Lawyer jobs in Victoria, BC

Location: Victoria, BC

Status: Term, Full-Time

Affiliation: British Columbia General Employees’ Union

Salary range: Job Class 16 (Market Adjusted) ($ 67,053 - $ 76,597)

Competition #: B050-26

Application Deadline: Open until filled

We are seeking an Indigenous Community Legal Worker – Advocate/Paralegal, PLC to join our team.

VALUES STATEMENT:

Our commitment to the principles of fundamental justice embedded in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and to Truth and Reconciliation, and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion is ambitious and foundational. It informs everything we do, as we defend liberty, equality, autonomy, and dignity; as we dismantle colonization, racism, sexism, ableism, transphobia and homophobia, and all discrimination. These are our values, and they inform our hiring practices too. Our business is aiding people in severe legal distress and necessitates internal and external alignment of practicing these values. Integrating Truth and Reconciliation, and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion throughout every aspect of Legal Aid BC is critical to building that culture, and we prioritize ongoing resources to achieve that goal.

The Opportunity

The Parents Legal Centre (PLC) takes a holistic approach to family and child protection law. The PLC supports parents to resolve not only their legal matter but also the underlying non-legal issues, such as housing or addictions, which often contribute to protection concerns in the first place through a team that includes a managing lawyer, staff lawyer(s), advocate/paralegal(s) and administrative/intake legal assistant(s). Together, this team works to provide advice and representation to PLC clients on family and child protection matters and strive to reach early collaborative resolutions when appropriate. We believe that better outcomes can be achieved when parents receive legal advice and support during the early stages of their family and child protection matters.

As an Indigenous Community Legal Worker – Advocate/Paralegal, your primary function is to liaise with Indigenous communities and agencies and provide advocacy and administrative support, legal information and advice, early intervention, education and community outreach, and referrals to address the key civil and poverty law issues that affect Indigenous people.

Key accountabilities include, but aren't limited to:

• Collect and review intake materials for LABC referral application;
• Establish and maintain client files;
• Assess issues/needs/urgency and status of matter(s), including any legal proceedings;
• Meet and interview clients, provide brief legal advice, consider next steps;
• Build relationships and partnerships with Indigenous communities to network, raise awareness of LABC services, present information and identify community needs, including developing and conducting workshops to train band members, Chief and Council and community members (intermediaries and the public) on a variety of issues related to their needs including child protection, family law, civil law and mediation;
• Build and maintain relationships with services in the community, including but not limited to drug and alcohol, mental health, housing, parenting support and counselling groups and services;
• Assist Indigenous clients with identification and access of appropriate LABC services including legal representation and mediation;
• Attend court with client, liaise for client with the Ministry of Children and Family Development or Delegated Aboriginal Agency, LABC lawyer, duty counsel, band members to foster a holistic approach;
• Provide input into the development of PLE materials that are culturally appropriate as needed;
• Collect client documents and information in support of intake applications and provide to LABC intake for processing and decision making;

Who We Are

Legal Aid BC (LABC) is a non-profit organization established by the Legal Services Society Act in 1979. Our mission is to provide legal information, advice, and representation services to BC's most vulnerable and marginalized citizens who lack the necessary resources to effectively access the justice system when their families, freedom, or safety are at risk. Our vision is to see BC’s legal system transformed, by the way LABC represents our clients, into one more equitable and inclusive with a mission to strengthen client-centered legal help for British Columbians experiencing barriers accessing the legal system.

At LABC, we know that our continued ability to help the people who need us is due to the hardworking individuals who make up our team, dedicated to making a difference in the lives of people in need. We foster a positive culture of open communication for our team to thrive within, underpinned by our values of client focus, advancing Truth and Reconciliation, and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, and change through leadership.

Legal Aid BC is in the early stages of, and committed to a transformative journey of embedding Truth and Reconciliation, and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in all aspects of our work. We seek talent from equity seeking groups, including but not limited to individuals who self-identify as First Nations, Inuit, or Metis descent, persons with diverse abilities, gender diverse, racialized, and members of the 2SLGBTQIA+community, be a part of this exciting stage of Legal Aid BC’s growth. We care deeply about the culture we are building and are looking for staff members who not only excel in their respective areas but are also passionate about supporting the people we serve and each other. If this resonates with you, we encourage you to apply. All interested and eligible applicants will be considered with due consideration to all protected grounds under the BC Human Rights Code. If we can do anything to make your application experience a positive and equitable one, we want to hear from you on what we can do better.

To understand why legal aid matters, and our commitments to Truth and Reconciliation, and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, please explore our website, planning and guiding documents at https://legalaid.bc.ca/.

The Ideal Candidate

You have:

• Grade 12 education supplemented by post-secondary education in Law, Criminology, Library Science, and/or Social Work, or Paralegal/Legal Assistant Certificate from a recognized educational institute
• minimum 5 years relevant experience in a legal environment and/or as outlined in rated requirements
• ability to communicate effectively in English
• or an equivalent combination of education and experience

Pursuant to approval granted under the Special Programs section of the BC Human Rights Code, preference will be provided to applicants of Indigenous Ancestry. We encourage applicants to self-identify within their resume and/or cover letter.

We Offer

A competitive annual salary, as well as a comprehensive benefits package (based on your employment status and affiliation including:

• Four weeks paid vacation to start that grows the longer you are with LABC
• An excellent employee benefits package, where premiums are 100% paid by LABC
• A generous defined benefit pension plan
• Support for training and development
• An Employee and Family Assistance program
• The opportunity to participate in various Employee programs (Employee Wellness, etc.)
• Support for a healthy work/life balance
• Generous leave provisions (sick time, special leaves)
• 13 paid statutory holidays
• An opportunity for a flexible hybrid work arrangement for some positions (LABC reserves the right to change this policy at any time)
• Transit friendly employer for eligible staff to have their commute subsidized
• Dog-friendly offices
• Dedicated Cultural Leave provisions for Indigenous employees
• Employee-led Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Council and Accessibility Committee that bring together diverse employee perspectives to help shape ongoing workplace improvements and initiatives that advance equity, inclusion, belonging, and accessibility.

For additional information regarding our extensive benefits package, please explore our careers page at:

https://legalaid.bc.ca/about/careers/why-work-here.

If you are interested in joining us – visit our careers page for the full job posting at

https://legalaid.bc.ca/careers and apply now!

Legal Aid BC is recognized as one of BC’s Top 100 Employers:

https://reviews.canadastop100.com/top-employer-legal-aid-bc

We would like to thank all external applicants for their interest but regret that only those shortlisted will be contacted.

Pay: $67,053.00-$76,597.00 per year

Benefits:

• Company pension
• Dental care
• Employee assistance program
• Paid time off
• Vision care
• Wellness program

Work Location: In person