Review Counsel

Review Counsel

About Queen's University

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Job Summary

Reporting to the Director of Queen’s Legal Aid (Director), Review Counsel is responsible for assisting with the delivery of clinical legal education to Queen’s Law students and the provision of professional legal services to clients, including participating in community legal education and development.

Queen’s Legal Aid (QLA) is part of the Queen’s Law Clinics (QLC), which are year-round legal clinics providing legal services and clinical education programming. Law students at the QLC provide legal services and information without charge to low-income individuals involved in the justice system. As a clinical education program, the QLC provides experiential learning opportunities to two hundred law students each year.

The Faculty of Law seeks a dynamic lawyer with experience in administrative litigation and dealing with social justice issues who is committed to serving clients within the Kingston community. The incumbent will have a passion for mentoring and positively contributing to the learning environment for students.

Review Counsel is governed by the Law Society of Ontario, the regulatory body for all Ontario-based lawyers, and must personally practice in compliance with the Law Society Act, the Legal Aid Services Act, 2020 and the Solicitors Act, as well as the provincial Rules of Professional Conduct. In coordination with the Director, Review Counsel has responsibility for clinic compliance with these same statutes and rules.

**Job Description**:

**KEY RESPONSIBILITIES**:

- Supervise law students including preparing students for their duties, reviewing file work, providing feedback, developing client management skills and other support as needed.
- Counsel students personally and professionally to ensure the quality of clinic services, including teaching, guiding legal research, scrutinizing legal writing and professional correspondence, monitoring client and file management techniques, ensuring adherence to deadlines and undertakings, and assisting students with their appearances before courts and tribunals, including attending trials and hearings, when required.
- Assist with securing client work for QLA, promoting QLA to students and future clients through presentations to various organizations providing supports for members of the community.
- Assist with monitoring professional services delivered by QLA, including adherence to all applicable statutes and rules, and the timely delivery of competent professional legal services to all of its clients.
- Maintain direct carriage of a small number of QLA files, including conducting trials, hearings or appeals.
- In coordination with the Director, assist with clinic operational and administrative matters, including compliance with guidelines, policies and procedures, analyzing data and deciding the scope and nature of QLA activities.
- Participate, as required, to engage classroom discussions.
- Provide input and support to the Director on course program delivery and activities as required.
- Attend continuing legal education programs and conduct legal research to stay aware of legal developments that affect QLA clients, specifically and practical developments that affect the general delivery of legal services.
- Ensure the provision of community legal education, law reform activities and legal support to clients and client groups as required, including:

- Produce materials for community education in the form of pamphlets, articles, manuals and self-help kits.
- Participate in the development and organization of outreach programmes for specific groups.
- Act as a resource person in various community organizations.
- Prepare legal briefs and other law reform activities.
- Prepare a programme of educational seminars designed for the client community, including giving speeches, workshops, and other educational activities.
- Lobby and advocate for law reform in cooperation with other clinics and groups.
- Participate in inter-clinic activities as appropriate.
- Make recommendations to the Director regarding the selection of credit students and volunteers as well as the employment of summer students, including hiring and dismissal decisions.
- Provide work direction, and technical/functional guidance to staff and students. Coordinate and monitor workflow.
- Review assignments and provide feedback on work to employees and students.
- Provide input on student work performance to the Director.
- Escalate unresolved performance and/or disciplinary matters to the Director.
- Contribute