Managing Lawyer, Family Law Clinics

**Location**: Surrey, BC

**Status**:Full-time Permanent

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

**Salary range**:Based on year of call - $70,931.93 (Yr1) to $141,376.75 (Yr16) + 10% Staff Lawyer Benefit Plan

**Competition #**:P054-24

**Application Deadline**:September 4, 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.

We are seeking a **Managing 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 an Excluded Manager, the **Managing Lawyer **is responsible for managing an Office and 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 within the context of Legal Aid BC (LABC) policies and procedures. This role involves overseeing the delivery of professional legal services, supervising operations and resources, and liaising with the Vancouver Regional Centre on various initiatives.

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

- Plan, direct, and manage the activities of the Office to ensure effective and efficient delivery of mandated and contracted services.
- Supervise a team of lawyers, paralegals, advocates, and intake staff, including performance planning, coaching, and feedback. Monitor and evaluate probation/trial periods, conduct staff lawyer file reviews, ensure compliance with timekeeping systems and caseload targets, and handle disciplinary matters in consultation with Human Resources.
- Provide leadership and direction for staff development, establishing individual performance goals and objectives.
- Mentor and coach junior and intermediate staff lawyers while maintaining an active senior-level practice caseload.
- Report to the Manager on Office operations, staff performance, training, and disciplinary matters.
- Manage expenses within approved budgets, including authorizing expenditures, approving overtime, vacation/sick leave, and travel expenses for all staff.

**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**:

- Membership or eligibility for membership in the Law Society of British Columbia.
- Minimum of five (5) years of experience at the Bar in British Columbia or equivalent experience in another Canadian jurisdicti