NSLA – Legal Assistant (Sipekne’katik)

Nova Scotia Barristers' Society; Nova Scotia; On-site; CAD 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A community-focused legal assistance organization in Nova Scotia is seeking a Legal Assistant for a 1-year term contract. The role involves managing administrative duties and supporting clients in navigating legal issues. Ideal candidates will have a diploma in Legal Administration and proficiency in Microsoft Office. The organization values cultural sensitivity and encourages applications from individuals in equity-deserving groups.

Benefits

Health and dental insurance

Three weeks of vacation

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience with family law cases or criminal court practices.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Demonstrable time management skills.

Responsibilities

• Effectively manage front desk and incoming calls.
• Transcribe and type briefs and correspondence.
• Ensure management of all legal administrative related duties.

Skills

Organizational skills

Effective communication

Ability to manage confidentiality

Cultural sensitivity

Education

Post-secondary diploma in Legal Administration or Paralegal

Tools

Microsoft Office

Legal research software

Job description

1-year Term Contract (full or part-time work available) with Potential for Permanency
Location: Sipekne’katik Office (529 Church Street)
Salary: (TE 13-1 to TE 19-5) $40,733.16 to $59,115.94
Closing date: October 9, 2025 at 12:00 pm

BACKGROUND

Nova Scotia Legal Aid and Sipekne’katik First Nation have partnered on an exciting new initiative of addressing the current barriers Sipekne’katik community members face when accessing legal services outside of Community. Nova Scotia Legal Aid is working with Sipekne’katik to provide legal services and educational initiatives by operating a legal aid office on Sipekne’katik First Nation.

Sipekne’katik First Nation is a Mi’kmaw community with over 3,000 band members located in Hants County, Nova Scotia. Sipekne’katik is one of the seven geographic districts of Mi’kma’ki – the ancestral territory of the Mi’kmaq that encompasses Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, PEI, Newfoundland, and Maine.

Sipekne’katik is a community rooted in the traditions and history of its ancestors, taking pride in their Mi’kmaw culture, language and way of life. Sipekne’katik includes the communities of Indian Brook (now called Sipekne’katik), New Ross, Pennal, Dodd’s Lot, Hammonds Plains, and Grand Lake.

Sipekne’katik is a vibrant, growing community. Sipekne’katik strives to provide exciting cultural, educational, social, and many other opportunities for all its band members. The Sipekne’katik Band is focused on improving the economic sustainability of the community. Through a strategic plan and sound economic initiatives, the Sipekne’katik Band is improving the standard of living for its community and all their band members by providing essential goods, services and supports that are developed and delivered by the community.

STATEMENT OF INTENTION

We strongly encourage applications from individuals who identify as Mi’kmaq or Indigenous and/or those with lived experience in a historical Mi’kmaw Community. While this position is open to all applicants, we recognize the value of lived experience and community connection, which will be considered assets for this position. We welcome and encourage all applicants to apply.

We value a workplace where diversity, in all its forms, is encouraged and recognized for its contribution to a more creative, rewarding workplace that is representative, at all job levels, of the people we serve.

We welcome and encourage applications from all individuals belonging to equity-deserving groups including Indigenous Peoples, African Nova Scotians and Other Racially Visible Persons, Newcomers to Canada, Persons with Disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ Individuals, and Women. If you are a member of one of these equity groups, you are encouraged to self-identify on your electronic application, cover letter, or résumé.

We are committed to accommodating those with disabilities at any stage of the hiring process, so please advise us if you require accommodations.

WHO WE ARE

A career at Nova Scotia Legal Aid is incredibly rewarding and unlike any other in the legal field, regardless of the area of law. At Legal Aid, no two days are ever alike. It is a dynamic, fast-paced, and demanding workplace, and each day presents an opportunity to help make the lives of Nova Scotians better by compassionately assisting them through the most important legal issues happening in their lives.

Nova Scotia Legal Aid provides free legal information, advice, and representation to Nova Scotians facing criminal, family, or social justice issues, through 25 service offices and 3 sub-offices, with a focus on low income and equity-deserving populations as well as those experiencing gender-based, intimate partner, or family violence. This initiative will open the door to a new model of providing direct services to communities.

Nova Scotia Legal Aid has specialized service offices for youth, social justice, mental health legal services, and criminal and family appeals.

Our work on Sipekne’katik is guided by:

• Establishing and maintaining mutually respectful relationships
• Engaging and collaborating with Community organizations, Elders and leaders
• Encouraging and supporting Community approach to resolving conflict and disputes
• Recognizing the interconnectedness of physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health in the Mi’kmaq view
• Approaching the work with humility, remembering we are guests in Community

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

As a legal assistant in this position, you can expect to:

• Effectively manage the front desk, incoming calls, application intakes and distribution.
• Manage, organize and co-ordinate Lawyers’ practice.
• Transcribe and type briefs and correspondence, and assure timely preparation, accuracy and documentation of all related documents including Orders, affidavits, financial statements, petitions, etc.
• Ensure the management of all legal administrative related duties.
• Certificate administration.
• Ability to work independently, take initiative, and use judgment in matters of extreme confidentiality and sensitivity.
• Be able to work with clients who have complex needs and work independently in a fast-paced environment as well as part of a team.
• Demonstrated time management and ability to deal with competing priorities and deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, including comfort speaking with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• Experience and proficiency with computer software packages including legal research and Microsoft Office applications (i.e., Outlook).
• Maintain confidentiality while handling sensitive information and ensuring accurate, organized centralization of documents and records for efficiency.
• All other duties as required.

PROFESSIONAL & LIVED EXPERIENCE

You’re our ideal candidate if you are talented, hardworking and want to be a member of a team that is highly experienced, caring, dedicated and committed to our clients. Experience with family law cases, criminal court practices, and social justice matters, as well as lived experience in a historical Mi’kmaw Community, would be considered an asset.

You will also need:

• Post-secondary diploma in Legal Administration or Paralegal or equivalent training and related relevant experience.

Additional assets for this position include:

• Demonstrated cultural sensitivity and responsiveness, with a commitment to working respectfully and effectively with Community members.
• Awareness and understanding of the impacts of intergenerational trauma related to residential schools and other colonial systems; experience engaging with these issues in a personal, educational, or professional context is considered an asset.

THE PACKAGE

1-year Term Contract
Salary: (TE 13-1 to TE 19-5) $40,733.16 to $59,115.94

Nova Scotia Legal Aid offers its employees a wide range of benefits including but not limited to:

• Health, dental, long-term disability, and life insurance
• Starting 3 weeks of vacation
• Employee and Family Assistance Program
• Support for community involvement
• Professional development and mentorship

APPLY NOW

To apply, please send your resume and cover letter to [e-mail] . Please indicate Position Title and Location and whether you are an internal or external applicant in the email subject line.

While we appreciate receiving all applications, only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted. All applications will be held in strict confidence.