Counsel, Judicial Education
- National Judicial Institute
- Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Jul 23, 2024
Full time
Lawyer (Public Sector)
Lawyer (Other)
Job Description
The National Judicial Institute (NJI) is an independent, bilingual, not‐for‐profit organization, based in Ottawa and Montreal, with a mandate to coordinate and deliver educational programming to members of the judiciary across Canada.
Internally, a team of lawyers assists judicial education planning committees on matters of content and pedagogical design, while meeting professionals coordinate all logistical aspects of the programs. As part of its curriculum, the NJI offers over 70 judicial education programs each year. In addition, the Institute provides a number of educational resources to members of the judiciary, such as Judicial Education Guides, Electronic Bench Books, hard‐copy publications, educational modules to assist in program design, and an online judicial library.
The NJI is looking to fill the permanent position of Counsel, Judicial Education. The position is based in Ottawa (hybrid work environment); however, we are open to staffing this position remotely within Canada
The competition is open to all candidates, we encourage qualified candidates who self-identify as Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, Métis) to apply.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Reporting to the Assistant Director, In-Person Education and Evaluation, the Counsel position is a legal professional interested in education and pedagogy. Counsel work with judicial education planning committees, court-based committees and NJI program delivery teams to produce judicial education seminars and educational materials at the national, regional, and provincial levels for judges across Canada. While most synchronous education seminars are provided in-person, some may be delivered online.
Counsel, Judicial Education work closely with the In-Person Education and Evaluation management team and support the Chief Judicial Officer to provide a comprehensive curriculum of judicial education that integrates best practices in adult education design and delivery. This entails regular interaction with those responsible for education within courts in Canada and with other contributors to judicial education, including legal academics, members of the bar, and other subject-matter experts.
The position allows considerable scope to engage in a wide range of projects relevant to the judiciary and that foster excellence in judicial education. Generally, Counsel, Judicial Education play a significant role in curriculum and agenda development, faculty planning and development, materials development, and program delivery but do not serve as presenters or teachers at judicial education seminars.
Domestic travel to judicial education programs is part of the position. On average, counsel travel to education programs about once per month, although on occasion Counsel might be required to travel for several weeks in sequence during the peak program delivery period. There is little travel required during the months of July, August, and December.
Specifically, the responsibilities of the position include:
1. Develop synchronous judicial education programs for delivery by the NJI and the courts, including preparing and conducting meetings and planning calls with judicial education planning committees and faculty members;
2. Provide expertise with respect to curriculum design, to complement subject expertise offered by members of planning committees and other external experts;
3. Work in collaboration with colleagues specializing in event planning to ensure cohesion between logistical planning processes and program content and delivery;
4. Oversee and take responsibility for the successful delivery of judicial education seminars, including travel to those events;
5. Provide research and draft input for education materials, including course materials, electronic resources, agendas, hypothetical problems, discussion questions, video scripts and facilitator notes, as necessary;
6. Develop a thorough understanding of adult pedagogical theory and the learning needs of the judiciary, and respond to education requests in collaboration with the Director of Education and the Chief Judicial Officer ;
7. Assist with the selection and onboarding processes of judicial education counsel, articling students, law students, and administrative employees, as needed;
8. From time to time, work on or assist in the development and preparation of asynchronous electronic resources for the judiciary and other projects under the primary responsibility of the Digital Education department, as needed;
9. Monitor legal and judicial developments in Canada; and
10. Represent the organization nationally.
QUALIFICATIONS
Essential
1. Bachelor of Laws (LL.B), Juris Doctor (JD) or equivalent legal education;
2. Experience working with professional or community organizations (including but not limited to a law firm, government, university, public legal education, not-for-profit, community organization);
3. Experience includes, but is not limited to, legal writing experience, program and project management, education administration, e-Learning development, and the use of technology in teaching or learning or research;
4. Experience in the design and delivery of adult or professional education curriculum and innovative education programming;
