Paralegal, Family Law Clinics, Victoria B059-24

LEGAL AID BC

POSTING

 

TO:                                 LABC STAFF (cc: BCGEU)

 

FROM:                            HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT

 

POSITION:                      PARALEGAL

 

                                        TWO REGULAR FULL-TIME POSITIONS – VICTORIA

 

COMPETITION NO:        B059-24

 

DATE POSTED:              August 30, 2024

 

CLOSING DATE:            Open until filled 

 

STARTING DATE:           ASAP

 

SALARY:                         Job Class 16 (Market Adjusted)

                                        ($65,100 - $74,366) *under review*

 

HOURS OF WORK:        35 hours per week, Monday to Friday

This position is not on the modified workweek.

 

PRIMARY FUNCTION: 

 

To interview clients and draft legal documents, pleadings, and correspondence; to provide advocacy, summary legal advice, and/or brief legal services including legal information, and referrals under the supervision of a lawyer to individuals regarding legal issues; to provide front line services to the public for in-person, online and telephone legal aid programs including intake services; to provide public legal education services to local community groups and Legal Aid BC (LABC) staff.

 

The following job duties are illustrative examples and shall not be construed as an exhaustive description of all the work requirements that may be inherent in the job.

 

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. PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES TO INDIVIDUAL CLIENTS:
   1. review, assess and determine legal merit of referred cases, when applicable;
   2. establish file, conduct legal research;
   3. under supervision of lawyer, prepare opening/closing arguments; questions for cross examinations;
   4. prepare witnesses for hearings and trials;
   5. provide advocacy to clients on legal issues that affect people experiencing poverty and/or low incomes and/or prepare and provide self-advocacy materials or resources.

 

2. PROVIDE PUBLIC LEGAL EDUCATION/COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT:
   1. liaise and assess needs of community groups;
   2. participate in legal education workshops as directed by the Legal Aid BC management, staff lawyer, or managing lawyer;
   3. participate in community development projects such as conferences or forums on legal issues that affect people experiencing poverty and/or low incomes, as required.

 

3. PROVIDE INTAKE SERVICES FOR LEGAL AID APPLICANTS:
   1. interview applicants, assess needs/urgency; determine coverage and eligibility for legal aid from a trauma-informed, anti-oppressive, and culturally sensitive approach;
   2. provide general legal information, summary legal advice to clients under supervision of a lawyer or refer to other agencies;
   3. provide supervision/direction to other interviewers.
4. PROVIDE BRIEF LEGAL SERVICES FOR CLIENTS:
   1. respond to calls with brief legal services, including information and referral, legal information, and other services in accordance with procedures and policies;
   2. preparation of documents, including correspondence, documents, submissions, questions, and other materials required for general hearing preparation, and drafting and delivering correspondence as required;
   3. assist in the organization and presentation of training sessions to staff on legal issues that affect clients and people experiencing poverty and/or low incomes, as required;
   4. provide supervision and/or direction to support staff, including legal administrative staff.

 

5. PERFORM OTHER RELATED DUTIES:

1. assist lawyers in the organization and presentation of training sessions to staff on legal issues that affect clients and people experiencing poverty and/or low incomes, as required;
2. travel may be required throughout BC.

 

QUALIFICATIONS:

 

Basic requirements

 

• Grade 12 education supplemented by post-secondary education in Law, Criminology, Library Science, and/or Social Work, or Paralegal/Legal Assistant Certificate from a recognized educational institute.
• Minimum 5 years relevant experience in a legal environment and/or as outlined in rated requirements.
• Ability to communicate effectively in English.
• OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.

 

Rated requirements

• General knowledge of family and child protection law, family law mediation, dispute resolution options available to family law clients, legal proceedings, and collaborative processes.
• Experience screening for family violence, doing risk assessments and safety planning.
• 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 to achieve communication and information sharing with clients facing barriers to service through a lens of Truth and Reconciliation and Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI).
• Knowledge of how to apply trauma informed, anti-oppressive, and culturally sensitive approach to engage with clients by obtaining client information to complete client documents.
• Knowledge of local community’s cultural diversity and resources
• An understanding of issues affecting Indigenous communities, knowledge of Indigenous cultures as well as Indigenous community groups and agencies.
• An awareness of government laws and policies impacting Indigenous peoples and of the structure and history of Indigenous communities within BC.
• Knowledge of administrative principles, practices, techniques, policies, and legislative development relevant to Indigenous programs, services and activities.
• Knowledge of collaborative processes including the Ministry of Children and Family Development and Delegated Aboriginal Agency’s collaborative planning and decision-making policies.
• Knowledge of LABC policies and procedures.
• Ability to analyze/assess legal problems and provide legal information/advice.
• Ability to conduct legal research, and advocate for clients.
• Ability to prepare basic legal correspondence and court documents.
• Ability to recognize and diffuse stressful situations and deal with clients in a sensitive manner.
• Ability to make and maintain effective contacts with agencies, organizations, and other community groups.
• Ability to be discreet and manage confidential information.
• Ability to work well with others in a team setting.
• Must have excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Must be familiar with general software applications (MS Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams)
• Must have a strong desire to assist disadvantaged clients, including those experiencing family violence or addition issues, those  with low income, those with mental disabilities, equity seeking groups, or those whose first language is not English.

 

This competition may require skills testing based on the qualifications for this position: Microsoft 365 (Office Suite) – Word, Excel, Outlook

 

Employment is conditional upon completing and obtaining clearance from the following: Criminal Record Check (CRC) in accordance with the Criminal Records Review Act Security clearance check by BC Corrections including a Canadian Police Information Computer (CPIC) system check

 

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

 

• Four weeks paid vacation to start that grows the longer you are with LABC
• An excellent employee benefits package, where premiums are 100% paid by LABC
• A generous defined benefit pension plan
• Support for training and development
• An Employee and Family Assistance program
• The opportunity to participate in various Employee programs (Employee Wellness, etc.)
• Support for a healthy work/life balance
• Generous leave provisions (sick time, special leaves) 
• 13 paid statutory holidays
• An opportunity for a flexible hybrid work arrangement for some positions (LABC reserves the right to change this policy at any time)
• Transit friendly employer for eligible staff to have their commute subsidized
• Dog-friendly offices 
• Dedicated Cultural Leave provisions for Indigenous employees
• An Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Council, and Indigenous employees Council and Accessibility Committee of employees from equity-seeking groups that advises on ongoing improvements and investments in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at our workplace

 

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.