Duty Counsel

Company Bio

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.
If you are looking for a new challenge in your already meaningful career with a team dedicated to justice, and innovation in a flexible and supportive work environment consider this opportunity below.
Primary function
This Duty Counsel will be required to provide family and criminal duty counsel services in Simcoe/Muskoka. This role may require travel throughout the district on occasion. As such, applicants with readily available transportation or an ability to rent a vehicle are preferred.

Family Duty Counsel is responsible for providing client service for family law matters in the courthouse, both virtually and in person once in person services resume. Family Duty Counsel will be responsible for the intake and assessment of family law clients to determine the appropriate service for the clients, including but not limited to providing procedural and summary legal advice; drafting, reviewing and commissioning of family court documents and pleadings such as Applications, Answers, Motions, Affidavits and Financial Statements; in court representation at various stages of a family court and/or child protection proceeding; and other duties as assigned.

Criminal Duty Counsel is responsible for providing client service for criminal law matters in the courthouse, both virtually and in person. Criminal Duty Counsel will be responsible for the intake and assessment of criminal law clients to determine the appropriate service for those charged with criminal offences, including but not limited to providing procedural and summary legal advice; drafting and reviewing criminal court documents; in court representation at various stages of criminal court proceedings; and other duties as assigned.

**Home Position**: Bracebridge

**Secondary/Tertiary locations can include**: Hunstville, Barrie

**Reports to**: Manager of Legal Services, Central Eastern District
Key accountabilities
- Act as Family and Criminal Duty Counsel
- Representing clients both in-person and remotely
- Ensure high quality of legal work in a cost effective manner
- File management as per LAO requirements including use of computer technology; data input for statistics measurements in a timely manner

**Family**:

- Advocate for clients in court and on court forms
- Provide family law duty counsel services, including providing instructions to Legal Aid Workers (and students), preparation of court documents for eligible clients, make appropriate referrals when required, including to mediation services
- Providing representation in the Superior Court of Justice (or Unified Family Court) at first appearances, conferences, motions, negotiations, Family Responsibility Office (FRO) matters, Children’s Aid Societies matters and other court hearings and services as required
- Assist unrepresented eligible clients with LAO family settlement conferences as required
- Assist unrepresented clients with Child Youth and Family Services Act (CYFSA) matters (with document preparation and in court appearances)
- Ability to provide advice lawyer services at the Family Law Information Centre (FLIC)
- Demonstrated ability to provide sensitive and compassionate client service to those who may be victims of domestic violence
- Provide advice lawyer services on the Summary Legal Advice (SLA) telephone service for family
- Maintain client files and conflict lists
- Other duties as assigned

Criminal
- Assisting unrepresented clients who have been charged with criminal matters
- Representing clients at bail hearings, guilty pleas and remands both in-person and remotely
- Assessing clients’ needs, including the early identification of vulnerable clients, to facilitate referrals to appropriate services.
- Provide criminal law services as defense counsel in the Ontario Court of Justice
- Providing assistance and representation at federal, provincial, and youth, remand, bail and plea courts, including specialty courts (Drug Treatment Court / Mental Health Court / Gladue Court)
- Providing summary legal advice (SLA)
- Interviewing clients, sureties, and witnesses
- Disclosure review and Crown pre-trials meetings
- Assisting with various motions and hearings (may include trials), including judicial pre-trials
- Preparing and arguing bail hearings
- Other duties as assigned

Required skills & experience
- Member in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario

Family
- Demonstrated experience dealing with complex family law matter and of strong knowledge of relevant family law legislation and in particular child protection law, including in court experience. Experience being lead on family and CYFSA files.
- Ability to work independently