Legal Researcher and Analyst

Department: National Institute on Ageing
Position supervisor: Director of Policy, National Institute on Ageing
Start date: As soon as possible
Hours of work per week: 36.25
Position Type: Research Professional

**Salary**: $80,000 - $94,000

About Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University)

At the intersection of mind and action, Toronto Metropolitan University is on a transformative path to become Canada’s leading comprehensive innovation university. Integral to this path is the placement of equity, diversity and inclusion as fundamental to our institutional culture. Our current academic plan outlines each as core values and we work to embed them in all that we do.

As an employer, we are working towards a people first culture and are proud to have been selected as one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers and a Greater Toronto’s Top Employer for 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.

About the National Institute on Ageing

The National Institute on Ageing (NIA) improves the lives of older adults and the systems that support them by conducting research, convening stakeholders, sharing information, shifting attitudes and advancing policy solutions and practice innovations. Our vision is a Canada where older adults feel valued, included, supported, and better prepared to age with confidence.

The NIA is a collaborative and cross-functional team of motivated professionals working to improve the lives of older adults. We completed a new strategic plan in 2024, which provides clarity on the intended impact of our work and sets the organization on a growth trajectory in order to expand our mandate nationally, engage more comprehensively with older adults, prioritize policy and systems change work and develop actionable solutions for the unique challenges that older adults face.

The NIA’s teams work collaboratively together in a predominantly remote environment, and we are housed within the Ted Rogers School of Management at Toronto Metropolitan University.

The opportunity

The Legal Researcher and Analyst will lead and support NIA’s legal, legislative and regulatory research and analysis and provide leadership to the NIA’s work to advance the human rights of older adults through research, advocacy, law reform, and, where appropriate, strategic litigation and public legal education. This role will be a part of the policy team and will work closely with the NIA’s Policy Analysts, Survey Research Manager and will also supervise the NIA’s Articling Student. As part of a broader cross-functional team across the entire organization, the Legal Researcher & Analyst will collaborate with other functional teams to support the NIA’s broader policy development and advocacy efforts.

Job Responsibilities
- Monitoring legislative and regulatory developments at the municipal, provincial, federal and international level related to the mandate and policy priorities of the NIA.
- Leading and contributing to advancing the NIA’s mandate and policy priorities by researching and analyzing legislative, regulatory and jurisprudential developments and developing various law reform proposals.
- Leading and contributing to written reports, briefing notes and submissions on legal and regulatory issues related to the NIA’s policy priorities.
- Monitoring international human rights and legal developments related to ageing and older adults, and supporting the NIA in engaging in international spaces and mechanisms to advance the rights of older persons.
- Providing sound and strategic analysis to management on a wide range of legal and regulatory matters related to NIA’s mandate, as well as other related initiatives at the municipal, provincial and federal government level.
- Representing the NIA at meetings with a variety of stakeholders and policy-makers in order to advance the NIA’s mandate and policy priorities
- Participating in consultations, deputations and other opportunities to interact with government officials.
- Maintaining a current understanding of academic legal research relevant to the NIA’s mandate and policy priorities.
- Developing a comprehensive law reform and litigation strategy to support NIA’s mandate and policy priorities; identifying, developing and coordinating cases selected for litigation, conducting legal and policy research, drafting submissions where appropriate.
- Leading a variety of law reform and law related projects.
- Serving as the Principal to the NIA’s Articling Student by providing direct supervision and mentorship to them, ensuring compliance with LSO Articling Student program requirements.
- Collaborating with the communications team to develop communications products related to the NIA’s law reform work, mandate and policy priorities for a variety of audiences. Participate in a variety of communications activities including presentations, workshops, media and others.
- Other duties as assigned by the Director of Policy and Executive Director

**Qualifications**:

- Lawyer called to the Bar