Managing Lawyer, Parents Legal Centers, Term

Location: Surrey, BC (with hybrid opportunity)

Status: Full-time, Term (until January 17, 2025, or return of the incumbent)

Affiliation: Professional Employees Association (PEA)

Salary range: Based on year of call -$70,931.93 (Yr1) to $141,376.75 (Yr16) + 10% Staff Lawyer Benefit Plan

Competition #: P050-23

Application Deadline: Open until filled

TREDI STATEMENT:

Our commitment to Truth and Reconciliation, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion is ambitious and foundational.  It informs everything we do, as we dismantle colonization, racism, sexism, transphobia and homophobia, and all discrimination.  These are our values, and they inform our hiring practices too.  Our business is aiding people in severe legal distress, and necessitates internal and external alignment of practicing these values.  Integrating Truth and Reconciliation and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion throughout every aspect of Legal Aid BC is critical to building that culture, and we prioritize ongoing resources to achieve that goal. 

We are seeking an experienced lawyer to join our amazing team in Surrey, BC as the Managing Lawyer. This term position presents an excellent opportunity for a lawyer who is passionate about family and child protection law.

The Opportunity

The Parents Legal Centre (PLC) takes a holistic approach to family and child protection law. As the Managing Lawyer, you will oversee an office and lead a team comprising a paralegal/advocate, and administrative legal assistant. Together, you will work to provide advice and representation to PLC clients on family and child protection matters and strive to reach early collaborative resolutions when appropriate. We believe that better outcomes can be achieved when parents receive legal advice and support during the early stages of their family and child protection matters.

The paralegal/advocate helps resolve a parent’s underlying non-legal issues, and the administrative assistant oversees client intake and office administration.

Key responsibilities of the Managing Lawyer include, but aren’t limited to:

• Providing advice and representation to PLC clients on family law and child protection matters.
• Assessing cases for their suitability to the PLC.
• Familiarizing yourself with the non-legal issues clients face and the available resources to address those issues.
• Collaborating with director's counsel, social workers, family support workers, family lawyers and other frontline service providers.
• Attending collaborative processes, including mediations with clients.
• Representing clients in case conferences and court appearances.
• Working closely with the PLC team, including managing, supervising, and mentoring staff (paralegal/advocate, and administrative legal assistant).
• Overseeing and supporting outreach activities and building relationships with surrounding communities and other service providers.
• Ensuring compliance with policies, procedures, and performance metrics, and preparing reports.
• Traveling as required to provide services in satellite locations.
• Familiarity with practices and procedures at the local Provincial Court is desirable.
• Familiarity with local support resources for parents is desirable.

Who We Are

Legal Aid BC (LABC) is a non-profit organization established by the Legal Services Society Act in 1979. Our mission is to provide legal information, advice, and representation services to BC's most vulnerable and marginalized citizens who lack the necessary resources to effectively access the justice system when their families, freedom, or safety are at risk. Our vision is to see BC’s legal system transformed, by the way LABC represents our clients, into one more equitable and inclusive with a mission to strengthen client-centered legal help for British Columbians experiencing barriers accessing the legal system.

At LABC, we know that our continued ability to help the people who need us is due to the hardworking individuals who make up our team, dedicated to making a difference in the lives of people in need. We foster a positive culture of open communication for our team to thrive within, underpinned by our values of client focus, advancing Truth & Reconciliation, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, and change through leadership.

Legal Aid BC is in the early stages of, and committed to a transformative journey of embedding Truth, Reconciliation, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in all aspects of our work. We seek talent from equity-seeking groups, including but not limited to individuals who self-identify as First Nations, Inuit, or Metis descent, persons with diverse abilities, gender diverse, racialized, and members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, be a part of this exciting stage of Legal Aid BC’s growth. We care deeply about the culture we are building and are looking for staff members who not only excel in their respective areas but are also passionate about supporting the people we serve and each other. If this resonates with you, we encourage you to apply. All interested and eligible applicants will be considered with due consideration to all protected grounds under the BC Human Rights Code. If we can do anything to make your application experience a positive and equitable one, we want to hear from you on what we can do better.

To understand why legal aid matters, and our commitments to Truth, Reconciliation, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, please explore our website.

The Ideal Candidate

• You must have a minimum of five (5) years of experience at the Bar in British Columbia or an equivalent level of experience in another Canadian jurisdiction.
• A minimum of three (3) years of management/supervisory experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
• Membership or eligibility for membership in the Law Society of British Columbia is necessary.
• Experience in relevant areas of law, including family, child protection, poverty law, and criminal law, is preferred.

We Offer

• A competitive annual salary, as well as a comprehensive benefits package (based on your employment status and affiliation including:
• Four weeks paid vacation to start that grows the longer you are with LABC
• An excellent employee benefits package, where premiums are 100% paid by LABC
• A generous defined benefit pension plan
• Support for training and development
• An Employee and Family Assistance program
• The opportunity to participate in various Employee programs (Employee Wellness, etc.)
• Support for a healthy work/life balance
• Generous leave provisions (sick time, special leaves)
• 13 paid statutory holidays
• An opportunity for a flexible hybrid work arrangement for some positions (LABC reserves the right to change this policy at any time)
• Transit friendly employer for eligible staff to have their commute subsidized
• Dog-friendly offices
• Dedicated Cultural Leave provisions for Indigenous employees
• An Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Council, and Indigenous employees Council and Accessibility Committee of employees from equity-seeking groups that advises on ongoing improvements and investments in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at our workplace

For additional information regarding our extensive benefits package, please explore our careers page.

If you are interested in joining us – visit our careers page for the full job posting and apply now!

We would like to thank all external applicants for their interest but regret that only those shortlisted will be contacted.