5. Experience in legal research;
6. Ability to write in a broad range of legal topics;
7. Fluent in English (R/W/O);
8. Working knowledge of French (R/W/O);
9. Proficiency with Office 365;
10. Membership at the Bar in a Canadian province or territory; and
11. Willing and able to travel nationally for work.
Desirable
1. LL.M, SJD, DCL, or other postgraduate degree;
2. Fluent in French and English (R/W/O);
3. Experience teaching law at university;
4. Experience in distance education programming and resources;
5. Experience in project management;
6. Experience working in a non profit organization;
7. Bijural training (knowledge of common law and civil law);
8. Familiarity with Indigenous legal orders in Canada;
9. Proficiency in SharePoint; and
10. Proficiency in Project Management Software, such as Asana.
SKILLS
The skill set of the successful candidate must include:
1. Manage sensitive and potentially controversial information and interpersonal situations; uses effective negotiation and persuasion skills using professionalism and integrity;
2. Exhibit a positive attitude, build and maintain effective relationships with colleagues, clients and stakeholders using integrity and respect; consistently leverage effective negotiation and persuasion skills;
3. Meet deadlines, work in a dynamic, fast-paced environment and consistently demonstrate the ability to work on a team;
4. Conduct in-depth research into specific problems, concerns, or issues; develop options and make a recommendation for final decision-making;
5. Ability to remain current with legislation, adult pedagogy and judicial learning needs; ensure continued improvement of service delivery; and
6. Maintain professional ethics and discretion; protect sensitive and confidential information.
COMPENSATION
Compensation is to be determined at the time of hiring, based on the successful candidate’s experience and profile within the represented salary band 7 which ranges from $95,424 - $119,280 annually.
What We Offer:
We would appreciate receiving applications before July 16, 2024. However, we will continue to consider applications until the position is filled.
While we appreciate all responses, only candidates under consideration will be contacted. The National Judicial Institute is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment accommodation in accordance with provincial Human Rights and Accessibility legislation. If contacted for an interview or employment testing, please advise Human Resources if you require accommodation.
Internally, a team of lawyers assists judicial education planning committees on matters of content and pedagogical design, while meeting professionals coordinate all logistical aspects of the programs. As part of its curriculum, the NJI offers over 70 judicial education programs each year. In addition, the Institute provides a number of educational resources to members of the judiciary, such as Judicial Education Guides, Electronic Bench Books, hard‐copy publications, educational modules to assist in program design, and an online judicial library.
The NJI is looking to fill the permanent position of Counsel, Judicial Education. The position is based in Ottawa (hybrid work environment); however, we are open to staffing this position remotely within Canada
The competition is open to all candidates, we encourage qualified candidates who self-identify as Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, Métis) to apply.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Reporting to the Assistant Director, In-Person Education and Evaluation, the Counsel position is a legal professional interested in education and pedagogy. Counsel work with judicial education planning committees, court-based committees and NJI program delivery teams to produce judicial education seminars and educational materials at the national, regional, and provincial levels for judges across Canada. While most synchronous education seminars are provided in-person, some may be delivered online.
Counsel, Judicial Education work closely with the In-Person Education and Evaluation management team and support the Chief Judicial Officer to provide a comprehensive curriculum of judicial education that integrates best practices in adult education design and delivery. This entails regular interaction with those responsible for education within courts in Canada and with other contributors to judicial education, including legal academics, members of the bar, and other subject-matter experts.
The position allows considerable scope to engage in a wide range of projects relevant to the judiciary and that foster excellence in judicial education. Generally, Counsel, Judicial Education play a significant role in curriculum and agenda development, faculty planning and development, materials development, and program delivery but do not serve as presenters or teachers at judicial education seminars.
Domestic travel to judicial education programs is part of the position. On average, counsel travel to education programs about once per month, although on occasion Counsel might be required to travel for several weeks in sequence during the peak program delivery period. There is little travel required during the months of July, August, and December.
