The Legal Services Department is a full-service law office supporting all aspects of the operations of the City of Winnipeg. Legal Services lawyers work in a defined practice area as part of the team focused on providing legal advice and support to all City departments, senior administration, boards and committees of Council.

The Legal Services Department provides opportunities for lawyers to develop individual skills and gain experience through involvement in both routine matters as well as the unique types of legal work required by a large municipal corporation. We provide a work environment that encourages and supports a healthy work life balance. Compensation and benefits are competitive, as well as providing long-term career opportunities.

Under the general direction of the Director of Legal Services and City Solicitor, the Department is arranged into the following practice groups:

• Grants & Governance, including by-law, policy work and program development
• Litigation - General litigation and by-law enforcement
• Labour, Employment and Human Rights
• Planning & Land Development
• Procurement
• Real Estate

As the Solicitor (Grants and Governance) – Solicitor 2, you will:

• Provide legal advice and services to the City, its departments and committees of Council (“clients”), including services related to:
  • legal support primarily focused on general commercial matters;
  • corporate finance, governance, and municipal law;
  • drafting by-laws and agreements;
  • reviewing and preparing governance documentation, including templates, forms, policies and standards; and
  • conducting contract negotiations.

Your education and qualifications include:

• Bachelor of Law (LL.B.) degree, of Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree or other equivalent.

• Minimum of 3 years post-articling experience practicing in contract, commercial, financial, corporate governance, municipal law or similar.

• General knowledge of commercial and municipal law and the drafting of agreements and by-laws.

• Excellent verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain technical and legal information in plain language to all levels of the organization and external stakeholders.

• Superior written communication skills with ability to compose a variety of confidential documents, policies, legislation and correspondence.

• Excellent interpersonal skills including the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with individuals at all levels of the civic organization, external contacts and the public.

• Excellent organizational and time management skills to work independently, manage multiple priorities, produce high quality work and meet deadlines.

• Excellent problem solving and decision-making skills.

• Strong negotiation skills using sound judgment, diplomacy and discretion when providing legal advice, persuasively advocating and resolving contentious issues.

• IMPORTANT: Applicants who have been educated outside of Canada must have education which is comparable to the minimum qualification in Canada. Applicants submitting foreign credentials require an official academic assessment report issued by a recognized Canadian assessment service https://www.canalliance.org/en/ at application.

Conditions of employment:

• The successful candidate must maintain legal eligibility to work in Canada. If the successful candidate possesses a work permit, it is their responsibility to ensure the permit remains valid.
• Police Information Check satisfactory to the employer will be required from the successful applicant at their expense.
• Membership in good standing with the Law Society of Manitoba.