Legal Counsel

City of Mississauga; Mississauga; On-site; CAD 134,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

A municipal government is seeking a Legal Counsel with expertise in municipal law to provide strategic legal advice and perform legal research. Ideal candidates are expected to have at least 8 years of experience and must be a member in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario. This role offers a competitive salary and the opportunity to work in a dynamic legal environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum 8 years of progressive practice experience in municipal law.
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly.
• Excellent writing skills for legal documents.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice to City Council and staff.
• Conduct legal research and draft by-laws.
• Anticipate and address legal issues proactively.

Skills

Communication skills

Writing skills

Negotiating skills

Interpersonal skills

Legal research skills

Organization skills

Education

University degree in law (LLB or JD)

Member in good standing of the Law Society of Ontario

Tools

Legal document management software

Case management software

Job description

Req ID: 27146 • Vacancy Type: Permanent • Number of Positions: 1 • Closing Date: 10/01/2025

Legal Counsel

This role with the City of Mississauga calls for a confident lawyer with experience in municipal law, municipal governance, and regulatory/enforcement matters.

The City of Mississauga’s Legal Services Division is a full-service law department that handles a wide variety of interesting and rewarding files that directly impact the way people live, work and play in Mississauga. Legal Counsel are supported in their work by experienced and skilled law clerks, legal assistants and articling students and have access to the technology and software they need to do their work efficiently and easily.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and legal advice to City Council, Senior Leadership and City staff on a variety of municipal law issues, including municipal governance, by-laws, licensing and other regulatory/enforcement matters
• Conduct legal research and draft by-laws, resolutions, corporate reports, legal opinions and agreements in a timely manner
• Anticipate and address legal issues to protect the interests of the City and reduce exposure to legal risks
• Advise staff regarding legislation, regulatory requirements and developments in case law impacting City operations
• Provide practical and legally defensible solutions to problems and support staff in achieving the City’s strategic goals and priorities
• Retain and instruct external lawyers and consultants, as required, and review their accounts for compliance with billing guidelines
• Provide functional direction to law clerks, legal assistants and articling students working within the Municipal Law Section
• Perform other duties as assigned

Skills and Qualifications

• Member in good standing of the Law Society of Ontario, with a university degree in law (LLB or JD) and an L1 Licence to practice law in Ontario
• Minimum 8 years of progressive practice experience in municipal law, municipal governance and regulatory/enforcement matters
• Ability to clearly and persuasively communicate complex information to a variety of audiences, including members of Council, external stakeholders, and City staff at all levels
• Excellent writing skills and the ability to draft legally defensible by-laws, agreements, clear and concise reports, and persuasive legal opinions
• Sound judgment and effective negotiating skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills with a demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with others
• Strong legal research skills and facility using digital and online reference materials and tools
• Strong organization and time-management skills and the proven ability to meet deadlines and prioritize work
• Willingness and ability to practice law using paperless files, with the assistance of legal document management and case management software

Hourly Rate/Salary: $134,542.00 - $179,389.00
Hours of Work: 35
Work Location: Civic Centre
Department/Division/Section: LEG/Legislative Services Dept, LEG/Legal Services, Municipal Law
Non-Union/Union: Non Union

We thank all who apply; however, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. You can also check your application status in your candidate profile online.

All personal information is collected under the authority of the Municipal Act.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
The City of Mississauga is committed to creating a respectful and supportive workplace that fosters a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion which broadly reflects the communities and residents we serve. Throughout the employee life cycle, the City is working to include an EDI lens to attract, retain and support the growth of diverse talent.

Learn more about the City’s commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.

Accommodations
The City of Mississauga is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to removing barriers in our selection process for people with visible and invisible disabilities. In accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarian's with Disabilities Act, 2005 and the Ontario Human Rights Code, the City of Mississauga will provide accommodations throughout the recruitment, selection and/or assessment process to applicants with disabilities.

If selected to participate in the recruitment, selection and/or assessment process, please complete the following Accommodation Request Form and have it emailed to [e-mail] citing the Job ID and Job Title. This will inform Human Resources of the nature of any accommodation(s) that you may require in respect of any materials or processes used to ensure your equal participation.