Senior Law Clerk - Corporate Services

Gowling WLG International; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 78,000 - 88,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

Dental coverage

Mental health support

Vacation days (15+)

Hybrid work option

Parental leave top-up

Retirement savings plan

Disability & life insurance

Employee assistance program

Recognition awards

Job summary

Gowling WLG International in Ottawa seeks a Senior Law Clerk for the Corporate Services team, focusing on not-for-profit work with some for-profit duties. The role requires substantial Ontario experience, and the incumbent will draft and review a broad range of corporate documents, provide client liaison, and mentor junior staff.

The position may be located at any Ontario office. The firm offers a comprehensive benefits program and a starting salary range of $78,000 to $88,000, with room for

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years legal experience as a Law Clerk/Paralegal in Ontario, with 5 years in not-for-profit work.
• Ability to communicate effectively with Firm members and clients.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to coach, train and mentor junior staff and students.
• Knowledgeable about CNCA, ONCA, OBCA and CBCA.

Responsibilities

• Drafts not-for-profit documents under CNCA and ONCA, including articles of incorporation, amendments, restated articles, by-laws, minutes, and related documents.
• Drafts for-profit corporate documents like articles of incorporation/amendments, amalgamations, and share/asset purchase agreements.
• Evaluates files, identifies deadlines, and plans steps.
• Provides corporate secretarial services, including attending meetings and taking minutes.
• Acts as frontline client liaison on corporate matters.
• Mentors junior staff and students.
• Collaborates effectively in a team; strong communication and social skills.
• PPSA knowledge is a plus.

Skills

Legal experience

Not-for-profit experience

Communication skills

Coaching/Mentoring

Team player

Regulatory knowledge CNCA/ONCA/OBCA/CB

Document drafting

Tools

Athennian

EnAct

GlobalAct

ALF

Job description

At Gowling WLG, our commitment to excellence begins with our people. As an international law firm with offices in Canada, the U.K., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, we’re proud to recruit and retain top talent who bring energy, insight, and a singular focus on delivering exceptional experiences – for our clients and each other.

We’re intentional about building a workplace that’s both high-performing and supportive, ensuring that everyone is empowered to do their best work and reach their full potential. Our culture is grounded in our shared values: Raise the Bar, Embrace Differences, and Thrive Together. These values shape how we collaborate, lead, and succeed – across teams, time zones, and career paths.

Whether you’re pursuing a role in law or business services, explore what’s possible and make your mark with Gowling WLG.

PROFILE

Based in the Ottawa office, we are seeking a Senior Law Clerk for our Business Law Department to join our Corporate Services team to practice primarily in the not-for-profit area along with some limited for-profit work requiring the proficiency of a Senior Law Clerk.

The position may be located at any of our offices in Ontario.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• In the not-for-profit role, independently drafts a variety of not-for-profit documentation under each of the CNCA and the ONCA, including articles of incorporation, articles of amendment (including transitional amendments under the ONCA), restated articles of incorporation, dissolutions, revivals, by-laws (including those containing more complex director qualifications and multiple classes of membership), organizational documents, annual documents, minutes of meetings, notices of director and member meetings, meeting agendas, chairperson scripts, codes and policies, closing agendas, corporate compliance charts, minute book reviews and rectifications, asset purchase and amalgamation agreements and related documents, and correspondence, all to meet the needs of the various steps required throughout the conduct of the file.
• In the limited for-profit role, independently drafts a variety of documentation, including articles of incorporation and amendments, articles of amalgamation, tax driven reorganizations, dissolutions, minute book reviews and rectifications, share and asset purchase agreements and related agreements and documents, and correspondence to meet the needs of the various steps required throughout the conduct of the file, in accordance with applicable legislation, governing regulations and/or corporate governance documents.
• Evaluates the file to review facts, determine appropriate processes and plans the steps necessary for the conduct of the file, ensuring critical deadlines are identified and met.
• Provides corporate secretarial services to various clients, including attending meetings to take minutes.
• Often acts as the frontline liaison with the client for corporate matters connected with their file.
• Undertakes to train and mentor junior associates, law clerks and students within the Corporate Services team and the Business Law Department.
• Ability to work well in a team environment, employing good communication and social skills.
• Knowledge of and experience with the PPSA would be of interest.

QUALIFICATIONS

• A minimum of 10 years legal experience as a Law Clerk/Paralegal in the Province of Ontario, 5 of which should be in the not-for-profit area.
• Ability to communicate effectively with other Firm members, with the aptitude to take care of clients’ needs in a professional and courteous manner.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Aptitude to coach, train and mentor junior associates, law clerks and students.
• Ability to provide guidance and direction to professionals, law clerks and legal administrative assistants.
• Knowledgeable about current relevant legislation and government regulations including each of the CNCA, the ONCA, the OBCA and the CBCA.
• In depth knowledge of legal terminology and principles.
• Ability to analyze legal documents for accuracy.
• Ability to produce a high quality and quantity of work product, occasionally under tight timelines.
• Ability to prioritize and to redefine priorities as and when necessary.
• Experience with Athennian or similar corporate database such as EnAct, GlobalAct or ALF is an asset.

BENEFITS/PERKS

Gowling WLG’s total rewards program is designed to foster a culture where high performance and personal well-being go hand-in-hand. We support your career and life with:

• 100% employer-paid health, dental, and mental health coverage, plus an annual lifestyle spending allowance
• Benefits coverage for Firm members and their dependents from day one!
• 15+ vacation days and hybrid work flexibility
• Parental leave top-up for 26 weeks (after 12 months of full-time employment)
• Group Retirement Savings Plan with employer match
• Financial protection through short & long-term disability, life, accident & critical illness insurance
• Employee & Family Assistance Program, guided CBT, and an internal network of 120+ trained Mental Health First Aid responders
• Recognition awards, appreciation events, and a supportive, collaborative work culture
• Perks and preferred pricing programs, referral bonuses and more

The starting range for this role is $78,000 to $88,000. Starting salary will be determined based on an applicant’s individual skills, competencies and unique qualifications. Gowling WLG employees have the potential to exceed this range based on tenure and performance.

This position is currently vacant and is open to both internal and external candidates. Gowling WLG is recruiting for this role to support ongoing firm needs and team operations.

This employer may use tools within our applicant tracking system that include artificial intelligence–supported features, such as automated candidate matching. These tools do not make hiring decisions; all screening, assessments, and selections are reviewed and completed by human recruiters and hiring managers.

Gowling WLG is dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. If you are in need of accommodation or support at any time during the recruitment process, please let us know.