Legal Assistant I

**Requisition ID**:43325

**Organization**

Located on the traditional, ancestral and unceded lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Peoples, Vancouver has a commitment to becoming a City of Reconciliation. Vancouver consistently ranks as one of the world’s most liveable and environmentally sustainable cities. Named among Canada's Top 100 Employers, BC's Top Employers, and Canada's Greenest Employers, the City of Vancouver seeks colleagues who can help shape and embody our core commitments to sustainability, reconciliation, equity and outstanding quality of life for all residents.

Consider joining our committed team of staff and being part of an innovative, inclusive and rewarding workplace.

**Main Purpose & Function**
The Legal Assistant I will provide a full range of senior legal assistant support for two or more in-house lawyers in the Litigation Practice Group in the Legal Services Department at the City of Vancouver. The incumbent will have current and specialized legal skills and expertise directly related to Civil Litigation as well as knowledge/ability related to other practice areas in this Practice Group.

**Specific Duties & Responsibilities**
- Provide senior legal assistant support on a wide range of specialized and often complex legal documents and correspondence (including routine and non-routine correspondence and legal opinions) concerning civil litigation and by-law prosecutions;
- Assist lawyers with the organization, co-ordination and management of legal files from creation to close. Work is performed in accordance with established standards and procedures and includes:

- creating, maintaining and updating of a variety of records relating to litigation matters in progress;
- establishing, updating, maintaining and monitoring appropriate bring forward and limitation date systems, including determining, tracking and monitoring due dates;
- obtaining Court dates or City Council Hearing dates and setting matters for Trial or Hearing, diarizing appropriate dates, and assisting lawyers in all aspects of preparing a case including following up and resolution of outstanding matters with internal and external contacts to ensure appropriate completion of matters and/or readiness for Trial or Hearing;
- liaising with others (internal and external) to provide and receive information; and
- providing administrative support to assigned lawyers; and
- Record, track and report on department statistics relating to the work performed.

Practice area responsibilities include:
General Litigation and/or Enforcement:

- Assists lawyers with litigation files (which may include matters relating to general/civil litigation, injunctions, business license hearings and/or coroner’s inquests, including:

- prepares, compiles, organizes, processes, reviews, revises, formats, completes (including arranging for and/or swearing of Affidavits) and files a wide variety of court documents in appropriate Court Registry (at all levels of Court);
- arranges for service of documents as and when required;
- prepares evidence books and distributes, where required;
- notifies, subpoenas and schedules witnesses for Trial or Hearing;
- creates Lists of Documents; and
- conducts searches and obtains and organizes materials (including preparing pleadings binders as and when required) and other information for review by lawyer(s).

By-law Prosecution:

- Receives and reviews reports and/or requests from various departments on by-law infractions and charges to be laid;
- Prepares from precedent and/or processes Informations (including editing and reviewing to ensure accuracy and completeness);
- Swears before a Justice of the Peace that Informations are correct so that charges can be laid, court dates set and Summonses issued;
- Prepares correspondence and legal documentation, and arranges for filing of documents in Court Registry where necessary;
- Conducts and reviews searches and obtains and organizes materials and information from a variety of sources for review by lawyer(s);
- Obtains available trial/court dates, schedules witnesses and provides information to lawyer(s); and
- Reviews cases for remand, withdrawal or setting of trial date before Court appearances to ensure receipt of required documentation and information; and
- Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

**Qualifications**

Education and Experience:

- Completion of Grade 12 plus several years’ recent related experience as a senior Legal Assistant in British Columbia with specialized skills and expertise pertaining to the Litigation Practice Group generally and the indicated practice area(s) specifically, or an equivalent combination of experience and training.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

- Thorough knowledge of legal procedures (including regulations and practices), forms and documents and legal terminology relating to the specified practice area(s), which may include specific knowledg