or statutory conduct arise and investigates Level 1 peace officer matters involving serious injury, death, or other significant incidents. Matters under ASIRT's investigative, review, or oversight authority are designated as serious or sensitive by the PRC's Chief Executive Officer or delegate under the Police Act.

Reporting to ASIRT's Assistant Executive Director, the Legal Counsel is a senior legal and operational resource who provides specialized advice and support to the Assistant Executive Director, investigators, and staff. The position works with significant independence in a highly specialized area of criminal law involving police use of force, police powers, evidence, lawful access, and the responsibilities established under the Criminal Code and Police Act.

The Legal Counsel supports investigations throughout their lifecycle. This includes advising on investigative methods and judicial authorizations, reviewing completed investigations, providing opinions on whether reasonable grounds exist to believe an offence may have been committed, and supporting matters referred to the Alberta Crown Prosecution Service (ACPS). The position also represents and protects ASIRT's legal interests in information access, litigation, inquiries, court proceedings, disclosure applications, policy development, and intergovernmental agreements.

The Legal Counsel develops and maintains effective working relationships with the ACPS, police services, police associations, legal counsel, affected persons, next of kin, and other partners. As a senior civilian member of ASIRT, the position supports the integrity, independence, and public credibility of the organization and may assume acting duties for the Assistant Executive Director when required.

For more information regarding ASIRT, please visit: https://www.albertaprc.ca/about/asirt/

Role Responsibilities

Key Job Duties Include But Are Not Limited To

• Provide specialized legal advice on investigative processes, statutory interpretation, evidentiary issues, and the development and application of policy in support of ASIRT's mandate.
• Research and assess legal trends and emerging issues in Canadian and international jurisdictions relating to civilian oversight, investigations, criminal law, and policy, and advise on their implications for ASIRT.
• Support active investigations by providing timely legal assistance to investigators, including advice on investigative methods and the admissibility of evidence.
• Assist with the preparation and review of judicial authorizations, including search warrants, production orders, sealing and unsealing orders, and wiretap authorizations, ensuring they are legally sound and defensible.
• Provide legal education, updates, and guidance to investigators and other staff to support consistent application of current legal principles and high investigative standards.
• Independently review completed investigations to assess legal sufficiency, identify any outstanding investigative steps, and provide opinions to the Assistant Executive Director and Executive Director on whether reasonable grounds exist to believe an offence has been committed.
• Support the presentation of matters to the ACPS in accordance with the Police Act, review ACPS legal opinions, and advise on arrest and release matters where charges result.
• Assist in drafting and reviewing final investigative reports and reporting letters to police services, subject officers, affected persons, and next of kin, ensuring conclusions are factually accurate, legally sound, and communicated clearly.
• Support the Assistant Executive Director in stakeholder and community meetings and in maintaining legal oversight of media communications related to ASIRT investigations.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with the ACPS, police services, police associations, the Law Enforcement Society of Alberta, and legal counsel for affected persons and subject officers.
• Manage applications for disclosure arising in criminal proceedings unrelated to the subject matter under investigation, in conjunction with Legal Services.
• Provide legal advice and recommendations concerning legislative amendments, policy development, administrative procedures, information access requests under the Access to Information Act, fatality inquiries, public inquiries, records management, information security, and disclosure to other agencies.
• Work with the Police Review Commission to develop and maintain lawful, sustainable policies and processes, and support the negotiation, drafting, and updating of ASIRT's memoranda of understanding and intergovernmental agreements.
• The position is expected to act independently because guidance and advice are not always available given the 24-hour, 365-day nature of ASIRT operations and the volume of ASIRT files. Decisions may need to be made quickly and without immediate consultation.

As a member of ASIRT and the Police Review Commission, you will foster and maintain the investigative excellence, independence, and reputation of the organization.

The Job Description is provided for Further details on this position.

APS Competencies

Drive for Results - You exercise sound professional judgment, address complex issues directly, and provide timely, accurate, and defensible legal advice that supports the quality and completion of serious and sensitive investigations.

Develop Networks - You build trusted, effective relationships with police services, the ACPS, police associations, legal counsel, community partners, and colleagues across ASIRT and the PRC. You understand that these relationships directly affect ASIRT's effectiveness and public confidence in police oversight.

Develop Self and Others - You monitor emerging law and practice, translate complex developments into practical guidance, and create learning opportunities that strengthen investigators, disclosure staff, leaders, and the organization as a whole.

Systems Thinking - You consider how legal, investigative, operational, policy, and public-interest factors interact. You recognize the broader consequences of legal advice and investigative decisions for affected individuals, ASIRT, the PRC, the justice system, and public confidence.

Qualifications

Requirements:

• Active membership, or immediate eligibility for full membership, with the Law Society of Alberta in good standing.
• Advanced knowledge of the Police Act, Criminal Code, Canada Evidence Act, and other applicable federal and provincial legislation.

Equivalency

• Related experience or education may be considered as an equivalency on a one-for-one basis, in accordance with the applicable minimum recruitment standard.
• Assets for this role include:
• Extensive experience practicing criminal law, including specialized knowledge of police law, police use of force, criminal procedure, evidence, and lawful access.
• Experience advising complex investigative processes and techniques, supported by knowledge of police tactics, training, and policy.
• Experience preparing or reviewing search warrants, production orders, sealing orders, wiretap authorizations, or other judicial authorizations.
• Experience reviewing complex investigations and preparing legal opinions, concluding reports, charges, or other legally significant documents.
• Experience appearing in court, at fatality or public inquiries, or on disclosure and other applications arising from investigations.
• Superior legal writing and communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex legal conclusions clearly to legal, operational, public, and media audiences.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the roles, policies, and decision-making responsibilities of police and Crown prosecutors.
• Experience working in a politically sensitive, high‑profile, or public‑interest environment requiring discretion, independence, and mature judgment.

Please ensure your cover letter clearly highlights how your experience is aligned with the requirements and noted assets for the role.

Minimum recruitment standards outline the minimum education and experience required for appointment to a job classification.

Notes

• There is one full-time permanent role based out of either Calgary or Edmonton
• Final candidates will be required to undergo, pass and maintain a federal and level of security clearance throughout their employment at ASIRT. Background checks, including a review of previous law enforcement service history and disciplinary history, will be considered.
• A valid class 5 Drivers license is required..

Any costs associated with obtaining the required documents/checks as noted or interview travel expenses will be the responsibility of the candidate. Out-of-province applicants can obtain the required documents/checks from the province they currently reside in.

Closing Statement

This competition may be used to fill future vacancies, across the Government of Alberta, at the same or lower classification level.

We thank all applicants for their interest. All applications will be reviewed to determine which candidates' qualifications most closely match the advertised requirements. Only individuals selected for interviews will be contacted.

If you require any further information on this job posting or require an accommodation during the recruitment process, please contact Marie Mar Bolaron at [e-mail] .