The Department of Justice and Public Safety is committed to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility. Our goal is to build a public sector workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve and to promote welcoming, diverse, inclusive, respectful workplaces that are accessible to all. We welcome all interested individuals including Indigenous People, persons with disabilities, Black, racialized, ethnic and culturally diverse groups, as well as people regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identities, and gender expressions. Those looking for more information are invited to visit our Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Policy.

The Family Law Duty Counsel will be present in the Supreme Court of Prince Edward Island daily, to assist self-represented parties in family law matters which are before the court.

Duties will include but are not limited to:

• Advising them about their legal rights and obligations;
• Attending court with them for motions and applications, pre-motion conferences, child protection hearings, default hearings, and uncontested hearings, and to obtain consent orders, request adjournments, and assisting in hearings regarding child decision-making responsibility, parenting time and support;
• Reviewing and discussing court documents, including those drafted by the self-represented party;
• Assisting them in negotiating and settling issues on a final or temporary basis, and preparing or reviewing related documents;
• Referring them to other sources of assistance, such as mediation, Legal Aid or privately retained counsel;
• In limited circumstances, when a self-represented party is unable to do so on their own, assist them in preparing court documents such as affidavits and financial statements;
• Work closely with management and support staff on matters of intake, eligibility assessment, conflict avoidance, caseload management, data collection and reporting;
• Regular meetings with management to develop and review policies to be followed by the Family Law Duty Counsel.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Law degree from a recognized university and a member in good standing of the Law Society of P.E.I.
• Family Law Duty Counsel must have a thorough knowledge of the Divorce Act, the Maintenance Enforcement Act, the Children 's Law Act, the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, the Child Support Guidelines, and other related legislation.
• Family Law Duty Counsel should be familiar with: court procedures, including the Rules of Civil Procedure, and practice directions*.*
• Family Law Duty Counsel should be familiar with the existence of various support agencies (Family Law Centre, Child Support Guidelines Office, PEI Legal Aid Office, etc.).
• Experience at the Bar in the practice of family law.
• Must have strong interpersonal skills and the ability to relate to clientele who often suffer with mental health, addictions, and substance abuse issues.
• Effective communication skills necessary to build strong relationships with individuals across a very wide range of socioeconomic levels
• Ability to work both independently in a self-directed manner and as an effective member of a team
• The successful applicant must provide a satisfactory criminal record check prior to beginning employment;

Please Note: Please ensure the application clearly demonstrates how you meet the noted qualifications as applicants will be screened based on the information provided. We would like to thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those who are selected for an interview will be contacted.

Where possible, submitting an electronic resume or job application is preferred. Otherwise, please return forms to PEI Public Service Commission, P.O. Box 2000, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, C1A 7N8. Applications may be sent by fax to (902) 368-4383.

IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE APPLICANT TO CONFIRM RECEIPT OF THE APPLICATION, BY TELEPHONE OR IN PERSON PRIOR TO THE CLOSING DATE.

Please ensure that the appropriate Posting ID number is stated on all application forms. You can apply online or obtain an application form by visiting our web site at www.jobspei.ca**. Forms may also be obtained by contacting any PEI Government office, ACCESS PEI Centre, Regional Services Centre, or by telephone (902) 368-4080.**

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