Legal Aid Worker

2 months ago

Toronto, Ontario, Canada Legal Aid Ontario Full time


This position is responsible for supporting the mandate of the SLA Phone Program including the provision of public legal information in family and criminal law over the telephone to clients across the province.


The Legal Aid Worker (LAW) works with their manager, staff lawyers, and other LAWs to provide direct client service and administrative support in a busy client service environment.

The legal aid worker will be responsible for the initial assessment and intake of criminal and family law clients 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 and family law clients, and other duties as assigned.

LAWs provide some administrative support for the staff duty counsel lawyers in terms of creating Peoplesoft notes and maintaining organized computer filing system for criminal (SI).


The LAW will be required to conduct intake interviews with clients, create detailed notes for staff lawyers, and will help support and implement Legal Aid Ontario initiatives and priorities.


Primary Location:
The successful candidates may reside anywhere within the Province of Ontario

Reporting to:
Manager, Operations, Summary Legal Advice Phone Program

  • Assessment of the client need to determine the appropriate service for the client, including the early identification of vulnerable clients so that the appropriate service and referrals can be made, under the supervision of staff lawyers;
  • Interview clients who are placed on a worklist to gather information about case and assist the lawyer manager and staff lawyers with detailed peoplesoft notes.;
  • Familiarity and competence with proper maintenance of client data base, computer information databases such as service integration, conflict of interest systems, and basic principles of criminal law and family law;
  • Familiarity with financial eligibility, certificate coverage and tariff guidelines;
  • Provide general information, including procedural legal information on the status of legal aid applications, appeals, and referrals.
  • Perform intake by interviewing clients by phone to gather necessary information (case history) required for decision-making.
  • Make entitlement decisions (including ongoing eligibility) based on LAO's financial and legal eligibility policies and guidelines.
Direct Client Services (Criminal and Family law)

  • Provide services for summary legal advice programs across the province including client intake, administration and supporting duty counsel/staff lawyer services.
  • Triage and assess client needs, including early identification of vulnerable clients, to determine the appropriate service for clients and make referrals to appropriate services primarily to SLA lawyers.
  • Assist staff lawyers by providing clients with public legal information including procedural legal information and referrals to appropriate legal services.
  • Assist clients/duty counsel with routine administrative matters (i.e. Service Integration data entry, liaising with DC and FLSCs, etc.).
Administrative Supports

  • Support and assist with administrative functions (call back scheduling, and collecting/compiling information for statistics/performance measures).
  • Perform other duties as required. This may include assisting with special projects and project implementation.
  • Prior experience in similar or related role.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for dealing with clients, lawyers and other agencies with the proven ability to exercise judgment when encountering stressful situations including the early identification of vulnerable clients so that the appropriate service and referrals can be made.
  • Proven ability to learn and adapt to new or modified policies and procedures.
  • Demonstrated commitment to client service and relationship building skills.
  • Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team.
  • Possess experience in criminal court setting and some knowledge of relevant legislation such as the Criminal Code of Canada.
  • Possess experience in family court setting and some knowledge of relevant legislation such as the Family Law Rules.
  • Possess significant knowledge of LAO priorities, policies and procedures.
  • Intermediate to advanced computer skills, including familiarity and competence with proper maintenance of client data base, computer information databases such as PeopleSoft.
  • Well-developed interview skills.
  • One or more of these positions will be designated as French-English bilingual and will require French proficiency
  • Ability to communicate in French is an asset.
  • Ability to maintain detailed functional and theoretical knowledge of legal aid application processing rules and procedures.
  • Ability to determine legal and financial eligibility based on LAO eligibility criteria and to generate certificates in accordance with office procedures and standard formats.
  • Demonstrated ability to use latest communication technologies including smartphones, tablets, and video conference systems.
  • Must have intermediate knowledge of the following Microsoft programs; Outlook, Word, and Excel.


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.

First time applying to LAO? You will need to create a profile AND then apply for the position.
Already have an Njoyn account? Just sign in and select "my jobs" to apply.
Once you have successfully applied you will receive a confirmation email.

Trouble applying? For telephone support, please call or

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