Contract staff lawyer

Union: The Society

Job Number: J1124-0138

Job Title: Roster Management Staff Lawyer - Immigration and Refugee (24 months)

Job Type: Contract

Contract Duration: 24 months

Job Location: Toronto

Job Category: Legal

Role Designation: Flexible Hybrid - In person days can be flexible from week to week subject to manager approval and operational requirements.

Legal Aid Ontario employees are committed to making a difference in the lives of our clients. As an integral partner in the Justice system, working at Legal Aid Ontario is more than just a job. It's an opportunity to help people who need it the most; to ensure each client receives the access to justice afforded to them under the law.

Building a diverse workforce that represents the communities we serve while promoting a safe culture and work environment that dismantles systemic barriers, welcomes fresh perspectives and embraces differences as a priority is a core value at LAO. LAO encourages applicants from equity-seeking groups, including but not limited to individuals who are First Nations, Inuit or Métis, Black and racialized, as well as persons with disabilities, women and members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community.

We recognize the value of equity, diversity and inclusion and are committed to addressing systemic barriers, and prioritizing, attracting and retaining diverse staff. All interested and eligible people will be considered, with due consideration to all protected grounds under the Ontario Human Rights Code.

Legal Aid Ontario values integrity, respect, responsiveness, excellence, independence, accountability, openness and consistency. Our recruitment process reflects our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion. Accommodations are available throughout the recruitment process as well as during employment at LAO. p>Primary function

The Roster Management (RM) department has provincial scope and is responsible for working with LAO’s District Offices to oversee LAO’s roster of third-party independent service providers. This oversight includes reviewing applications to join the roster, providing legal opinions and recommending courses of action to internal LAO staff to resolve issues.

Our team conducts legal research and analysis to identify issues and determine courses of action including drafting correspondence, memoranda and administrative law pleadings further to LAO’s legislation, and rules and writing notices of suspension from the roster, or roster removal. Another function of the RM group is to review information relating to complaints, audits, or investigations regarding lawyer service-providers, and assessing any potential risks to clients or LAO and identify areas for improvement in LAO’s processes and policies relating to management of its roster and quality of service provided to LAO clients. We also chair inter-departmental meetings including LAO’s Compliance Departments.

LAO’s Roster Management Department also leads a number of modernization projects tied to the implementation of the Legal Aid Services Act, 2020 and the Roster Management Rules. These projects include the transition of roster members to the new minimum experience requirements, implementation of the conditional authorization and duty counsel renewal processes, and data management initiatives.

Function: To provide legal services in the areas of administrative law, and professional regulation to carry out LAO’s statutory powers under the Legal Aid Services Act, 2020 and its rules applicable to LAO’s Lawyer Roster.

The Roster Management Staff Lawyer – Immigration and Refugee will provide support to LAO’s District Offices to oversee LAO’s roster of third-party independent service providers in immigration and refugee law. p>

1. reviewing applications to join the roster
2. providing legal opinions and recommending courses of action to internal LAO staff to resolve issues with immigration and refugee roster members
3. together with the staff lawyer assigned for each district, assist in drafting correspondence, memoranda and administrative law pleadings further to LAO’s legislation, and rules with a specific view towards identifying issues with immigration and refugee quality of service and compliance.
4. together with the staff lawyer assigned for each district, assist in writing notices of suspension from the roster, or roster refusal and removal
5. reviewing information relating to complaints, audits, investigations, and third party information (E.Information from the Law Society of Ontario, the IRB, Federal Court, and stakeholders) regarding lawyer service-providers, and assessing any potential risks to clients or LAO
6. participating in inter-departmental meetings including LAO’s Compliance Departments

The Roster Management Staff Lawyer Immigration and Refugee will be responsible for a high-volume of roster management files at any given time, and will also be heavily involved in the review of materials submitted by Immigration and Refugee roster members to review quality of service and compliance with LAO’s requirements and policies.

