Location
London, ON | Canada
Job description
Union: OPSEU
Job Number: J0224-0735
Job Title: Legal Aid Worker
Job Type: Permanent Full Time
City, Province, Country: London, Ontario, Canada
Job Location: London
Job Category: Customer Service / Customer Associates
Role Designation:
LAO Workplace Based - Role is physically based in an in-person LAO workplace
Open Positions: 1
Posting Date: February 20, 2024
Closing Date: February 26, 2024
Salary: $51,378.23 - $76,692.01/Year
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 flexible and supportive work environment consider this opportunity below.
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.
Primary function
This position is responsible for supporting the mandate of the Western District. The Legal Aid Worker (LAW) works with their manager, staff lawyers, and other LAWs to provide direct client service and administrative support in a busy courthouse environment. The legal aid worker will assist with referring clients to appropriate services and resources, providing basic procedural advice to criminal law clients, interviewing sureties, appearances in criminal set date court and other duties as assigned.
Home Location: London Criminal Duty Counsel Office
Secondary Location: London District Office
Reports to: Manager of Legal Services
Key accountabilities
- Direct Client Services
- Provide services in courthouse location including client triage and intake.
- Assist duty counsel/staff lawyer by triaging/screening clients and provide clients with public legal information including procedural legal information
- Assist clients/duty counsel with bail hearing process (i.e. interview sureties)
- Assist clients/duty counsel with routine administrative matters (i.e. Adjournments)
- Assist vulnerable populations such as racialized communities, Indigenous Peoples, youth and those experiencing mental health or addiction challenges and/or homelessness
- Client Management and Administration
- Provide general information, including procedural legal information on the status of legal aid applications, appeals, and referrals
- Perform intake by interviewing clients (in-person, phone, video) to gather necessary information (case history) required for decision-making
- Make entitlement decisions (including ongoing eligibility) based on LAO’s financial and legal eligibility policies and guidelines. This would include complex client and legal/financial matters
- Perform administrative tasks such as data input, ordering supplies, maintaining files, scheduling per diem duty counsel, approving accounts, collecting/compiling information for statistics/performance measures and other tasks as assigned Communications and Outreach
- Communicate with and respond to clients, lawyers, and other legal system partners in-person, by phone, video, and through written correspondence
- Perform outreach with stakeholders including clinics and other community
agencies to promote and expand service co-ordination opportunities
- Liaise with private bar lawyers, duty counsel, mental health workers, and other court workers and administrative staff
- Identify and elevate issues/service trends and seek guidance from management when necessary
Required skills & experience
- Written and oral French language skills are mandatory
- 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 court processes and the rules and practice directions for all levels of court serviced by duty counsel
- Ability to maintain detailed functional and theoretical knowledge of legal aid
application processing rules and procedures, financial principles and LAO policies and practices
- Ability to determine legal and financial eligibility based on LAO eligibility criteria and to generate certificates in accordance with office procedures
- 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 use latest communication technologies including Smartphones, tablets, and videoconference systems
- Must have intermediate knowledge of the following Microsoft programs: Teams, Outlook, Word, Excel
- Access to transportation
To apply please submit a cover letter and resume
As per the requirements of the Collective Agreement governing this position, first consideration is given to current OPSEU member applicants
Only those candidates selected for an interview will be notified
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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Once you have successfully applied you will receive a confirmation email
Trouble applying? For telephone support please call 1-877-427-7717 or email: [email protected]
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