LAA-24-64 - Fractional General Counsel - Edmonton

Legal Aid Alberta is seeking a part-time Fractional General Counsel to work out of our Edmonton Head Office, 2-3 days per week. This role is ideal for a retired or semi-retired legal professional looking for a flexible opportunity to continue contributing to the legal field providing strategic legal advice and mentorship. Reporting to the President and CEO, the successful candidate will work closely with the Executive Team and other key stakeholders to achieve organizational goals and help drive the future of our organization. You will play an important role in developing a talented and diverse Legal Aid Alberta team province-wide.

Who We Are

As a publicly funded, non-profit organization, Legal Aid Alberta provides affordable legal services in family law, domestic violence, child welfare, immigration, and youth and adult criminal defense. We are Alberta-wide, with 300 staff and 1,200 private practice lawyers helping people overcome their legal challenges in more than 75 communities across the province.

Who You Are

Working at Legal Aid Alberta means you care about people and empathize with their situation. You have excellent communication skills, especially in tough situations. You are a strategic thinker with a strong work ethic and a collaborative approach, able to provide sound advice and thrive in a fast-paced work environment. You will be a skilled communicator and have a deep understanding of fundamental legal principles in administrative law, compliance, risk management and policy development in a senior advisory role within a large organization in the public or private sector. Exposure to criminal and/or family law will be an asset.  You care deeply about the success of our team and have a solid understanding of our organization’s mission and values.

Job Description

Reporting to the President and CEO, some of the key responsibilities of the Fractional General Counsel include but are not limited to: 

• Attend Executive meetings and provide strategic legal advice to the President and CEO, the Executive Committee, divisional Leaders and the Board of Directors where appropriate on matters that impact the organization, including litigation.
• Oversee a legal advisory team with extensive expertise in criminal, family and immigration law.
• Provide expert legal advice on complex legal issues, including administrative and compliance matters, legal risk management, policy development and matters involving criminal, family, and immigration law.
• Maintain positive relations with key stakeholders and Roster lawyers through regular communication and meetings as required.
• Act as an Ambassador for LAA to Judicial and other stakeholders being generally knowledgeable in the various operational aspects of LAA, including intake, assessment, appointing, change of counsel, client coverage review and appeals and related matters.
• Provide support and actively participate on the organization’s behalf where appropriate with the Association of Legal Aid Plans and the Federal Permanent Working Group.
• Retain and manage external counsel as necessary.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of organizational strategies.
• Ensure compliance with relevant laws, regulations, and ethical standards.
• Advise on high-cost case management, discretionary coverage, and client appeals.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

• Law degree from a recognized law school.
• Membership in the Law Society of Alberta.
• Minimum of 10 years’ experience in a senior legal advisory role that includes administrative law, compliance, and legal risk management. Exposure to criminal or family law will be an asset.
• Proven track record of legal advocacy in a busy work environment.
• Experience in identifying and mitigating legal risks.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to engage with a range of different audiences.
• Use of best practices in all aspects of leadership role, including change management, oversight functions, understanding of legal services functions, and performance measurement and benchmarking.
• Experienced consensus builder within a dynamic team environment and an innovative problem solver.
• Seasoned legal advisor able to provide sound, practical, solution-based legal advice that aligns with the objectives of the organization.
• Able to work within a diverse team environment with colleagues, clients, and external stakeholders to achieve excellent results.
• Able to stimulate strategic thinking and planning processes to guide the organization’s commitment to its vision, mission and values.

What We Offer

Perks of working with us

• Competitive wage
• RRSP with 12% employer contribution
• Health and dental benefits
• Flexible Benefit Options (Health and Personal Spending Account)
• Employee assistance program
• Winter/Christmas closure (paid time off)

How to Apply

If you got excited at the prospect of being a part of our team when you reviewed this posting and you meet the minimum qualifications, please select ‘Apply Now’ to create your candidate profile. This competition will remain open until a suitable candidate is found. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted. 

Other Requirements

The successful candidate will be required to provide an acceptable criminal record check.