In addition, the Roster Management Staff Lawyer, Immigration and Refugee will participate in a number of internal initiatives aimed at improving client service delivery and oversight of immigration and refugee legal aid services. p>

1. Participating in meetings with internal and external stakeholders in relation to immigration and refugee service delivery
2. Researching and drafting operational policies, process improvements, and clarifications on LAO’s existing rules and guidelines
3. Identifying opportunities for improved oversight of the Immigration and Refugee Roster
4. Tracking Roster Management Files that require oversight and monitoring
5. Drafting memoranda on behalf of the Director and Department in relation to various immigration and refugee initiatives to update LAO’s senior management and Board
6. Providing support and subject matter expertise in immigration and refugee issues to all members of the Roster Management Team

This position will appeal to a lawyer with significant experience in immigration and refugee law as well experience in administrative law, professional regulation, and legal research and writing. This position requires significant knowledge of LASA, 2020, and Roster Management processes, and will require a lawyer who can effectively navigate and manage multiple competing priorities, and an often-intensive workload involving detailed reading, writing, and correspondence. Effective time-management and organization is essential in this role. Provincial office

Secondary location: TBD

Reports to: Director, Roster Management

1. Drafting legal correspondence, notices of suspension, notices of refusal to enrol on the roster, notices of roster removal, and other materials further to LAO’s legislation, rules, or policies.
2. Oversight of legal aid roster members in one or more of LAO’s Districts, including carriage of a high-volume Immigration and Refugee roster management files at any given time
3. Identify and assess risk, and formulate strategies and approaches to addressing issues with roster management files as they arise
4. Reviewing and providing direction to management and advice on reports from LAO’s Compliance Departments
5. Conducting reviews and analysis of Immigration and Refugee Roster Lawyer billings and substantive work submitted to LAO to identify quality and compliance issues
6. Oversight of applications to the Immigration and Refugee Roster and assist staff in drafting refusals, requests for additional information, conditional membership notices, and other materials
7. Participate in a number of ongoing initiatives aimed at reviewing and improving Immigration and Refugee service provision
8. Research, draft, and together with business staff produce data in support of operational policy and process changes
9. Facilitating knowledge-sharing and best practices among staff offices
10. File management, including developing and maintaining repository of correspondence, pleadings for roster membership proceedings or related litigation, and other relevant materials including use of computer technology and data input for statistics measurements in a timely manner
11. Data tracking, including reviewing and assessing data from LAO’s annual lawyer self-report, and tracking data on roster member issues and resignations
12. Supporting District Offices including providing research and analysis on roster management inquiries from various LAO staff
13. Ensuring a high-quality of legal work in a cost-effective and efficient manner
14. Assistance with other special projects as they arise, including providing input and research on new policies or procedures, and new area of law standards
15. Keep abreast with and where necessary providing research and analysis on matters before the Law Society Tribunal
16. Punctual attendance to perform daily duties
17. Perform other duties and administrative tasks as assigned and remain adaptable and flexible in a changing environment

1. Lawyer in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario
2. Fluency in French, including ability to draft legal materials and provide legal services in French is a significant asset
3. Extensive Administrative Law knowledge, including intermediate-level knowledge on the Legal Aid Services Act, 2020, its regulations, rules, and LAO’s Roster Management Process
4. A minimum of 5 years of direct experience in Immigration and Refugee Law including providing direct client service and attendance and representation at the IRB and/or Federal Court is required
5. Knowledge of court and tribunal practices and procedures relating to immigration law proceedings
6. Knowledge of LAO’s Billing System is an asset
7. Significant and current experience in legal drafting, including drafting demand letters and pleadings, including ability to quickly draft materials and respond to urgent priorities
8. Demonstrated commitment to social justice or public interest work
9. Demonstrated understanding and current working experience with LAO’s Compliance processes and the delivery of Legal Aid Services in general
10. Practical understanding of the Rules of Professional Conduct and proceedings before the Law Society Tribunal
11. Communication, presentation and negotiation skills coupled with strong advocacy skills
12. Proven judgment and analytical ability to determine appropriate legal remedies or course of action
13. Ability to quickly shift priorities and adapt where urgent priorities arise
14. Ability to foresee and address risks, including maintaining discretion, providing a range of options, and working with sensitive and highly confidential information
15. Ability to work collaboratively with a range of both internal and external stakeholders, including external counsel, LAO’s Compliance Departments, General Counsel, and LAO’s Management
16. Ability to work with minimal supervision in an intensive environment while also demonstrating collaboration and teamwork with colleagues and other stakeholders
17. Ability to use computer based file management and data entry systems such as PeopleSoft and Microsoft Office
18. Demonstrated ability to use latest communication technologies including tablets and smartphones and ability to utilize video conferencing platforms in order to deliver services virtually (Zoom/Lync/Teams)

To apply submit a cover letter & résumé.

This position is represented by The Society of United Professionals and the employee will be governed by the provisions of the collective agreement and union dues will be deducted bi-weekly from date of hire.

Legal Aid Ontario (LAO), an independent but publicly funded and publicly accountable non-profit corporation.