Legal Aid Alberta is seeking to fill a full-time temporary Lawyer role in our Red Deer office in the area of Family Law. This position will appeal to an individual that likes to take initiative, is client-focused and is exceptionally strong in delivering high-quality results. You will help drive the future of our organization and you play an important role in developing a talented and diverse Legal Aid Alberta team province wide.

Who We Are

As a publicly funded, non-profit organization, Legal Aid Alberta provides affordable legal services in family law, domestic violence, child welfare, immigration, and youth and adult criminal defense. We are Alberta-wide, with 300 staff and 1,200 private practice lawyers helping people overcome their legal challenges in more than 75 communities across the province.

Who You Are

Working at Legal Aid Alberta means you care about people and empathize with their situation. You have excellent communication skills, especially in high stress circumstances. You are an expert in Family law, specifically in the areas of Child Welfare and the representation of children in high conflict family law matters. You are also familiar with Emergency Protection Orders and general Family Law matters. You are a quick thinker, able to provide sound advice and thrive in a fast-paced work environment. You have strong communication and interpersonal skills as well as enjoy learning new things and can adapt to change quickly. You care deeply about the success of our team and have solid understanding of our organization’s mission and values.

Job Description

Reporting to the Legal Services Manager, some of the key responsibilities include:

• Carry end-to-end responsibilities of managing files under the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act from initial custody through to the conclusion of trials or until an outcome is determined.
• Knowledge in the representation of children in high-conflict family law and divorce matters.
• Knowledge of Emergency Protection Order matters.
• Knowledge of Family Law Act matters, and Divorce Act matters and other areas of family law.
• Familiarity with the procedures and processes in both the Court of King’s Bench and the Alberta Court of Justice.
• Appear as duty counsel in the Court of King’s Bench and Alberta Court of Justice.
• Able to manage high-conflict situations
• Negotiate competent resolutions of files to achieve early, cost-effective and lasting outcomes for clients
• Complete and accurate statistical record keeping
• Compliance with office policy and procedures
• Participate in performance and staff meetings as required

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

• Law degree from a recognized law school.
• Active member of the Law Society of Alberta.
• Minimum 5 years of experience practicing Family Law, specifically in practice areas of Child Welfare, Emergency Protection Orders, and representation of children in high conflict Family law matters is preferred.
• Strong litigation experience.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Rules of Court, and Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act, Protection Against Family Violence Act, Family Law Act, Family Property Act and Divorce Act
• Alternative dispute resolution, including mediation and negotiation skills
• Legal research, writing and drafting, legal analysis, preparation of factums and written briefs, application of law to relevant facts
• Advocacy, problem solving and conflict resolution
• Demonstrated time management and ability to deal with conflicting priorities and deadlines.
• Ability to manage work in high pressure and high conflict situations
• Ability to investigate facts, identify issues, ascertain organizational objectives, consider alternative solutions, analyze risk and advise clients and/or LAA on the appropriate course of action
• Understanding of community resources available to assist complex situations.

What We Offer

Perks of working with us

• Competitive wage
• RRSP employer contribution
• Health and dental benefits
• Health and wellness accounts
• Employee assistance program
• Team environment
• Weekends off

How to Apply:
If you got excited at the prospect of being a part of our team when you reviewed this posting and you meet the minimum qualifications, please select ‘Apply Now’ to create your candidate profile. This competition will remain open until the position has been filled. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Successful candidate will be required to provide an acceptable criminal record check.