Legal Counsel

OMVIC is currently searching for a Legal Counsel for our Toronto corporate office.

Who is OMVIC?

OMVIC (Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council) is Ontario’s vehicle sales regulator. OMVIC enforces the Motor Vehicle Dealers Act, 2002 (the MVDA) and other consumer protection statutes including certain provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 2002 (the CPA) on behalf of the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement. OMVIC’s mandate and role is to maintain a fair and informed marketplace by protecting the rights of consumers, enhancing industry professionalism, honesty and integrity and ensuring fair competition among registered motor vehicle dealers and registered salespersons who work for them. This is achieved by maintaining strict dealer/salesperson registration requirements; inspecting all Ontario dealers; providing consumer complaint handling services; delivering education/awareness programs; and investigating and prosecuting industry non-compliance and illegal sales (e.g.; curbsiding). If a dealer or salesperson fails to meet their legal and ethical obligations (and breaches the Code of Ethics), they may be subject to discipline.

What we offer:

OMVIC is made up of dedicated and hard-working individuals who take pride in the work they do each day to ensure that our mandate is being met. This great group of people fosters a comfortable, friendly, and open team atmosphere.

Role Summary:

Reporting to Senior Legal Counsel, Legal Counsel will handle various operations and activities related to all aspects of providing legal services to the organization and conducting regulatory proceedings and provincial offences prosecutions to enforce the MVDA and CPA. Duties are primarily related to litigation but include other aspects of advising and acting for the Organization. The Legal Counsel will liaise with internal and external stakeholders and represent the Registrar and OMVIC before the License Appeal Tribunal (LAT), OMVIC’s Discipline Tribunal, the Ontario Court of Justice, and the Superior Court of Justice. The Legal Counsel will attend and participate in meetings regarding applications for registration and non-compliant registrants to determine their eligibility to registration. The Legal Counsel may also be consulted about whether other administrative action including discipline proceedings before OMVIC’s Discipline Tribunal would be appropriate. The Legal Counsel will also represent the legal department and OMVIC in various external forums.

Responsibilities:

• Draft regulatory pleadings (e.g. Notices of Proposal and Notices of Referral to Discipline).
• Represent the Registrar at hearings before the LAT.
• Represent OMVIC at Discipline Tribunal hearings.
• Represent the Registrar and OMVIC before the Ontario Court of Justice and Superior Court of Justice.
• Act as counsel in civil proceedings and in access to information and privacy matters.
• Provide instructions to support staff regarding witness management, service and filing.
• Assist with legislative review projects and other corporate programs as necessary.
• Participate in policy development.
• Provide assistance to communications staff regarding media inquiries.
• Represent the legal department and the organization at various external forums (e.g. conferences, inter-agency meetings, etc.).
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Membership, in good standing, as a lawyer with the Law Society of Ontario.
• Minimum of 3 years of post-call experience, preferably in litigation and/regulatory law.
• Excellent organizational, communication and decision-making skills to provide effective legal advice to staff and management and communicate with opposing counsel, witnesses and court administration.
• Practical knowledge of the Motor Vehicle Dealers Act, the Consumer Protection Act, the Sale of Goods Act, the Safety and Consumer Statutes Administration Act, the Provincial Offences Act, the Statutory Powers Procedure Act, the Ontario Evidence Act and other statutes and regulations that apply to the activities of OMVIC and the motor vehicle sales industry in Ontario.
• Experience in litigation, preferably conducting criminal or quasi-criminal prosecutions, civil litigation and/or regulatory hearings such as disciplinary hearings before administrative tribunals.
• Superior analytical skills to analyze regulatory requirements, predict future needs, resolve problems, and assess operational performance data.
• Oral and written communication skills to draft pleadings, present evidence and make submissions before courts and tribunals.

If you are interested in the position, please submit a cover letter and resume, along with salary expectations, highlighting the position title to the attention of Human Resources no later than December 31, 2025, at 5:00 pm, to Email: employment@omvic.on.ca.

We respectfully thank all applicants for their interest in working at OMVIC. However, we will only contact those meeting the qualifications for an interview.

OMVIC fosters an environment that respects people’s dignity, ideas and beliefs, thereby working to ensure diversity, equality and inclusion and has been committed to and will continue advocating for an environment where all persons are treated with fairness, dignity, and respect. OMVIC is committed to providing accessible employment practices that are in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), ensuring that all individuals are treated with dignity and respect. Should you require accommodation for disability during any stage of the recruitment process, please notify the Human Resources department.