Senior Legal Counsel
About the role
Family and Children’s Services of Guelph and Wellington County (FCSGW) is a not-for-profit Children’s Aid Society, dedicated to enhancing the wellbeing of children, youth, and families in our community serving the City of Guelph and the County of Wellington. We are a compassionate network of staff, volunteers and caregivers working together with our community to create a nurturing, supportive, and inclusive environment for children, youth, and families. FCSGW is committed to the decolonization of the child welfare system while remaining focused on the safety and wellbeing of children and youth with their families. Fundamental to the work of the Agency are the foundations of Equity, Anti-Oppression, Diversity, Inclusivity, Accessibility, and Indigenous Justice.
Position Summary
Reporting to the Executive Director, Senior Legal Counsel is responsible for developing and driving the vision for Legal Services. They set priorities and guide implementation of strategies which align with agency mission, vision and values, integrating into service delivery.
Senior Legal Counsel is responsible for the direct supervision, coaching, mentoring and development of Staff Counsel, the Information and Disclosure Clerk and all members of the Legal Services Team. They oversee the day-to-day operations of the Legal Services Department, including administration, disclosure, and privacy.
Senior Legal Counsel provides legal consultation, acts as counsel in CYFSA and service-related matters and oversees the area of Part X, Privacy & Disclosure.
Key Responsibilities Include
Legal Service and Program Planning:
Develops and leads legal and disclosure services, including those related to Part X, Privacy and Disclosure areas of the agency’s strategic plan.
Develops, guides, and implements processes to optimize effective and efficient legal practices.
Ensures strategizes and approaches integrate equity, diversity, inclusion and truth and reconciliation into practice.
Builds a team and invests in the development of all members of the legal services team.
Legal Consultation
Assigns cases that require legal services to Staff Counsel, including assignments to oneself, and ensures prompt and effective legal file management to file closure; takes on the most difficult, political, significant, and challenging cases.
Advises, monitors, and mentors Staff Counsel in all aspects of planning, organizing and delivering legal services to the Agency.
Develops and manages trial lists and assigns Staff Counsel.
Oversees Lawsuits and works in collaboration with Insurance Carriers and Outside Counsel as required.
Provides legal advice and services to Agency staff on the interpretation and application of the CYFSA and other legislation pertaining to child welfare relating to the Agency’s work.
Acts as a legal resource to workers and service leaders, providing legal consultation and advice supporting the development of desired case management, focused on child protection outcomes for children, youth, and families.
Participates in a collaborative process in selected case conferences and provides legal opinion to inform the service instructions that direct the Agency’s approach to case management.
Court Related Activities
Prepares cases for presentation in court by coordinating the gathering of all information and evidence, drafting and/or reviewing pleadings, affidavits, briefs, orders, and other documents for filing with the court and preparing witnesses.
Represents the Agency in all levels of the courts and tribunals in relation to the CYFSA and other statutes as needed, in both contested and uncontested matters.
Negotiates settlements where possible.
Represents the Agency with respect to any litigation involving disclosure of agency records.
Represents the Agency in all matters before the Child and Family Services Review Board including complaint reviews.
Ensures proper documentation of all legal issues, processes, and case activities, in accordance with established procedures.
Prepares Minutes of Settlement and Settlement Conference Briefs.
Provides assistance in the preparation of legal notice and documentation of court-related matters.
Assists staff in their preparation to appear/participate in family law and related criminal matters relating to the Agency.
Liaises with other outside agency lawyers with respect to court applications.
Liaises with parents and/or counsel representing the parents and children’s counsel or the Crown as the case may be.
Maintains and analyzes data related to court activities and presents to the Leadership Team, the Board of Directors or other Stakeholders, as required.
Leadership
Exemplifies and inspires behaviours, actions and attitudes that are consistent with the Agency’s vision, mission, and values.
As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, participates in the development and successful implementation of the Strategic Plan.
Attends Board meetings as needed.
Provides leadership for the operational success of the legal services team.
As part of the Senior Leadership team, provides input and perspective from a full Agency viewpoint regarding organizational risks.
Leads the department through periods of change as a positive “champion of change”.
Provides leadership to designated working groups, programs and/or committees such as case conferences.
Participates in OACAS and joint CAS/community committees, demonstrating political acuity to ensure successful Agency representation and to share information with the Agency.
About Toronto Lawyers Association
For more than 135 years, the Toronto Lawyers’ Association, located within the Courthouse Library, has represented the interests of lawyers practising in the City of Toronto. The association was founded to support its members in three key areas: Knowledge, Advocacy, and Community.
To uphold these pillars, the association offers a year-round mix of online and in-person education programs for lawyers, hosts both free and paid events to foster in-person networking, and submits advocacy pieces on behalf of its members to the Ontario bench and bar, all levels of government, and the broader public.
