Staff Lawyer

Ywca Bc; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 68,078 - 83,206; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Extended medical and dental benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Mentorship program

Job summary

YWCA BC seeks a Staff Lawyer to lead the Legal Education team and support program participants in child protection matters. You will provide representation, create advocacy materials, and participate in systemic change through education and media engagement.

The role includes supervising staff, managing the program budget, and delivering weekly clinics and workshops in Vancouver. Strong Indigenous intercultural competence and trauma-informed practice are essential.

Qualifications

• Law degree and Indigenous intercultural competency training required.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong time-management and attention to detail.
• Understanding of colonialism impacts and child protection laws on Indigenous families.
• Feminist perspective on intimate partner violence and trauma-informed practice.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Proficiency with Word/Office tools and Zoom; experience with Clio is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Supervise one lawyer and one paralegal, hire and onboard staff, and conduct performance reviews.
• Provide summary advice and run weekly drop‑in clinics.
• Represent YWCA participants in child protection cases.
• Create advocacy/education materials and monthly workshops with Legal Education team.
• Manage program budget and public speaking on family law.
• Other duties as required.

Skills

Verbal & written communication

Time management

Interpersonal skills

Indigenous intercultural competency

Trauma-informed practice

Team collaboration

Microsoft Word / Office

Clio experience

ADP Workforce Now

Background check readiness

Education

Law degree

Indigenous intercultural competency training

Tools

Clio

SafetyLine

Relias

ADP Workforce Now

Microsoft Word

SharePoint

OneDrive

Zoom

Job description

Job Overview

The Staff Lawyer leads the YWCA Legal Education team and provides support to YWCA program participants where the Ministry of Children and Family Development or a delegated Aboriginal agency has apprehended their child, or where there are contact or access issues related to their child who is in foster care. The Staff Lawyer also participates in and contributes to broader systemic change through legal education, advocacy, and media engagement.

Responsibilities

• Directly supervise one lawyer and one paralegal, including hiring and onboarding new staff, bi‑weekly one‑to‑one meetings and coaching, managing timecards and time off requests, and conducting annual performance reviews.
• Provide summary advice to YWCA program participants and hold weekly drop‑in clinics at YWCA Crabtree Corner in the DTES.
• Provide full representation to a small number of YWCA program participants in child protection cases.
• Create and deliver advocacy and education materials in collaboration with the Legal Education team, including holding a monthly workshop.
• Manage the program budget.
• Public speaking on family law issues.
• Other duties as required.

Qualifications

• Minimum educational requirement: Law degree and training on Indigenous intercultural competency.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills.
• Good time‑management skills and attention to detail.
• Strong understanding of the impacts of colonialism and of child protection laws on Indigenous culture and family life.
• Intersectional feminist understanding of intimate partner violence.
• Interest in a trauma‑informed approach to the practice of law.
• Motivated to work independently and as part of a team.
• Able to work collaboratively.
• Proficient with Microsoft Word, SharePoint, OneDrive and Zoom.
• Experience using Clio is an asset.
• Willingness to use SafetyLine, Relias, ADP Workforce Now.
• Valid clear criminal record check (including working with vulnerable populations) required.

Benefits

• Extended medical and dental benefits.
• Pregnancy, parent and adoption leave top‑up.
• 22 vacation days and 3 personal days, plus paid sick leave.
• Flexible working arrangements for applicable positions.
• Employee Family Assistance Program, a confidential and voluntary support service for employees and their eligible family members.
• Workplace prioritizes employee health, safety and well‑being, including learning and growth opportunities such as an employee mentorship program and three equity committees to support equity and inclusion goals.
• Free staff membership to our Health & Fitness Centre.
• Discounts at our Hotel Willo.
• Priority in YWCA Child Care centres.

Salary

Salary: $75,642.68 per annum

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

We are committed to increasing representation and equity across our organization. We strongly encourage applications from women, Black, Indigenous, People of Colour, 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, people with disabilities and others from marginalized communities. We are also focused on creating leadership opportunities for Indigenous, Black, and gender‑diverse individuals.