Administrative Legal Assistant

**Location**: Vancouver, BC

**Status**: Full-time Permanent

**Affiliation**:British Columbia General Employees’ Union (BCGEU)

**Salary range**:Job Class 10 ($55,189 - $62,968) *under review

**Hours of Work**: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm (35 hours/week, Monday to Friday) This position is not on the modified workweek

**Competition #**:B079-24

**Application Deadline**: October 10, 2024

**VALUES STATEMENT**:
Our commitment to the principles of fundamental justice embedded in the _Charter of Rights and Freedoms_, and to Truth and Reconciliation, and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion is ambitious and foundational. It informs everything we do, as we defend liberty, equality, autonomy, and dignity; as we dismantle colonization, racism, sexism, transphobia and homophobia, and all discrimination. These are our values, and they inform our hiring practices too. Our business is aiding people in severe legal distress and necessitates internal and external alignment of practicing these values. Integrating Truth and Reconciliation, and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion throughout every aspect of Legal Aid BC is critical to building that culture, and we prioritize ongoing resources to achieve that goal.

**The Opportunity**

As **Administrative Legal Assistant / Intake Legal Assistant, **your primary function is provide administrative and legal administrative support for the Department, Managing Lawyer, Lead Lawyer, Staff Lawyer, roster lawyers lead and/or Paralegal/Advocate. Provide front line services to the public for in-person, online and telephone legal aid programs including intake services. Provide legal information and assess eligibility and suitability for services.

**Key accountabilities include, but aren't limited to**:

- Coordination of the day to day running of the program operations;
- Assist with the implementation and delivery of the program;
- Provide input to and maintain program processes, policies and procedures, create and maintain manuals, and records management;
- Process and maintain program data, databases, data input and reporting; and
- Maintain quality control of operating policies established by the lead lawyer and program team.
- Draft, produce routine correspondence and legal documents, answer telephone inquiries, provide information on services offered or direct to other community resources;
- Provide administrative support to the Department, Lead Lawyer, Managing Lawyer, Staff Lawyer, roster lawyers and/or paralegal/advocate(s) including ensuring time keeping is entered into systems;
- Order pamphlets and office supplies, call for equipment repairs, and maintain library material;
- Develop and maintain filing system, including storage and destruction;
- Develop and maintain client file lists, and client records in the database and other LABC systems;
- Open, process, maintain and close case files;
- Contact lawyers to arrange services, make referrals and issue contracts to private bar lawyers, or other agencies;
- Provide an empathetic, non-judgemental, open-minded and person-centered approach aimed at building trust with clients in order to identify legal issues and urgency, meeting them where they are at;
- Practice active listening, non-violent communication, non-violent crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques in order to achieve communication and information sharing with clients facing barriers to accessing legal services through a lens of Truth & Reconciliation and Equity, Diversity & Inclusion;[DS1]
**Who We Are**

Legal Aid BC (LABC) is a non-profit organization established by the Legal Services Society Act in 1979. Our mission is to provide legal information, advice, and representation services to BC's most vulnerable and marginalized citizens who lack the necessary resources to effectively access the justice system when their families, freedom, or safety are at risk. Our vision is to see BC’s legal system transformed, by the way LABC represents our clients, into one more equitable and inclusive with a mission to strengthen client-centred legal help for British Columbians experiencing barriers accessing the legal system.

At LABC, we know that our continued ability to help the people who need us is due to the hardworking individuals who make up our team, dedicated to making a difference in the lives of people in need. We foster a positive culture of open communication for our team to thrive within, underpinned by our values of client focus, advancing Truth and Reconciliation, and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, and change through leadership.

You have Grade 12 education supplemented by completed Legal Administration courses or program. Completed courses in Law, Sociology or related disciplines. Minimum of 5 years of Administration experience in a law environment. Minimum of 1 year of Intake experience. An equivalent combination of training, education and experience may be considered. You strive to exceed expectations and are a team player.

**We Offer**

A competitive annu