Law Clerk

Overview

Position Type: One (1) Regular Full Time Position
Employee Group: CUPE 2501
Salary Range: $62,131.68 to $67,459.25
Department: Legal
Reports to: Senior Manager, Legal Services

Job Profile

Under the supervision of the Senior Manager of Legal Services, the Law Clerk provides expertise and support to workers and legal staff in the drafting, preparation, and serving of necessary legal and court documentation required to satisfy legal requirements under the Child, Youth and Family Services Act (CYFSA). The Law Clerk maintains ongoing communication on file/case management including identifying required timelines for filing of affidavits, obtaining legal counsel input as required, and ensuring court requirements are fulfilled. This position provides comprehensive administrative services to support the Legal Counsel and can be called upon to provide back-up coverage for the administrative services team.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Legal Document Preparation

- Provides leadership and assists staff in preparing affidavit evidence. Ensures that the form, terminology and language are appropriate for court filing. Assists in the drafting of Information in Support of Warrants and Telewarrants.
- Ensures all court documents are filed in a timely manner and that all documents and Affidavit of Service are filed with the court.
- Arranges for service of parties, as required. Ensure service requirements are met.
- Drafts and reviews court materials submitted by workers. Transcribes the information onto proper court documents, using terminology and language appropriate for court filing.
- Maintains ongoing consultation and coordination with workers and legal counsel to ensure accuracy and completeness of information.
- Collects and organizes necessary evidence to support court proceedings in compliance with rules of evidence.
- Conducts background research required for drafting materials.
- Coordinates with Legal Assistants a bring-forward system for status review dates and court filing deadlines.
- Prepares Notices of Hearing, Protection Applications, Status Review Applications, Notices of Motion, Affidavits in Support of Motion, Statements of Agreed Facts, Consents, Conference Briefs, Summons to Witness, and Affidavits of Service.

Adoption

- Meets with workers to advise of court documents required for Adoptions. Assists in the drafting of Adoption Applications, Local Director’s Consents, Affidavits, Child’s Consent, Affidavit of Parentage, and Consents of Biological Parents.
- Communicates with the Ministry regarding Extended Society Care Adoptions and Consent Adoptions; prepares Director’s Consent with Report on the Adjustment of the Child (ROACH).

Record Disclosure

- Responds to requests for record disclosure, ensuring all necessary documentation has been provided to those requesting disclosure.
- Vets files for disclosure in child protection proceedings.
- Meets with Legal Counsel to review disclosure, as needed.

Trial Preparation

- Assists with trial preparation.
- Organizes legal files in preparation for trials and summary judgment motions and ensures that all required documents have been completed and filed.
- Conducts legal research as directed by Counsel.

Legal Records Maintenance

- Coordinates, proofs, and organizes all legal documentation completed by Staff, including adoption applications, in accordance with the CYFSA, Family Law Rules, and directives from the Court and from Legal Counsel.
- Distributes by email Court Dockets and Disposition Reports.
- Maintains necessary legal information for statistical purposes.

Administrative Duties

- Maintains schedules for Court appearances, documentation due dates, legal meetings, and send notices to appropriate Legal Counsel and staff regarding same.
- Make all necessary arrangements for legal meetings.
- Answers incoming calls and respond to them accordingly; completes office duties such as faxing, photocopying, and filing.
- Assesses the urgency of crises situations when Legal Counsel is not available to seek an interim response.
- Contributes to centralized administrative services throughout the Agency as required.
- Opens/closes files in CPIN for record disclosures; maintains electronic records for court files; and scans/links legal attachments to CPIN.

Knowledge, Education, Experience, Skills and Attributes

Qualifications

- Law Clerk Diploma or Degree from a recognized community college or university; or successful completion of the Institute of Law Clerks of Ontario courses.
- 3-4 years’ experience as a Law Clerk, Family Law preferred.
- Experience in drafting court documents and court proceedings.
- Familiarity with the Child, Youth and Family Services Act.
- Eligibility for membership with the Institute of Law Clerks of Ontario an asset.
- Strong knowledge and use of software such as the Child Protection Information Network (CPIN), E-forms, and Microsoft Office.

General Skills and Attributes

- Knowledge of child welfare sector is considered an asset.
- Strong written communication skills and the ability to prepare legal documents with attention to detail.
- Professional, approachable, and customer-service orientated.
- Strong problem solving and conflict resolutions skills with the ability to demonstrate tact and diplomacy under pressure.
- Solid planning, time-management, multi-tasking, and organizational skills to meet strict statutory timelines for the preparation and service of Court documents.
- Ability to deal with written material of an explicit nature.
- Ability to think independently while taking direction from the Legal Counsel.
- Valid Ontario Driver’s License and a vehicle available for work purposes.
- A positive outlook.

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

- Responsive to the knowledge and understanding of the culture, history and current oppressions experienced by marginalized communities and communities that are overrepresented in the child welfare system, including Indigenous, racialized and the 2SLGBTQ+ communities.
- Fosters an inclusive and accessible environment where all employees, service recipients and volunteers are respected.
- Strong knowledge, understanding and experience working within an equity and anti-oppressive, anti-racism practice framework, including knowledge of the 11 One Vision One Voice Race Equity practices and the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action.
- Ensures ethnic, spiritual, linguistic, familial and cultural differences are respected.
- Acts in accordance with and incorporates the Society's Code of Conduct, Confidentiality, Equal Opportunity and Anti-Discrimination, Harassment & Discrimination policies, etc.

The Halton Children’s Aid Society has a vaccination policy and procedure in place. As a condition of employment, new employees are required to be vaccinated for COVID-19 unless they have a valid reason not to be vaccinated based on a protected ground under the Ontario Human Rights Code. The successful candidate will be offered employment on the condition of being fully vaccinated. Fully vaccinated is defined as having received all of the required doses of a Health Canada approved vaccine and having received the final dose at least 14 days before your employment start date. The candidate will be asked to provide Halton CAS with proof of full vaccination prior to start date. Acceptable proof includes an Ontario Ministry of Health COVID-19 vaccine receipt or other government-issued vaccine passport or certification. The requirement to be fully vaccinated is subject to the Ontario Human Rights Code. If unable to receive the vaccine for reasons protected by the Code, accommodation requests will be assessed on a case-by-case basis and handled through Halton CAS’ accommodation process.

The Halton Children’s Aid Society is an equal opportunity employer.

The Halton Children's Aid Society is committed to fostering an inclusive, accessible environment where all employees and members of the public are respected. We are dedicated to building a workforce that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. We thank all applicants for their interest; we will contact those selected for an interview. All interviewed candidates will be asked to provide a minimum of two supervisory references. We are committed to a selection process and work environment that is inclusive and barrier free. Accommodation will be provided in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code. Applicants should make any accommodation requests for the interview or selection process known in advance by contacting the Human Resources Department at 905-333-4441 ext. 0575. Human Resources will work with the applicant and the interview committee to arrange reasonable and appropriate accommodation for the selection process to enable fair assessment.

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