Legal Aid Worker

This position is responsible for providing client service under the direct supervision of Manager, District Operations. The legal worker will be responsible for the initial assessment and intake of criminal and family law client to assist in determining the appropriate service for the client, the referral to appropriate services and resources, providing basic procedural advice to criminal law clients, interviewing sureties, possible appearances in criminal set date court and other duties as assigned. Providing some administrative support for Lawyer Manager and staff duty counsel lawyers in terms of bring forward/ tickler systems, maintaining organized computer filing system for criminal (SI) and enhanced duty counsel services and communicating with certificate and per diem duty counsel lawyers.
The role may require the successful candidate to attend various court locations and in-custody facilities within the district and therefore must to open to travel.

Home location: Thunder Bay
Secondary locations: Kenora, Fort Frances, Sioux Lookout, Dryden and Red Lake

Reporting to: Manager of District Operations

This position involves assisting lawyers in all aspects of family law court proceedings and resolving family law disputes as set out below.
•Preparing and drafting all documents in family law and child protection proceedings
•Preparing billings and compiling records and client reports
•Assisting in case management procedures and evaluating legal issues
•Maintaining tickler system and managing family law case load under a lawyer's supervision
•Performing searches and commissioning affidavits of clients
•Interviewing clients to gather case information
•Arranging for the service of documents and filing materials in Court
•Keeping track of time limits for the serving and filing of Court documents
•EDC Financial Eligibility Testing
•Preparing client and DC for first interview
•Performing other duties as required such as supporting SLA and other administrative processes such as telephone and reception
• Ability to determine legal and financial eligibility based on LAO eligibility
• Perform office administration tasks such as data input, ordering supplies, maintaining files,
• Familiarity and competence with proper maintenance of client databases such as PeopleSoft
and Legal Files
• Familiarity with financial eligibility, certificate coverage and tariff guidelines;

• Excellent word processing skills;
• Familiarity and competence with basic family law procedural rules,
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and interview skills, and sound judgment for dealing with clients, lawyers and other agencies;
• Good understanding of family court processes and the rules and practice directions for all levels of court serviced by duty counsel;
• Legal worker experience in family law;
• Knowledge of relevant family law rules and legislation;
• Maintain knowledge of PeopleSoft and other computer programs and systems;
• Ability to determine legal and financial eligibility based on LAO eligibility criteria and
• Written and oral French language skills are an asset
• Demonstrated ability to use latest communication technologies including Smartphones;
• Must have intermediate knowledge of the following Microsoft programs; Word, Excel, PowerPoint.

Organizational Competencies Expected
• Client Focus
• Adaptability and Flexibility
• Personal Motivation and Accountability
• Focus on Quality and Best Practice
• Problem Solving and Judgment
• Organizational Awareness
• Teamwork and Collaboration

This position is collective represented by OPSEU

As per the requirements of the Collective Agreement governing this position, first consideration is given to current OPSEU member applicants.

Only those candidates selected for an interview will be notified.

Please note that all applicants are encouraged to provide a valid email address for communication purposes. Applicants may receive written correspondence regarding this job posting directly to the email address provided on their resume or to the one used to set up their Candidate Profile if applying on Njoyn. As an applicant, it is your responsibility to ensure that you check your email regularly.

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Trouble applying? For telephone support, please call 1-877-427-7717 or email:candidate.njoynhelp@cgi.com