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Senior Legal Counsel
About the role
Family and Children’s Services of Guelph and Wellington County (FCSGW) is a not-for-profit Children’s Aid Society, dedicated to enhancing the wellbeing of children, youth, and families in our community serving the City of Guelph and the County of Wellington. We are a compassionate network of staff, volunteers and caregivers working together with our community to create a nurturing, supportive, and inclusive environment for children, youth, and families. FCSGW is committed to the decolonization of the child welfare system while remaining focused on the safety and wellbeing of children and youth with their families. Fundamental to the work of the Agency are the foundations of Equity, Anti-Oppression, Diversity, Inclusivity, Accessibility, and Indigenous Justice.
Position Summary
Reporting to the Executive Director, Senior Legal Counsel is responsible for developing and driving the vision for Legal Services. They set priorities and guide implementation of strategies which align with agency mission, vision and values, integrating into service delivery.
Senior Legal Counsel is responsible for the direct supervision, coaching, mentoring and development of Staff Counsel, the Information and Disclosure Clerk and all members of the Legal Services Team. They oversee the day-to-day operations of the Legal Services Department, including administration, disclosure, and privacy.
Senior Legal Counsel provides legal consultation, acts as counsel in CYFSA and service-related matters and oversees the area of Part X, Privacy & Disclosure.
Key Responsibilities Include
Legal Service and Program Planning:
Develops and leads legal and disclosure services, including those related to Part X, Privacy and Disclosure areas of the agency’s strategic plan.
Develops, guides, and implements processes to optimize effective and efficient legal practices.
Ensures strategizes and approaches integrate equity, diversity, inclusion and truth and reconciliation into practice.
Builds a team and invests in the development of all members of the legal services team.
Legal Consultation
Assigns cases that require legal services to Staff Counsel, including assignments to oneself, and ensures prompt and effective legal file management to file closure; takes on the most difficult, political, significant, and challenging cases.
Advises, monitors, and mentors Staff Counsel in all aspects of planning, organizing and delivering legal services to the Agency.
Develops and manages trial lists and assigns Staff Counsel.
Oversees Lawsuits and works in collaboration with Insurance Carriers and Outside Counsel as required.
Provides legal advice and services to Agency staff on the interpretation and application of the CYFSA and other legislation pertaining to child welfare relating to the Agency’s work.
Acts as a legal resource to workers and service leaders, providing legal consultation and advice supporting the development of desired case management, focused on child protection outcomes for children, youth, and families.
Participates in a collaborative process in selected case conferences and provides legal opinion to inform the service instructions that direct the Agency’s approach to case management.
Court Related Activities
Prepares cases for presentation in court by coordinating the gathering of all information and evidence, drafting and/or reviewing pleadings, affidavits, briefs, orders, and other documents for filing with the court and preparing witnesses.
Represents the Agency in all levels of the courts and tribunals in relation to the CYFSA and other statutes as needed, in both contested and uncontested matters.
Negotiates settlements where possible.
Represents the Agency with respect to any litigation involving disclosure of agency records.
Represents the Agency in all matters before the Child and Family Services Review Board including complaint reviews.
Ensures proper documentation of all legal issues, processes, and case activities, in accordance with established procedures.
Prepares Minutes of Settlement and Settlement Conference Briefs.
Provides assistance in the preparation of legal notice and documentation of court-related matters.
Assists staff in their preparation to appear/participate in family law and related criminal matters relating to the Agency.
Liaises with other outside agency lawyers with respect to court applications.
Liaises with parents and/or counsel representing the parents and children’s counsel or the Crown as the case may be.
Maintains and analyzes data related to court activities and presents to the Leadership Team, the Board of Directors or other Stakeholders, as required.
Leadership
Exemplifies and inspires behaviours, actions and attitudes that are consistent with the Agency’s vision, mission, and values.
As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, participates in the development and successful implementation of the Strategic Plan.
Attends Board meetings as needed.
Provides leadership for the operational success of the legal services team.
As part of the Senior Leadership team, provides input and perspective from a full Agency viewpoint regarding organizational risks.
Leads the department through periods of change as a positive “champion of change”.
Provides leadership to designated working groups, programs and/or committees such as case conferences.
Participates in OACAS and joint CAS/community committees, demonstrating political acuity to ensure successful Agency representation and to share information with the Agency.
About Toronto Lawyers Association
For more than 135 years, the Toronto Lawyers’ Association, located within the Courthouse Library, has represented the interests of lawyers practising in the City of Toronto. The association was founded to support its members in three key areas: Knowledge, Advocacy, and Community.
To uphold these pillars, the association offers a year-round mix of online and in-person education programs for lawyers, hosts both free and paid events to foster in-person networking, and submits advocacy pieces on behalf of its members to the Ontario bench and bar, all levels of government, and the broader public.