Union: OPSEU - District

Job Number: J0625-0561

Job Title: Legal Aid Worker - Summary Legal Advice Phone Program

Job Type: Contract

Contract Duration (months): 36 Months

City, Province, Country: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Job Location: Province Wide

Job Category: Legal

Job Classification: S4U

Role Designation:

Flexible Hybrid - In person days can be flexible from week to week subject to manager approval and operational requirements.

Open Positions: 4

Posting Date: June 25, 2025

Closing Date: July 2, 2025

Salary: $55,200.11 - $82,396.92/Year

Legal Aid Ontario employees are committed to making a difference in the lives of our clients.

As an integral partner in the Justice system, working at Legal Aid Ontario is more than just a job. It's an opportunity to help people who need it the most; to ensure each client receives the access to justice afforded to them under the law.

If you are looking for a new challenge in your already meaningful career with a team dedicated to justice, and innovation in a flexible and supportive work environment consider this opportunity below.

Building a diverse workforce that represents the communities we serve while promoting a safe culture and work environment that dismantles systemic barriers, welcomes fresh perspectives and embraces differences as a priority is a core value at LAO. LAO encourages applicants from equity-seeking groups, including but not limited to individuals who are First Nations, Inuit or Métis, Black and racialized, as well as persons with disabilities, women and members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community.

We recognize the value of equity, diversity and inclusion and are committed to addressing systemic barriers, and prioritizing, attracting and retaining diverse staff. All interested and eligible people will be considered, with due consideration to all protected grounds under the Ontario Human Rights Code.

Legal Aid Ontario values integrity, respect, responsiveness, excellence, independence, accountability, openness and consistency. Our recruitment process reflects our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion. Accommodations are available throughout the recruitment process as well as during employment at LAO. Please direct any accommodation requests to our recruitment team.

Primary function

This position is responsible for supporting the mandate of the Summary Legal Advise (SLA) Phone Program including the provision of public legal information in family and criminal law over the telephone to clients across the province.

The Legal Aid Worker (LAW) works with their manager, staff lawyers/duty counsel, and other LAWs to provide direct client service and administrative support in a busy client service environment. The legal aid worker will be responsible for the initial assessment and intake of criminal and family law clients to assist in determining the appropriate service for the client, the referral to appropriate services and resources, providing basic procedural advice to criminal law clients and family law clients, and other duties as assigned. LAWs provide some administrative support for the staff duty counsel lawyers in terms of creating PeopleSoft notes and maintaining organized computer filing system for criminal (SI).

The LAW will be required to conduct intake interviews with clients, create detailed notes for staff lawyers, and will help support and implement Legal Aid Ontario initiatives and priorities.

Candidates with family law experience will be given preference.

Primary Location: The successful candidates may reside anywhere within the Province of Ontario.

Reporting to: Manager, Operations, Summary Legal Advice Phone Program

Key accountabilities

• Assessment of the client need to determine the appropriate service for the client, including the early identification of vulnerable clients so that the appropriate service and referrals can be made, under the supervision of staff lawyers;
• Interview clients who are placed on a worklist to gather information about case and assist the lawyer manager and staff lawyers with detailed people soft notes;
• Familiarity and competence with proper maintenance of client data base, computer information databases such as service integration, conflict of interest systems, and basic principles of criminal law and family law;
• Familiarity with financial eligibility, certificate coverage, non-domestic violence (DV) family eligibility and tariff guidelines;
• Provide general information, including procedural legal information on the status of legal aid applications, appeals, and referrals.
• Perform intake by interviewing clients by phone to gather necessary information (case history) required for decision-making.
• Make entitlement decisions (including ongoing eligibility) based on LAO’s financial and legal eligibility policies and guidelines.
• Direct Client Services (Criminal and Family law)
• Provide services for summary legal advice programs across the province including client intake, administration and supporting duty counsel/staff lawyer services.
• Triage and assess client needs, including early identification of vulnerable clients, to determine the appropriate service for clients and make referrals to appropriate services primarily to SLA lawyers.
• Assist staff lawyers (Duty Counsel) by providing clients with public legal information including procedural legal information and referrals to appropriate legal services
• Assist clients/duty counsel with routine administrative matters (i.e. Service Integration data entry, liaising with Duty Counsel and Family Law Services Centres, etc.)
• Administrative Supports
• Support and assist with administrative functions (call back scheduling, and collecting/compiling information for statistics/performance measures)
• Perform other duties as required. This may include assisting with special projects and project implementation.

Required skills & experience

• Prior experience in similar or related role. Candidates with family law experience will be given preference

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for dealing with clients, lawyers and other agencies with the proven ability to exercise judgment when encountering stressful situations including the early identification of vulnerable clients so that the appropriate service and referrals can be made.

• Proven ability to learn and adapt to new or modified policies and procedures.

• Demonstrated commitment to client service and relationship building skills.

• Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team.

• Possess experience in criminal court setting and some knowledge of relevant legislation such as the Criminal Code of Canada.

• Possess experience in family court setting and some knowledge of relevant legislation such as the Family Law Rules.

• Possess significant knowledge of LAO priorities, policies and procedures.

• Intermediate to advanced computer skills, including familiarity and competence with proper maintenance of client data base, computer information databases such as PeopleSoft.

• Well-developed interview skills.

• One or more of these positions will be designated as French-English bilingual and will require French proficiency

• Ability to communicate in French is an asset.

• Ability to maintain detailed functional and theoretical knowledge of legal aid application processing rules and procedures.

• Ability to determine legal and financial eligibility based on LAO eligibility criteria, and to generate certificates in accordance with office procedures and standard formats.

• Demonstrated ability to use latest communication technologies including smartphones, tablets, and videoconference systems.

• Must have intermediate knowledge of the following Microsoft programs; Outlook, Word, and Excel.

This position is represented by OPSEU and the employee will be governed by the provisions of the collective agreement and union dues will be deducted bi-weekly from date of hire.

To apply, submit a cover letter & résumé.

Only candidates selected for an interview will be notified by email.

Final candidates for this position will be required to undergo a criminal record check.

Please note that all applicants are encouraged to provide a valid email address for communication purposes. Applicants may receive written correspondence regarding this job posting directly to the email address provided on their resume or to the one used to set up their Candidate Profile if applying on Njoyn. As an applicant, it is your responsibility to ensure that you check your email regularly.

Applicants may receive written correspondence regarding this job posting directly to the email address provided on their resume or to the one used to set up their Candidate Profile if applying on Njoyn. As an applicant, it is your responsibility to ensure that you check your email regularly.

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Trouble applying? For telephone support please call 1-877-427-7717 or email support: candidate.njoynhelp@cgi.com.