Location: Smithers, BC
Status: Permanent, Full-Time
Affiliation: Professional Employees’ Association
Salary range: Based on year of call - $73,059.89 (Yr1) to $148,530.41 (Yr17) + 10% Staff Lawyer Benefit Plan
Competition #: P042-25
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.
We are seeking a Managing Lawyer, Parents Legal Centre to join our team.
The Opportunity
The Parents Legal Centre (PLC) takes a holistic approach to family and child protection law. The PLC supports parents to resolve not only their legal matter but also the underlying non-legal issues, such as housing or addictions, which often contribute to protection concerns in the first place through a team that includes a managing lawyer, staff lawyer(s), advocate/paralegal(s) and administrative/intake legal assistant(s). Together, this team works to provide advice and representation to PLC clients on family and child protection matters and strive to reach early collaborative resolutions when appropriate. We believe that better outcomes can be achieved when parents receive legal advice and support during the early stages of their family and child protection matters.
As a Managing Lawyer, PLC, your primary function is reporting to an Excluded Manager, the Managing Lawyer is responsible for managing an Office and providing legal counsel in one or more areas of law practiced in that office 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.
Key accountabilities include, but aren't limited to:
- Provide summary legal advice, information, and individual case representation primarily in family and child protection law, with some involvement in poverty and criminal law services as needed.
- Develop solutions to legal problems, focusing on early resolution, and represent clients, including hearings and trials in Provincial and Supreme Court.
- Plan, direct, and manage the activities of the Office to ensure effective and efficient delivery of mandated and contracted services.
- Supervise a team of lawyers, paralegals, 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.
- Provide leadership and direction for staff development, establishing individual performance goals and objectives.
- Mentor and coach junior and intermediate staff lawyers while maintaining an active senior-level practice caseload.
- Report to the Manager on Office operations, staff performance, training, and disciplinary matters.
- Manage expenses within approved budgets, including authorizing expenditures, approving overtime, vacation/sick leave, and travel expenses for all staff.
- Oversee office procedures and administrative systems, including intake procedures and case acceptance criteria, in accordance with LABC policy and standards.
- Develop a strategic annual service delivery plan in consultation with staff.
Who We Are
Legal Aid BC (LABC) is a non-profit organization established by the Legal Services Society Act in 1979. Our mission is to provide legal information, advice, and representation services to BC's most vulnerable and marginalized citizens who lack the necessary resources to effectively access the justice system when their families, freedom, or safety are at risk. Our vision is to see BC’s legal system transformed, by the way LABC represents our clients, into one more equitable and inclusive with a mission to strengthen client-centred legal help for British Columbians experiencing barriers accessing the legal system.
At LABC, we know that our continued ability to help the people who need us is due to the hardworking individuals who make up our team, dedicated to making a difference in the lives of people in need. We foster a positive culture of open communication for our team to thrive within, underpinned by our values of client focus, advancing Truth and Reconciliation, and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, and change through leadership.
Legal Aid BC is in the early stages of, and committed to a transformative journey of embedding Truth and Reconciliation, and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in all aspects of our work. We seek talent from equityseeking groups, including but not limited to individuals who self-identify as First Nations, Inuit, or Metis descent, persons with diverse abilities, gender diverse, racialized, and members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, be a part of this exciting stage of Legal Aid BC’s growth. We care deeply about the culture we are building and are looking for staff members who not only excel in their respective areas but are also passionate about supporting the people we serve and each other. If this resonates with you, we encourage you to apply. All interested and eligible applicants will be considered with due consideration to all protected grounds under the BC Human Rights Code. If we can do anything to make your application experience a positive and equitable one, we want to hear from you on what we can do better.
To understand why legal aid matters, and our commitments to Truth and Reconciliation, and Equity,
Diversity and Inclusion, please explore our website, planning and guiding documents at
https://legalaid.bc.ca/.
The Ideal Candidate
You have:
- 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.
Pursuant to approval granted under the Special Programs section of the BC Human Rights Code, preference will be given to applicants of Indigenous Ancestry. We encourage applicants to self-identify within their resume and/or cover letter.
We Offer
A competitive annual salary, as well as a comprehensive benefits package (based on your employment status and affiliation including:
- 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.
For additional information regarding our extensive benefits package, please explore our careers page at:
https://legalaid.bc.ca/about/careers/why-work-here.
If you are interested in joining us – visit our careers page for the full job posting at
https://legalaid.bc.ca/careers and apply now!
We would like to thank all external applicants for their interest but regret that only those shortlisted will be contacted.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $73,059.89-$148,530.41 per year
Benefits:
Work Location: In person
