Legal Assistant

The Immigration and Refugee Legal Clinic is seeking a Legal Assistant to provide administrative office support and assistance specific to the day to day operation of the legal clinic. The three core values that guide IRLC’s work are: legal excellence, accessibility and respect and care. The IRLC has a highly collaborative team-based work culture that encourages mutual support amongst all staff. **We are seeking a Legal Assistant who shares a commitment to our values for a full-time permanent position.** The work location is Vancouver.

**About the Position**

The Immigration and Refugee Legal Clinic (IRLC) is seeking a Legal Assistant to join our team. Reporting to the Director of Operations and Finance, the Legal and Administrative Assistant (“Legal Assistant”) will provide administrative office support and assistance specific to the day to day operation of the legal clinic. The Legal Assistant will assist with the delivery of legal services in the areas of litigation by: filing court documents, drafting, preparing and proofreading legal, administration documents and correspondence and compiling related information. Administrative tasks related to maintaining, organizing and filing documents and correspondence, responding to client inquires and conducting follow-up meetings are fundamental to this role. The Legal Assistant will be assigned general administrative and reception duties maintain assigned calendars, field calls from clients, direct clients to the appropriate staff member and /or refer to an outside organization.

**Responsibilities**:

- Assisting with the delivery of legal services by corresponding with clients and service providers, assisting with gathering and organizing client information and documents, filing court documents, drafting, preparing and proofreading legal administration documents and correspondences and compiling related information.
- Answering telephones, route calls, take messages and ensure that staff lawyers are informed of important information, communications, dates, and requirements.
- Greeting and directing visitors to the office as appropriate
- Providing front line services to the public and intake services, including taking client information, checking conflicts and making appointments.
- Contacting medical, legal, tribunal and court offices as necessary to obtain necessary information at the direction of staff lawyers.
- File management and administrative support including filing, file organization, and scanning.
- Tracking dates independently with respect to client files and practice management and maintaining the lawyers’ calendars.
- Process and maintain program data, databases, data input and reporting.
- Submitting payment requisitions to the Director of Finance and Operations.
- Providing recommendations to the Legal Director, Director of Finance and Operations and /or Staff Clinic Lawyer specific to the provision of clinic services
- May assist with litigation support, as needed.
- Running general errands.
- Performing other related duties as assigned.

**Qualifications**:

- Completion of a legal assistant, paralegal or equivalent program of study.
- Experience working in a similar role and experience working in the anti-violence sector in a client-facing role are assets.
- Ability to speak a second language is an asset.
- Must obtain a Police Information Check (PIC) with a Vulnerable Sector Check (VS)
- Experience working with marginalized communities is an asset.

**Skills and Abilities**:

- Strong attention to detail and accuracy, and ability to multi-task, organize and meet deadlines.
- Demonstrated commitment to equity and inclusion including a personal approach that values all individuals and respects differences in regard to race, ethnicity, age, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religion, ability, and socio-economic circumstance.
- Demonstrated experience/knowledge of the immigration and refugee systems in Canada.
- Excellent interpersonal skills as a powerful, mature, and efficient communicator who can accommodate and work effectively with people with disabilities.
- Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook, and expertise or ability to become an expert user of legal management software Clio.
- Excellent composition, grammar, spelling, and editing/proofreading skills.
- Must possess a high degree of personal initiative and to work independently as well as within a team.
- Commitment to work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and/or conflicts.
- Ability to be flexible as circumstances and assignments change.
- Discretion to perform all duties with complete confidentiality.
- Required to possess and maintain a clear Criminal Record Check

**Compensation**: $60,000 - $65,000 per annum, depending on education and experience; Extended health and dental benefits and defined-benefit pension plan; vacation and sick pay

**How to Apply**:
Individuals interested in this r