Job Description – Legal Counsel, Advocacy & Policy

Department: Legal & Regulatory Affairs

Reports To: General Counsel

Direct Reports: None

Employment Type: Full-time, Permanent

Location: Toronto, ON

Work Model: Hybrid

Salary Range: $135,000-$150,000

Position Overview

The Legal Counsel, Advocacy & Policy role is a builder role within Advocis’ Legal & Regulatory Affairs function. Reporting to the General Counsel, this position plays a critical role in strengthening Advocis’ advocacy presence, rebuilding policy and regulatory engagement processes, and serving as a trusted legal and regulatory resource for members.

This role is not a maintenance position. The Legal Counsel will be responsible for developing foundational advocacy infrastructure, monitoring legal and regulatory developments in the financial services area across Canada, and translating complex issues into practical guidance, research, and engagement materials for Advocis members, committees, and leadership. The role contributes directly to positioning Advocis as a credible, relevant, and influential voice with regulators, policymakers, and industry stakeholders.

The successful candidate will be intellectually curious, highly team-oriented, and comfortable operating as a “jack of all trades” across legal and regulatory research, advocacy support, process development, and member engagement. This role is also intended to support long-term succession planning within the Legal & Regulatory Affairs function.

About Advocis

Advocis, The Financial Advisors Association of Canada, is the country’s largest voluntary professional membership association for financial advisors and planners, with a history spanning more than a century. We play a national leadership role in advancing professionalism, consumer protection, and public confidence in financial advice. It is a nonprofit organisation operating in a highly regulated environment.

Through advocacy with governments and regulators,



the delivery of respected education and professional designations, and the support of a vibrant, coast-to-coast chapter network, Advocis shapes the standards and future of the financial advice profession in Canada. Our work directly impacts financial advisors and planners, consumers, and other insurance industry stakeholders and is designed to ensure Canadians have access to competent, ethical, and professional financial advice.

Key Responsibilities

1. Advocacy & Regulatory Monitoring

- Monitor legislative, regulatory, and policy developments across Canada affecting financial advisors and planners, insurance and the financial services industry more broadly.
- Rebuild and maintain a comprehensive inventory of legal and regulatory issues relevant to Advocis members, including clear tracking, prioritization, and status monitoring mechanisms
- Identify emerging issues where Advocis should engage proactively as an advocate for the professionalism of financial advisors and planners.
- Support the development and advancement of defined advocacy files, from issue identification through engagement, analysis, and submission, in collaboration with the General Counsel and relevant Advocis committees.
- Establish and maintain disciplined processes for issue intake, analysis, escalation, and engagement to support timely and consistent advocacy responses.
- Contribute to strengthening Advocis’ credibility and visibility with regulators, policymakers, and industry stakeholders through disciplined issue monitoring and timely engagement.

2. Legal & Regulatory Research

- Conduct legal and regulatory research on matters impacting members, insurance and the financial services industry more broadly, including legislation, regulations, guidance, enforcement trends, and policy proposals.
- Prepare issue briefs, summaries, speaking notes, and background materials for internal leadership, member committees, and advocacy initiatives.
- Translate complex legal and regulatory concepts into clear, practical guidance for non-legal audiences.
- Develop standardized research outputs and reference materials to supp

📌 Legal Counsel, Advocacy (Mississauga)
🏢 Advocis
📍 Mississauga