Staff Lawyer, Family Law Clinics

**Location**: Victoria, BC

**Status**:Full-time Permanent

**Affiliation**:Professional Employees Association (PEA)

**Salary range**:Based on year of call - $70,931.93 (Yr1) to $135,907.07 (Yr14) + 10% Staff Lawyer Benefit Plan

**Competition #**:P057-24

**Application Deadline**:Open until filled

**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 alignmentof 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.

We are seeking **two Staff Lawyer, Family Law Clinics, **to join our team.

**The Opportunity**

The Family Law Clinic (FLC) provides both in-person and virtual services to clients who have experienced or are experiencing family violence. The FLC operates as a multidisciplinary clinic, offering legal services through a team that includes a managing lawyer, staff lawyers, paralegals, advocates, and administrative/intake legal assistants. Together, this team works to assist and advocate for clients facing multiple barriers to accessing legal aid services. Our approach is trauma-informed, anti-oppressive, and culturally sensitive, catering to those who have experienced family violence, those living in poverty or with low incomes, individuals from equity-seeking groups, and those whose first language is not English. We strongly encourage applicants who self-identify as belonging to an equity-seeking group or who have lived experience of systemic oppression to apply.

Reporting to the Managing Lawyer or Excluded Manager, this position works within the context of Legal Aid BC (LABC) policies and is responsible for providing legal counsel and representation, including duty counsel, in the full range of family/child protection law practice including separation, divorce, parenting arrangements, property division and child protection matters. This position works collaboratively with community advocates in developing legal services, programs and law reform.

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

- Provides family law services including summary legal advice and information to clients and individual case representation and provides duty counsel services in courts as assigned.
- Screening and supporting clients who have experienced family violence
- Conducts legal research and prepares required documents.
- Develops solutions to family problems and acts for clients in all family matters at hearings, trials and appeals in all levels of BC Courts.
- Discusses, negotiates and resolves case matters by working with opposing lawyers, judges, witnesses and police as appropriate.

**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.
- Legal Aid BC is in the early stages of, and committed to a transformative journey of embedding Truth and Reconciliation, and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in all aspects of our work. We seek talent from equity

You have:

- A degree from a Law School of recognized standing and membership or eligibility for membership in the Law Society of British Columbia.
- Experience as per job posting year of call requirements, in general practice with an emphasis on family and child protection law.
- Experience supervising support staff.
- Experience at Provincial and Supreme Court levels involving the full range of family law and child protection issues.
- Or an equivalent combination of education