Legal Counsel

This is for one permanent position working 75 hours bi-weekly.

Salary will be commensurate with education and experience:

LE01 - $ 91,879 to $140,950 per annum

LE02 - $ 113,612 to $151,966 per annum

LE03 - $ 123,161 to $164,743 per annum

The Department of Justice is working to ensure Yukon remains a safe, secure, and healthy place to live and work. We build strong and healthy relationships with others to support good governance and to foster safe communities with opportunities for healing. The Department of Justice provides supportive and dynamic work environments comprised of teams of professionals who are committed to making a difference in the lives of Yukoners.

The principles that guide our work are:

Reconciliation with Yukon First Nations: Together as DOJ representatives we commit to embracing the spirit of the Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada entitled Honouring the Truth, Reconciling the Future, by conducting ourselves in our day-to-day business in a manner that embodies the purpose of reconciliation with our First Nations members in the Yukon. We recognize the importance of employee education on First Nations history and the encouragement of innovative thinking by all DOJ personnel on our ability to effect meaningful change towards true reconciliation.

Working as a Team: As DOJ employees we value working together as a team within branches and within the department as a whole, while respecting our respective roles in the administration of justice, to work as one entity to meet our collective objective to serve the public. We are mindful of the impact of our actions on the people around us both in proximity and in the larger department and strive to ensure that we maintain the best interests of the department in our approach to our work.

Identify and Meet our Clients' Needs: DOJ personnel have a wide variety of responsibilities and an equally diverse clientele, internal and external to government, and we are committed to ensuring that they know we work for them and that we treat them with empathy, inclusion, integrity, respect and professionalism.

Initiative and Innovation: Management will encourage DOJ staff at all levels to think innovatively and to take initiative that will improve the work we do and services that we provide to allow for positive change and creativity in the workplace. Management will encourage DOJ personnel to reconsider our approach to the services we provide and adapt to the changing environment.

Communications: We are committed to improving the way we communicate internally with one another and externally to the public in order to better perform as a DOJ Team, share information and ideas with each other, dispel negative myths about the department and to ensure that the public has an appreciation for the excellent work we do.

The Opportunity

Department of Justice is currently seeking an experienced legal professional to the Aboriginal Law Group (ALG). The appointed individual will report directly to the Managing Counsel within the Legal Services Branch and will be providing specialized legal services in the area of Aboriginal Law to the Yukon government.

This role entails a significant responsibility in offering expert legal counsel regarding the interpretation and execution of Yukon First Nation Final and Self-Government Agreements. Additionally, the candidate will address legal obligations arising under common law towards First Nations. The role will also aid in the negotiation and formulation of various agreements and protocols with First Nations, alongside representing the Yukon government in civil litigation and administrative law proceedings involving Aboriginal law concerns.

Key responsibilities include conducting thorough legal research, crafting detailed legal opinions and risk assessments, and meticulously drafting and reviewing a range of legal documents such as pleadings, memoranda of law, and other court-related materials. The role demands providing both oral and written legal advice to the Yukon government to facilitate negotiations, policy formulation, and strategic decision-making. The candidate will also support the Yukon government's negotiators during discussions with First Nations and represent the government in court and before administrative bodies.

The ideal candidate for this position should be a skilled legal practitioner, demonstrating exceptional analytical and problem-solving capabilities, strong aptitude for teamwork, and effective communication skills.

For more information about this position, please contact the Managing Counsel of the Aboriginal Law Group: Ludovic Gouaillier at or

For information about the recruitment process, please contact Ilze Pretorius, Human Resources Consultant II at or

Please do not email resumes to any of the above addresses; resumes will only be accepted through the e-recruitment application system.

Please submit your resume clearly demonstrating how you meet the following qualifications. Please note selection for further consideration will be based solely on the information you provide in your resume.

• A minimum of 2 years of experience practicing law in a common-law jurisdiction
• Experience in aboriginal law or equivalent law matters
• Member of Yukon Law Society or eligible to be
• Experience in prosecutions and/or civil litigation is considered an asset

Candidates should have and may e assessed on their:

• Modelling Values and Ethics
• Action Management
• Information Gathering and Analysis
• Communication

Additional information

Conditions of Employment:

• Must be either a member in good standing of the Law Society of Yukon or be currently eligible for admission to the Law Society of Yukon

Job requirements:

• Willingness to travel both within Yukon and outside of the Territory
• Work evenings and weekends as required