ELIGIBILITY FOR THIS COMPETITION IS RESTRICTED TO STEP 1 CANDIDATES INCLUDING OPS ALOC AND OCAA LAWYERS living or working within 125 km of this location. Note: Eligible lawyers from outside the Area of Search may apply but will not be entitled to relocation or travel expenses for the transfer as set out below.
Step 1: All regular/fixed-term OCAA and ALOC lawyers on staff, current Redeployment List Members and current Articling Student Hireback Pool Members.
Step 2: In the absence of qualified applicants at Step 1 the competition may be reposted so that external applicants or non-members of the above-mentioned groups would then be eligible to apply.
The Legal Services Branch, Ministry of the Solicitor General (SOLGEN), has an immediate challenging opportunity for an intermediate or senior counsel to provide legal advice and opinions to ministry clients.
Our Values: Integrity, Judgment, Commitment, Justice, Accountability, Courage, Collaboration
The Legal Services branch welcomes applications from candidates who can contribute to the goal of promoting a diverse, respectful and supportive workplace.
It is mandatory to quote the job ID in your cover letter and resume.
The Legal Services Branch of the Ministry of the Solicitor General has an immediate need for one (1) counsel to deliver strategic legal advice and support to the Ministry of the Solicitor General (SOLGEN) and its broad range of divisions and program areas, including Correctional Services, Public Safety Division, the Ontario Provincial Police, the Office of the Chief Coroner, the Office of the Centre of Forensic Sciences, Animal Welfare Services and the ministry's Strategic Policy and Infrastructure Divisions as well as other corporate divisions and ministry agencies. Duties of this position will include:
- Providing written and oral legal opinions and advice to support the operational, policy and legislative requirements of SOLGEN.
- Leading the development of legislative and regulatory amendments, including the provision of drafting instructions to the Office of the Legislative Counsel, advising and briefing senior management within SOLGEN and providing legal support through all steps of the government approvals process.
- Supporting program area client policy development, including assessing the legal implications of policy and operational proposals.
- Drafting and reviewing ministerial directions and Orders-in-Council.
- Membership in good standing as a lawyer with the Law Society of Ontario
- Demonstrated commitment to providing excellent client service and ability to produce high-quality work under tight deadlines with changing and competing demands.
- Demonstrated ability to achieve effective outcomes through individual work and as part of a team
Demonstrated experience in:
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- Advising ministry program and policy clients on the development of legislation and regulations, and providing legal support on high-profile and complex legislative initiatives.
- Effectively briefing senior government officials on complex legal principles and concepts.
- Providing written and oral legal advice and opinions on an urgent basis on varied legislative and regulatory regimes.
- Identifying, evaluating, and assessing legal risks and implications of proposed and existing programs and initiatives and providing innovative, strategic, risk-based and solutions-oriented legal advice on time-sensitive issues.
- Developing expertise quickly in a new subject area and conducting in-depth legal research in complex and evolving areas of law to deliver cogent legal and strategic advice.
- Knowledge of SOLGEN legislation and regulations, including statutes relevant to the public safety, policing, and corrections operations of SOLGEN, and administrative law, generally.
- Proven analytical skills, political acuity and judgment
- Demonstrated ability to provide excellent client service, with a proven record of building relationships with clients and colleagues and of fostering and creating a culture of diversity, anti-racism, equity and wellness in the workplace.
We are building an inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We encourage everyone interested in working with us to apply, including people with disabilities, Indigenous, Black and racialized individuals, as well as people from all ethnicities, cultures, sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions.
Our hiring process is accessible, consistent with Ontario's
Human Rights Code and the
Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005. We are working to prevent and remove barriers in our hiring processes and can offer accommodation to address specific needs related to Code-protected grounds such as disability, family status and religion. For more information about accommodation during the hiring process please contact us.
Learn more about the work the OPS is doing to create an inclusive, anti-racist, accessible and diverse workplace:
- diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives
- accessibility
- Anti-Racism Policy
