Legal Aid Worker

This position is responsible for providing client service under the direct supervision of Manager of Legal Services, Tri-Counties. The Legal Aid Worker will be responsible for the initial assessment and intake of criminal and family law clients to assist in determining the appropriate service for the client and/or referral to appropriate services and resources, providing basic procedural information and public legal information to clients, interviewing sureties and other duties as assigned. May include preparation and drafting of non-complex family court documents and pleadings, including the drafting and preparation of applications, answers, motions, affidavits, and financial statements under the supervision of a lawyer. The legal worker may also speak to routine administrative matters in court, under the supervision of a lawyer. Providing administrative support for the Manager of Legal Services and staff duty counsel lawyers which may include assistance with scheduling, bring forward/tickler systems, maintaining organized computer filing system for criminal matters (Service Integration/SI) and family enhanced duty counsel services, and communicating with certificate and per diem roster members.
The role may require the successful candidate to travel occasionally to the various court locations within the Tri-Counties (Brantford, Simcoe and Cayuga) and therefore the successful candidate must be willing to travel.
Home Location: Brantford
Secondary Location: N/A
Reporting to: Manager, Legal Services

• Assessment of the client need to determine the appropriate service for the client, including the early identification of vulnerable clients so that the appropriate service can be provided and/or referrals can be made
• Perform intake by interviewing clients (in-person, phone, video) to gather necessary information (case history) required for decision making and assist the staff and per diem lawyers with client queries, referrals, and requests for information;
• Creating worksheets, uploading documents to service integration and inputting data as required;
• Maintaining tickler systems, interviewing criminal clients and potential sureties as support for staff and per diem lawyers;
• Ability to determine legal and financial eligibility based on Legal Aid Ontario's eligibility criteria;
• Perform office administration tasks such as answering phone calls, data input, ordering supplies, maintaining files, scheduling per diem duty counsel and other tasks as assigned
• Familiarity and competence with proper maintenance of client data base, computer information databases such as Legal Files, DivorceMate, PeopleSoft, conflict of interest systems, file tickler systems,
• Familiarity with financial and legal eligibility for Legal Aid Ontario programs, certificate coverage and Legal Aid Ontario Tariff guidelines;
• May be required to assist with the drafting and preparation of variation applications for support, non-complex family applications for decision-making responsibility, parenting time, and support and any other documents required by the Family Law Rules, under the direct supervision of lawyer;
• Travel may be required
• Health and safety duties as assigned

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for dealing with clients, lawyers, and other agencies with the proven ability to exercise judgment when encountering stressful situations including the early identification of vulnerable clients so that the appropriate service and referrals can be made;
• Good understanding of criminal and family court processes and the rules and practice directions for all levels of court serviced by duty counsel;
• Legal worker experience in criminal and family law;
• Knowledge of relevant criminal, and family law legislation;
• Proven ability to learn and adapt to new or modified policies and procedures;
• Demonstrated commitment to client service and relationship building skills;
• Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team;
• Possess significant knowledge of Legal Aid Ontario's mandate and priorities;
• Ability to maintain detailed functional and theoretical knowledge of Legal Aid application processing rules and procedures;
• Intermediate to advanced computer skills, including familiarity and competence with proper maintenance of client data base, computer information databases such as PeopleSoft;
• Well-developed interview skills;
• Ability to determine legal and financial eligibility based on Legal Aid Ontario's eligibility criteria;
• Written and oral French language skills are an asset;
• Demonstrated ability to use latest communication technologies including Smartphones and videoconference systems;
• Must have intermediate knowledge of the following Microsoft programs: Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Excellent family law drafting and word processing skills, familiarity with family law software programs, such as DivorceMate and Legal Files would be an asset.
To apply submit a cover letter & résumé.
Only those candidates selected for an interview will be notified by email.
This position is collectively represented by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) and the successful incumbent will be governed by the provisions of a collective agreement and subject to union dues.
Please note that all applicants are encouraged to provide a valid email address for communication purposes. Applicants may receive written correspondence regarding this job posting directly to the email address provided on their resume or to the one used to set up their Candidate Profile if applying on Njoyn. As an applicant, it is your responsibility to ensure that you check your email regularly.
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