We are looking for one (1) Permanent Full Time Legal Assistantto join our team in our Yorkton Area Office**.** It is a great opportunity for individuals who wants to be part of a collegial team that promotes a collaborative and respectful working environment.

Why work for us?

Our Legal Assistants earn from $56,584.95 and based on combination of education and experience up to $74,228.72 annually. In addition to your competitive salary, our generous and comprehensive benefit package includes employer’s paid extended health & dental family coverage; paid sick time; three weeks of paid vacation at the start, plus scheduled or earned days off (12 SDOs or 26 EDOs per year for support staff and 12 SDOs per year for lawyers); 14 Statutory holidays; pension match 6.35%; relocation assistance if applicable and more. For more information visit: legalaid.sk.ca/about/careers/

Key Responsibilities

Reporting to the Legal Director*, some of the key responsibilities of the Legal Assistant are:*

• Subject to The Legal Aid Act and The Legal Aid Regulations (all as amended from time to time), provide legal services, under the direction of a Lawyer, to eligible clients where the matter is considered by a Lawyer to have professional merit.
• Legal Services exclude fee generating matters, however include (as defined in The Legal Aid Regulations):
  • Interviewing applicants/clients to determine financial and range of service eligibility, to assess the legal problem, to gather information, to determine with the client the range of options available to the client, to make recommendations as to the most viable options in consultation with the supervising lawyer
  • Representing a client in Provincial court, under the supervision of a lawyer, for adjournments, or entering pleas, setting matters over to trial, or other court assignments
  • Preparing family law documents and pleadings and interviewing clients to assist in said preparation
• Interviewing witnesses and other involved persons in a client’s case (sureties, employers, landlords, etc.)
• Confirming release plan details for Show Cause Hearing
• Negotiating between a client and opposing party, under the supervision of the supervising lawyer on a family law matter
• Maintains familiarity with the commission’s policies and procedures.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

• May be assigned other related, administrative, accounting or computer key resource (or back-up) duties
• Occasional travel may be required

Position Requirements

• High school graduation and two years of relevant post-secondary education, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• A preference will be given to experience with the Canadian Legal System
• Minimum of two years of previous related experience
• Proficiency in Office 365 program
• Experience with cloud-based file sharing and management systems
• General knowledge of the practice of law
• Exposure to methods of legal research
• Experience with interviewing clients
• Experience working with marginalized populations within the justice system
• Possession of a Class 5 Saskatchewan Driver’s license

Please note that an assessment will be conducted as part of the selection process to determine if the candidate has the required skills and abilities for the position applied.

Core Competencies

• Leadership: willingness and ability to accept responsibility. Ability to communicate effectively and respectfully with co-workers. Shows empathy and care for others. Treats people fairly, and is committed, skilled and responsible.
• Judgment: ability to arrive at sound conclusions after evaluating information or ideas by applying knowledge, past experience, logic and insight, including in cases where discretion is required because the situation is ambiguous or information is limited. Acts with integrity and respect, works independently, and is committed, skilled and responsible.
• Knowledge of work – knowledge of the necessary principles and procedures of the work; working independently, being committed, skilled & responsible.
• Quantity of work- ability to turn out a good quantity of work on a regular basis, working at a moderate speed.
• Dependability and Reliability: dependability to handle duties and assignments and whether committed, skilled and responsible. Consider punctuality and use of working time.
• Quality of work: correctness and degree of excellence of work performed based on the job description and expectations of the position.
• Initiative: extent of independent thinking and action and willingness to do more than is expected.
• Cooperation and attitude with clients: manner of handling client interactions. Strives to serve clients, shows empathy, and treats clients fairly and with respect.
• Adaptability and change management: understanding and willingness to adapt to organizational changes. Willingness and ability to learn new technology, new processes, responsibilities.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and will be accepted and evaluated until the position is filled. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.