Tax Litigation Legal Assistant

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP; Toronto; On-site; CAD 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP in Toronto is seeking a Legal Assistant to support the Tax practice group. The role involves preparing court documents, filing with CRA and Tax Courts, and coordinating meetings and travel. Strong editing, organization, and communication skills are essential.

The position requires a Legal Assistant diploma (or equivalent) with 1–5 years’ Tax disputes experience. Familiarity with CanLII/TaxNetPro is an asset.

Qualifications

• Legal assistant diploma or equivalent.
• 1–5 years of Tax Disputes/Litigation Assistant experience or equivalent.
• Good understanding of Tax Court and Federal Court Rules of Procedure.
• Knowledge of tax research tools (e.g., CanLII and TaxNetPro) is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Assist in preparing documentation for court proceedings (notices of appeal, motions, affidavits, factums, exhibits).
• File documentation with CRA and at Tax Court of Canada, Federal Court and Federal Court of Appeal.
• Assist with online tools to facilitate document review and production.
• Draft routine correspondence to CRA, Crown and Court.
• Proofread court documents for formatting, spelling and grammar.
• Ensure accuracy of court documents and prepare revisions/blacklines.
• Coordinate meetings/events and distribute agendas and supporting documents.
• Liaise with clients regarding invoices, collections and WIP/AR reports.
• Open/close files, docketing and billing; coordinate business travel.

Skills

Tax law knowledge

Legal document drafting

Microsoft Office

Time management

Communication

Docketing

Client liaison

Education

Legal assistant diploma

Tax disputes/litigation support experience

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

PowerPoint

PDF applications

Job description

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP (Blakes), one of Canada’s largest and most successful law firms, is currently looking for a Legal Assistant to join the Tax practice group in the Toronto office.

Primary responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to:

• Assisting in preparing documentation for court proceedings, including originating documents (e.g., notices of appeal), motions, undertaking lists, affidavits and factums, exhibits, pre-trial materials (conference briefs), and trial and appeal documents
• Filing documentation with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and at various court levels, including the Tax Court of Canada, Federal Court and Federal Court of Appeal
• Assisting with the use of online tools to facilitate document review and production
• Drafting routine correspondence to the CRA, Crown and Court
• Proofreading court documents and others for formatting, spelling and grammar
• Ensuring accuracy of court documents and others, and preparing revisions and blacklines as required
• Coordinating meetings and events, including developing and distributing agendas, reserving meeting rooms, and preparing, compiling and distributing supporting documents
• Working with various departments (i.e., finance and marketing) as needed
• Liaising with clients regarding invoices, collections and preparation of WIP/AR reports
• Opening and closing files
• Docketing and billing
• Coordinating business travel
• Completing registrations for various continuing legal education or business development conferences
• Submitting expenses in Chrome River
• Reviewing and prioritizing correspondence and emails, including drafting responses where suitable and redirecting to the appropriate individual for response as needed

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Legal assistant diploma or equivalent
• One to five years of experience as a Tax Disputes and Litigation Assistant, or equivalent education or training
• Good understanding of the Tax Court and Federal Court Rules of Procedure and associated forms
• Knowledge of tax research tools (e.g., CanLII and TaxNetPro) is an asset

Skills & Abilities

• Ability to work well under pressure and on deadline in a high-performing environment
• Strong technical skills in Microsoft applications (e.g., Word, Excel and PowerPoint) and PDF application
• Exceptional written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills
• Excellent organizational and time management skills and strong attention to detail
• Strong searching abilities (i.e., emails, archives and document management)
• Ability to work independently and take initiative
• Extremely motivated, eager to learn, adaptable and professional
• Willing to work flexible hours, as required

Compensation

The anticipated annual salary for the Tax Litigation Legal Assistant position is $65,000–$75,000. Salary levels will be determined commensurate with internal equity, market equity and experience.

Blakes wishes to thank all applicants for their interest. However, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Other Relevant Application Information

Blakes welcomes applications from all qualified applicants. The Firm is committed to maintaining an inclusive work environment composed of people with diverse perspectives, backgrounds, identities and cultures. The Firm provides accommodation for applicants with disabilities and in respect of other protected grounds during the recruitment process, in accordance with applicable laws. Please contact us to request accommodation.

While our experienced team will select and interview successful candidates, Blakes may use artificial intelligence (AI) to assist with shortlisting, screening and evaluating applications

Who We Are

At Blakes, we care about our people. We are committed to providing exceptional experiences for our clients and employees. As a winner of Canada’s Top 100 Employers, Canada’s Best Diversity Employers and Greater Toronto’s Top Employers awards, we understand the importance of fostering an inclusive workplace environment that brings out the best in each person. Our success as a firm starts with hiring top talent, retaining our people and helping them thrive.