Specifically, the responsibilities of the position include:
1. Develop synchronous judicial education programs for delivery by the NJI and the courts, including preparing and conducting meetings and planning calls with judicial education planning committees and faculty members;
2. Provide expertise with respect to curriculum design, to complement subject expertise offered by members of planning committees and other external experts;
3. Work in collaboration with colleagues specializing in event planning to ensure cohesion between logistical planning processes and program content and delivery;
4. Oversee and take responsibility for the successful delivery of judicial education seminars, including travel to those events;
5. Provide research and draft input for education materials, including course materials, electronic resources, agendas, hypothetical problems, discussion questions, video scripts and facilitator notes, as necessary;
6. Develop a thorough understanding of adult pedagogical theory and the learning needs of the judiciary, and respond to education requests in collaboration with the Director of Education and the Chief Judicial Officer ;
7. Assist with the selection and onboarding processes of judicial education counsel, articling students, law students, and administrative employees, as needed;
8. From time to time, work on or assist in the development and preparation of asynchronous electronic resources for the judiciary and other projects under the primary responsibility of the Digital Education department, as needed;
9. Monitor legal and judicial developments in Canada; and
10. Represent the organization nationally.
QUALIFICATIONS
Essential
1. Bachelor of Laws (LL.B), Juris Doctor (JD) or equivalent legal education;
2. Experience working with professional or community organizations (including but not limited to a law firm, government, university, public legal education, not-for-profit, community organization);
3. Experience includes, but is not limited to, legal writing experience, program and project management, education administration, e-Learning development, and the use of technology in teaching or learning or research;
4. Experience in the design and delivery of adult or professional education curriculum and innovative education programming;
5. Experience in legal research;
6. Ability to write in a broad range of legal topics;
7. Fluent in English (R/W/O);
8. Working knowledge of French (R/W/O);
9. Proficiency with Office 365;
10. Membership at the Bar in a Canadian province or territory; and
11. Willing and able to travel nationally for work.
Desirable
1. LL.M, SJD, DCL, or other postgraduate degree;
2. Fluent in French and English (R/W/O);
3. Experience teaching law at university;
4. Experience in distance education programming and resources;
5. Experience in project management;
6. Experience working in a non profit organization;
7. Bijural training (knowledge of common law and civil law);
8. Familiarity with Indigenous legal orders in Canada;
9. Proficiency in SharePoint; and
10. Proficiency in Project Management Software, such as Asana.
SKILLS
The skill set of the successful candidate must include:
1. Manage sensitive and potentially controversial information and interpersonal situations; uses effective negotiation and persuasion skills using professionalism and integrity;
2. Exhibit a positive attitude, build and maintain effective relationships with colleagues, clients and stakeholders using integrity and respect; consistently leverage effective negotiation and persuasion skills;
3. Meet deadlines, work in a dynamic, fast-paced environment and consistently demonstrate the ability to work on a team;
4. Conduct in-depth research into specific problems, concerns, or issues; develop options and make a recommendation for final decision-making;
5. Ability to remain current with legislation, adult pedagogy and judicial learning needs; ensure continued improvement of service delivery; and
6. Maintain professional ethics and discretion; protect sensitive and confidential information.
COMPENSATION
Compensation is to be determined at the time of hiring, based on the successful candidate’s experience and profile within the represented salary band 7 which ranges from $95,424 - $119,280 annually.
What We Offer:
- A hybrid work environment, with core office days - allowing you the best of both working from home and in-person, in a collaborative team environment.
- A competitive salary with step increases based on experience.
- Employer-paid health and dental benefits, starting on your first day with us.
- A competitive vacation package, with an annual holiday closure.
- Work-life balance: 35-hour work week, personal days, and schedule flexibility.
- Organization-wide social events and training opportunities.
- A meaningful career, supporting the development and delivery of judicial education on topics that matter for all Canadians.
We would appreciate receiving applications before July 16, 2024. However, we will continue to consider applications until the position is filled.
While we appreciate all responses, only candidates under consideration will be contacted. The National Judicial Institute is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment accommodation in accordance with provincial Human Rights and Accessibility legislation. If contacted for an interview or employment testing, please advise Human Resources if you require accommodation.
About National Judicial Institute
Based in Ottawa, the National Judicial Institute (NJI) is an independent, not-for-profit institution committed to building better justice through leadership in the education of judges in Canada and internationally.