Managing Lawyer, Family Law Clinics, Surrey P054-24

LEGAL AID BC

POSTING

TO:                                             LABC STAFF (cc: PEA)

FROM:                                       HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT

POSITION:                                 MANAGING LAWYER, FAMILY LAW CLINICS

ONE REGULAR FULL-TIME POSITION - SURREY

COMPETITION NO:                   P054-24

DATE POSTED:                         August 21, 2024

CLOSING DATE:                       Open Until Filled 

STARTING DATE:                      ASAP

SALARY CLASSIFICATION:     Maximum Year Call 16

SALARY:                                   Based on year of call - $70,931.93 (Yr1) to $141,376.75 (Yr16) + 10% Staff Lawyer Benefit Plan (As per the PEA Salary Schedule)

PRIMARY FUNCTION:   

Reporting to an Excluded Manager, the Managing Lawyer is responsible for managing an Office and providing legal counsel and representation, including duty counsel, in the full range of family/child protection law practice including separation, divorce, parenting arrangements, property division and child protection matters within the context of Legal Aid BC (LABC) policies and procedures. This role involves overseeing the delivery of professional legal services, supervising operations and resources, and liaising with the Vancouver Regional Centre on various initiatives.

VALUES STATEMENT: 

Our commitment to the principles of fundamental justice embedded in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and to Truth and Reconciliation, and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion is ambitious and foundational.  It informs everything we do, as we defend liberty, equality, autonomy, and dignity; as we dismantle colonization, racism, sexism, transphobia and homophobia, and all discrimination.  These are our values, and they inform our hiring practices too.  Our business is aiding people in severe legal distress and necessitates internal and external alignment of practicing these values.  Integrating Truth and Reconciliation, and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion throughout every aspect of Legal Aid BC is critical to building that culture, and we prioritize ongoing resources to achieve that goal. 

DUTIES:

1. Plan, direct, and manage the activities of the Office to ensure effective and efficient delivery of mandated and contracted services.
2. Supervise a team of lawyers, paralegals, advocates, and intake staff, including performance planning, coaching, and feedback. Monitor and evaluate probation/trial periods, conduct staff lawyer file reviews, ensure compliance with timekeeping systems and caseload targets, and handle disciplinary matters in consultation with Human Resources.
3. Provide leadership and direction for staff development, establishing individual performance goals and objectives.
4. Mentor and coach junior and intermediate staff lawyers while maintaining an active senior-level practice caseload.
5. Report to the Manager on Office operations, staff performance, training, and disciplinary matters.
6. Manage expenses within approved budgets, including authorizing expenditures, approving overtime, vacation/sick leave, and travel expenses for all staff.
7. Oversee office procedures and administrative systems, including intake procedures and case acceptance criteria, in accordance with LABC policy and standards.
8. Develop a strategic annual service delivery plan in consultation with staff.
9. Provides family law services including without limitation, summary legal advice and information to clients and individual case representation through to hearings and trials.
10. Conduct comprehensive needs and risk assessments and safety planning.
11. Conducts legal research and prepares required documents.
12. Discusses, negotiates and resolves case matters by working with opposing party/lawyer, witnesses and professional services, as appropriate.
13. Provides day to day supervision and work direction including performance planning, coaching and feedback sessions to support staff.
14. Collaborates with community advocates through the exchange of information and assistance with LABC work and law reform work.
15. Builds reciprocal relationships and partnerships with local community, including Indigenous community by attending community cultural events and conferences etc. to network, raise awareness of LABC and services, present information, and identify community needs.
16. Provides advice on service issues, policy development, pilot projects, and local practices.
17. Completes time logs, monthly caseload reports and other reporting as requested and in accordance with standard requirements.
18. Develops partnerships and effective working relationships with the private bar and other justice system participants.
19. Performs other related duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Membership or eligibility for membership in the Law Society of British Columbia.
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience at the Bar in British Columbia or equivalent experience in another Canadian jurisdiction.
• Minimum of three (3) years of management/supervisory experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience in family and child protection law, with additional experience in poverty law and criminal law considered an asset.
• This position requires some travel and a valid BC driver's license.
• Must be willing and able to travel throughout BC.

Basic requirements

• Strong supervisory and management skills, including leading, coaching, and directing staff, managing staff lawyer caseloads, and maintaining timekeeping systems. Preferably, experience in a complex organizational environment.
• Knowledge of family and child protection law and practice and a deep understanding of the impact of family violence.
• Experience screening for family violence, doing risk assessments and safety planning.
• Ability to understand trauma and its effects on memory, cognition, communication, and relationships.
• Ability to work with people who have experienced trauma and experience with applying a trauma informed, anti-oppressive, and culturally sensitive approach to your legal practice.
• An understanding of issues affecting Indigenous communities, knowledge of Indigenous cultures, justice concepts, and Indigenous community groups and agencies.
• Knowledge of administrative principles, practices, techniques, policies, and legislative development relevant to Indigenous programs, services and activities.
• An awareness of government laws and policies impacting Indigenous peoples.

• Knowledge of the structure and history of Indigenous communities within BC.

• Demonstrated awareness of the local community's cultural diversity, knowledge of various community resources available, including Indigenous cultures.

• Experience working with clients experiencing multiple intersecting barriers to accessing legal aid services, including clients experiencing poverty and/or low incomes, equity seeking groups or those whose first language is not English.
• Knowledge of and experience with collaborative processes, including the Ministry of Children and Family Development and Delegated Aboriginal Agency’s collaborative planning and decision-making policies.
• Ability to practice cultural sensitivity using extensive knowledge of Truth & Reconciliation and Equity, Diversity & Inclusion.
• Ability to practice active listening, non-violent communication, non-violent crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques in order to achieve communication and information sharing with clients facing barriers to service through a lens of Truth & Reconciliation and Equity, Diversity & Inclusion.

• Ability to understand and comply with LABC Policy and Procedures.
• Ability to develop resourceful solutions to legal problems of clients and competing claims.
• Ability to assert the rights of persons in all family law and child protection matters at Provincial and Supreme Court levels.
• Demonstrated solid legal analyses of issues affecting client
• Ability to work with, negotiate, discuss and resolve matters with opposing lawyers, witnesses and Judges as appropriate.
• Ability to make effective courtroom presentations.
• Demonstrated strong problem solving and decision-making abilities.
• Ability to carry a caseload and close a specified number of files annually in accordance with LABC requirements.
• Ability to handle a high stress environment with multiple tasks running simultaneously and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and as part of a team.
• Must have excellent interpersonal and communication skills (oral and written).
• Must have a proven record of success as a lawyer such as achieving positive client outcomes.
• Must be able to complete time logs and monthly caseload reports in a timely manner.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office, MS Teams, Zoom and other web-based platforms for communication, scheduling, and file management.

We offer (based on your employment status and affiliation):

VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT www.legalaid.bc.ca

We would like to thank all external applicants for their interest but regret that only those shortlisted will be contacted.