French Bilingual Legal Aid Worker - Family Senior Counsel Program

Company Bio

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 versatile and supportive work environment consider this opportunity below.

Primary function

The Family Senior Counsel Program has provincial scope and complements LAO’s existing mixed model of private bar and duty counsel services by providing financially and legally eligible clients with another option for high quality, full-scope representation. This position is responsible for direct litigation support for the Family Senior Counsel Program. This role will assist staff lawyers who will represent clients on legal aid certificates. It includes file management (opening and closing files, docketing and billing on-line), communication with clients, opposing counsel/parties, family court staff and stakeholders; the preparation of correspondence and family court documents, and providing information on court processes and procedural matters under the direct supervision of a staff family. The legal aid worker will closely assist staff lawyers with varied tasks and administrative duties required to advance client matters through the family court process. The position will be responsible for covering the geographic area of the Central East District, including virtual and in-person attendance throughout the District. Home Location: Ottawa. Other Locations: Cornwall, L'Orignal, Pembroke, Brockville, and Perth. Reports to: Manager of Operations – Family Senior Counsel Program.

Key accountabilities

- Provide general information by responding to in-person, email, and phone inquiries from clients;
- Perform client file management including tasks like opening and closing files, maintaining a tickler system, preparing, and reviewing correspondence, organizing files as well as motion, conference and trial materials and billing files;
- Responsible for client intake, drafting and referrals of client to other services as required;
- Liaise with other legal service providers, internal and external, including court-based services, to ensure seamless client service;
- Liaise with shelters and other community agencies;
- Liaise with private bar lawyers, Children's Aid Society counsel and workers, Mental Health and other court workers, police and other court staff as directed by the staff lawyer;
- Conduct preliminary client interviews to gather case information; serve as the primary point of contact; handle client inquiries and assist lawyers with queries, referrals, information requests, and interviews;
- Prepare court documents and assist with information gathering and correspondence under the direct supervision of the staff lawyer;
- Implement established systems to manage workload and compile information for statistical reporting and analysis.
- Act as floater LAW, including triaging clients and other administrative tasks as assigned;
- Demonstrate flexibility in terms of work hours including occasionally working through lunch breaks or past regular work hours; and
- Provide mentorship and/or training to other staff, information to legal and non-legal staff relating to PLEI, community outreach and drafting.
- Perform other duties as required.

Required Skills & Experience

- Demonstrated proficiency in oral and written French and English, including the ability to speak, read, and write in both languages within a legal setting.
- Fluency in languages other than English and French, will be considered an asset;
- Excellent interpersonal communication and interview skills, and sound judgment for dealing with clients, lawyers and other agencies;
- Resiliency, solution-oriented, possessing a calm temperament; adaptability to working well in a constantly changing environment;
- Ability to work well under strict time constraints;
- Ability to manage client expectations;
- Ability and willingness to work effectively in a team environment;
- Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with Legal Aid Workers, staff lawyers, paralegals,



per diem Duty Counsel and Managers;
- Solid understanding of court processes, rules and practice directions;
- Knowledge of relevant legislation, including the Legal Aid Services Act, Family Law Act and Child Support Guidelines, Children's Law Reform Act, Child and Youth Family Services Act, Divorce Act, An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families and the Family Law Rules
- Minimum of 3-years demonstrated experience in drafting family law court documents.
- Aptitude and willingness to work effectively with and be sensitive to the needs of vulnerable clients, particularly clients with mental health issues, survivors of domestic abuse, clients from marginalized communities and clients who have concurrent immigration and/or criminal law matters;
- Sound knowledge of legal aid application procedures, financial principles and LAO policies and practices;
- Ability to determine legal and financial eligibility based on LAO eligibility criteria in accordance with office procedures and standard formats;
- Proven ability to learn and adapt to new or modified policies and procedures;
- Ability to assemble child protection and domestic family application records, status review records, motion records, trial records, appeal records, joint briefs and exhibit books;
- An understanding and adherence to discretion and client confidentiality;
- Must have competent computer skills and knowledge of the Microsoft Office programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Divorcemate;
- Experience with Legal Files would be an asset; and
- Diploma or certificate in law practice or court-related area would be an asset.

Organizational Competencies Expected

- Client Focus
- Adaptability and Flexibility
- Personal Motivation and Accountability
- Focus on Quality and Best Practice
- Problem Solving and Judgement
- Organizational Awareness
- Teamwork and Collaboration

What do we offer?

