Staff Lawyer I, III

Job Information

As the successful applicant for this full-time, on-site role you will be based in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. This is a welcoming and friendly community of about 20,000 located on the shores of Great Slave Lake. The geographical location lends itself to an abundance of available outdoor activities. The community provides an incredible amount of programming and events to keep residents as engaged and busy at they would like to be. In Yellowknife you will find many of the amenities you'd expect in a much larger southern city without any of the traffic jams

There are multiple opportunities in the Legal Aid Commission, with varying levels of experience required. You will work with your colleagues to provide the best legal advice and representation to client on matters related to criminal offences. 

You will be responsible for the following activities:
• Work independently on cases of varying levels of complexity as assigned by the Executive Director
• Attend all levels of Courts in the NWT
• Travel to remote Communities by air for Court Circuits
• Show Cause in Justice of the Peace Court and Duty Counsel in Yellowknife Territorial Court
• Depending on your experience Supreme Court and Jury Trials and some Appeal work
• Prepare all legal documents required for court proceedings.
• Assist with public legal education as instructed by the Executive Director

To be successful in this role you will need to have a Law Degree and membership in the NWT Bar combined with, depending on the seniority of the role, either one year or five or more years of full time experience as legal counsel practicing in the criminal law area and experience working in a legal aid clinic environment, and experience in managing other lawyers and support staff.

The Government of the Northwest Territories offers a competitive salary ($104K to $150K depending on experience), an annual northern living allowance of $3,700 in Yellowknife, a generous benefits package, including a benefit pension plan, annual leave including the option for deferred leave, and health/dental benefits. The GNWT will also provide relocation assistance, if needed, to the successful candidate.

Typically the above qualifications would be obtained by: 
Law Degree and membership in the NWT Bar; Staff Lawyer I - one year of experience as legal counsel practicing in the family law area will be required along with experience working in a legal aid environment and experience in managing other lawyers and support staff;Staff Lawyer III – five years as legal counsel practicing in the family law area will be required along with experience working in a legal aid environment.