Senior Counsel, Public Interest Cases & Issues Management

National Council of Canadian Muslims; Markham; Hybrid; CAD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

National Council of Canadian Muslims in the GTA seeks a Senior Counsel for Public Interest Cases & Issues Management to lead NCCM’s high-impact litigation and provide senior legal and strategic advice on emerging issues affecting Canadian Muslims.

The role blends strategic litigation, legal advocacy, public policy and issues management, reporting to the Vice President of Government Affairs, Public Policy & Legal, and mentoring junior staff while shaping NCCM’s litigation and policy priorities.

Qualifications

• Law degree and membership in good standing with a Canadian law society.
• Significant Canadian litigation experience.
• Experience in public interest, constitutional, human rights, administrative or equality rights law.
• Excellent legal research, writing, advocacy and strategic judgment.

Responsibilities

• Lead NCCM’s major public interest litigation, including constitutional, human rights, administrative and other strategic cases.
• Identify cases with potential for significant legal or systemic impact.
• Develop litigation strategies, legal theories and case plans.
• Draft or oversee pleadings, factums, legal opinions and other major litigation materials.
• Work with external counsel, co-counsel and legal experts where specialized expertise is required.
• Assess opportunities for NCCM to intervene, act as counsel, support strategic litigation or participate in other legal proceedings.
• Serve as a senior legal advisor to NCCM leadership during major or emerging issues.
• Rapidly assess legal, political, reputational and community risks.
• Advise leadership on appropriate responses, including litigation, government engagement, communications and mobilization.
• Work closely with Government Affairs, Policy, Communications and Mobilization teams on coordinated responses to significant issues.
• Develop a framework for identifying and prioritizing strategic cases.
• Maintain a pipeline of potential public interest litigation.
• Build relationships with leading litigators, law firms, academics and legal organizations.
• Mentor junior legal staff and help strengthen NCCM’s strategic legal capabilities.
• Contribute to senior leadership discussions on organizational risk, strategy and priorities.

Skills

Legal research

Writing

Advocacy

Strategic judgment

Education

Law degree

Membership in good standing with a Canadian law society

Job description

Senior Counsel, Public Interest cases & Issues Management

Position Summary

The Senior Counsel, Public Interest Cases & Issues Management is responsible for leading NCCM’s highest-impact legal matters and providing senior legal and strategic advice on emerging issues affecting Canadian Muslims.

The role sits at the intersection of strategic litigation, legal advocacy, public policy and issues management. Unlike NCCM’s routine legal operations, the Senior Counsel focuses on cases and issues with the potential to establish precedent, create systemic change, influence government or protect the broader community.

Reports to: Vice President, Government Affairs, Public Policy & Legal

Location: GTA

Employment Type: Full-time, Senior Leadership

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Litigation & Legal Advocacy

• Lead NCCM’s major public interest litigation, including constitutional, human rights, administrative and other strategic cases.
• Identify cases with potential for significant legal or systemic impact.
• Develop litigation strategies, legal theories and case plans.
• Draft or oversee pleadings, factums, legal opinions and other major litigation materials.
• Work with external counsel, co-counsel and legal experts where specialized expertise is required.
• Assess opportunities for NCCM to intervene, act as counsel, support strategic litigation or participate in other legal proceedings.

Issues Management

• Serve as a senior legal advisor to NCCM leadership during major or emerging issues.
• Rapidly assess legal, political, reputational and community risks.
• Advise leadership on appropriate responses, including litigation, government engagement, communications and mobilization.
• Work closely with Government Affairs, Policy, Communications and Mobilization teams on coordinated responses to significant issues.

Strategy & Organizational Leadership

• Develop a framework for identifying and prioritizing strategic cases.
• Maintain a pipeline of potential public interest litigation.
• Build relationships with leading litigators, law firms, academics and legal organizations.
• Mentor junior legal staff and help strengthen NCCM’s strategic legal capabilities.
• Contribute to senior leadership discussions on organizational risk, strategy and priorities.

Qualifications

Required

• Law degree and membership in good standing with a Canadian law society
• Significant Canadian litigation experience.
• Demonstrated experience in public interest, constitutional, human rights, administrative or equality rights law.
• Excellent legal research, writing, advocacy and strategic judgment.

Preferred

• 8+ years of legal experience.
• Experience before superior or appellate courts, tribunals or human rights bodies.
• Experience with constitutional/Charter litigation.
• Experience working with non-profits, civil society or community organizations.