At Legal Aid Ontario, we are committed to fostering a supportive and rewarding work environment for our employees. Our comprehensive benefits package reflects this commitment and is designed to enhance both professional and personal well-being. We have a comprehensive health and wellness program that include dental, health and life insurance along with Basic Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D;) Insurance, Short-Term Disability (STD), and Long-Term Disability (LTD) coverage. Employees at Legal Aid Ontario also enjoy generous paid time-off policy including vacation days, illness days, discretionary days and statutory holidays. Employees are eligible to be enrolled to OPSEU Pension Plan, administered by OPSEU Pension Plan Trust Fund (OPTrust).

Equity Statement

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.

Auxiliaire de l'aide juridique – Programme d’avocats principaux en droit de la famille

Information sur l'entreprise





Le personnel d’Aide juridique Ontario est déterminé à faire une différence dans la vie de ses clients. En tant que partenaire à part entière du système de justice, Aide juridique Ontario (AJO) offre à ses employés plus qu’un emploi. Elle offre l’occasion d’aider les personnes qui en ont le plus besoin en faisant en sorte que chaque client reçoive l’accès à la justice que leur confère la loi.

Sommaire du poste

Le programme d’avocats principaux en droit de la famille a une portée provinciale et s’ajouter au modèle mixte existant d’AJO de services d’avocates et avocats privés et d’avocates et avocats de service en offrant aux personnes qui satisfont aux critères d’admissibilité financiers et juridiques une autre possibilité pour une représentation complète de haute qualité. La personne retenue à ce poste sera chargée de soutenir directement les activités dans les recours en justice dans le cadre du programme d’avocats principaux en droit de la famille. Elle assistera les avocates et avocats salariés qui représentent les clients en vertu des certificats d’aide juridique. Ses tâches comprennent entre autres la gestion des dossiers (ouverture et clôture des dossiers, inscription au rôle et facturation en ligne), la communication avec les clients, les avocats de la partie adverse, le personnel des tribunaux et les intervenants; la préparation de la correspondance et des documents des clients à la cour de la famille, ainsi que la fourniture de renseignements sur les processus judiciaires et les questions de procédure sous la supervision directe d’une avocate ou d’un avocat en droit de la famille. L’auxiliaire de l’aide juridique assistera de près les avocates et avocats salariés en effectuant diverses tâches et obligations administratives nécessaires pour faire progresser les affaires des clients à la cour de la famille. La personne retenue sera responsable de la couverture de la zone géographique du district du Centre-Est, y compris la présence en personne et virtuelle, dans l’ensemble du district.

Fonctions

- Fournir des renseignements généraux aux clients et répondre à leurs questions en personne, par courrier électronique ou par téléphone;
- Gérer les dossiers des clients, notamment ouvrir et clôturer les dossiers, maintenir un système de fiches, préparer et réviser la correspondance, organiser les dossiers ainsi que les documents relatifs aux motions; aux conférences et aux procès, et les dossiers de facturation;
- Responsable de l’accueil des clients, de la rédaction des renvois des clients vers d’autres services, le cas échéant;
- Servir de liaison entre les prestataires de services internes et externes, dont les services dans les tribunaux, pour assurer aux clients et clientes un service sans discontinuité;
- Assurer la liaison avec les maisons d’hébergement et autres organismes communautaires;
- Assurer la liaison avec les avocats du secteur privé, les avocats et les travailleurs des sociétés d’aide à l’enfance, les travailleurs des services de santé mentale et d’autres services judiciaires, la police et d’autres membres du personnel judiciaire, selon les instructions des avocats salariés;
- Mener des entrevues préparatoires avec les clients afin de recueillir des renseignements sur leur affaire ; servir de point de contact principal ; traiter les demandes des clients et assister les avocats dans le cadre des demandes de renseignements, d’orientations vers d’autres services et des entretiens;
- Préparer les documents de procédure judiciaire et aider à recueillir des renseignements et à rédiger la correspondance, sous la supervision directe de l’avocat salarié;
- Mettre en place des systèmes établis permettant de gérer le volume de travail, d’évaluer les renseignements à des fins statistiques et d’établir des rapports et analyses;
- Jouer le rôle de suppléant, notamment en assurant le triage des clients et en effectuant d’autres tâches administratives assignées;
- Faire preuve de flexibilité en ce qui concerne les horaires de travail, notamment en travaillant éventuellement pendant les pauses déjeuner ou en dehors des heures de travail normales;
- Assurer le mentorat et/ou la formation d’autres membres du personnel; fournir des informations au personnel juridique et non juridique concernant l’éducation et l

📌 French Bilingual Legal Aid Worker - Family Senior Counsel Program (Ottawa)
🏢 Legal Aid Ontario
📍 Ottawa