Senior and Junior Staff Lawyer

SENIOR AND JUNIOR STAFF LAWYER

1-Year Term Contract

Salary range: $82,830.09 - $152,819.62 per year (based on Relevant Experience under Nova Scotia Legal Aid’s Staff Lawyer Pay Plan Policy)

Closing date: August 1, 2024 at 4:30 pm

BACKGROUND

Nova Scotia Legal Aid and Sipekne'katik First Nation are partnering on an exciting new initiative of addressing the current barriers Sipekne'katik community members face when accessing legal services outside of Community. Nova Scotia Legal Aid is working with Sipekne'katik to provide legal services and educational initiatives by opening a legal aid office on Sipekne'katik First Nation.

Sipekne’katik First Nation is a Mi’kmaq community with over 3000 band members located in Hants County, Nova Scotia. Sipekne’katik is one of the seven geographic districts of Mi’kma’ki – the ancestral territory of the Mi’kmaq that encompasses Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, PEI, Newfoundland, and Maine.

Sipekne’katik is a community rooted in the traditions and history of its ancestors, taking pride in their Mi’kmaw culture, language and way of life. Sipekne’katik includes communities of Indian Brook (now called Sipekne’katik), New Ross, Pennal, Dodd’s Lot, Hammonds Plains, and Grand Lake.

Sipekne’katik is a vibrant, growing community. Sipekne’katik strives to provide exciting cultural, educational, social, and many other opportunities for all its band members. The Sipekne’katik Band is focused on improving the economic sustainability of the community. Through a strategic plan and sound economic initiatives, the Sipekne’katik Band is improving the standard of living for its community and all their band members by providing essential goods, services and supports that are developed and delivered by the community.

STATEMENT OF INTENTION

These positions are designated to applicants who identify as Mi’kmaw or Indigenous Persons. Lived experience in a historical Mi’kmaw Community is an asset for this position. However, we encourage all applicants to apply.

We value a workplace where diversity, in all its forms, is encouraged and recognized for its contribution to a more creative, rewarding workplace that is representative, at all job levels, of the people we serve.

We welcome applications from all individuals belonging to equity-deserving groups, such as African Nova Scotian or Black, New Canadian or Immigrant, Racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+, Persons with Disabilities, and Women. These applications will be considered if a suitable candidate is not found within the Mi’kmaq or Indigenous community. If you are a member of one of these equity populations, you are encouraged to self-identify on your electronic application, cover letter or résumé/C.V.

We are committed to accommodating those with disabilities at any stage of the hiring process, so please advise of the required accommodations.

WHO WE ARE

A career at Nova Scotia Legal Aid is unlike any other in the legal field, regardless of the area of law. A career at Nova Scotia Legal Aid is incredibly rewarding. It is a dynamic, fast-paced, and demanding workplace, and each day presents an opportunity to help make the lives of Nova Scotians better by compassionately assisting them through the most important legal issues happening in their lives.

A legal aid lawyer is fearless to work on compelling and significant cases that have a profound impact on the lives of individuals, families, and communities. A legal aid lawyer is focused on providing excellent client service and access to justice. A legal aid lawyer is ready to collaborate to solve the variety of complex problems presented.

Nova Scotia Legal Aid provides free legal information, advice, and representation to Nova Scotians facing criminal, family, or social justice issues, through 24 service offices and 3 sub-offices, with a focus on low income and equity-deserving populations as well as those experiencing gender-based, intimate partner, or family violence. This initiative will open the door to a new model of providing direct services to communities.

Nova Scotia Legal Aid has specialized service offices for youth, social justice, mental health legal services, and criminal and family appeals.

Our work on Sipekne'katik is guided by:

· establishing and maintaining mutually respectful relationships

· engaging and collaborating with Community organizations, elders and leaders

· encouraging and supporting Community approach to resolving conflict and disputes

· recognizing the interconnectedness of physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health in the Mi’kmaq view

· approaching the work with humility, remembering we are guests in Community

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

As a lawyer in this position, you can expect to:

· provide legal advice, useful guidance, representation, and advocacy to clients on a broad range of criminal or family and/or social justice law

· engage in outreach and education activities within the Community

PROFESSIONAL & LIVED EXPERIENCE

You’re our ideal lawyer if you can:

· use reason, logic, and common sense to make decisions and solve complex legal issues

· explain legal concepts plainly, clearly, and persuasively to clients, judges, and service-providers

· commit to ongoing learning and education to stay up to date with the ever-evolving legal practice

· pay attention to the little details to provide high quality legal services with accuracy and without errors

· take a client centered approach and apply an equity and trauma-informed lens to your practice

· build strong relationships with clients, colleagues, service-providers and opposing counsel

· balance and prioritize competing demands and deadlines

· understand the legal issues affecting Indigenous communities

You will also need a:

· Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or Juris Doctor (JD) Degree

· Practicing certificate from the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society and be in good standing with the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society or eligible to become licensed in Nova Scotia.

· Valid driver’s license

THE PACKAGE

1-year Term Contract

Salary range: $82,830.09 - $152,819.62 per year(based on Relevant Experience under Nova Scotia Legal Aid’s Staff Lawyer Pay Plan Policy)

Nova Scotia Legal Aid offers its employees a wide range of benefits including, but not limited to:

· Health, dental, long-term disability, and life insurance.

· Defined benefit pension.

· Starting with 3 weeks of vacation.

· Employee and Family Assistance Program.

· Support for community involvement.

· Professional development and mentorship

APPLY NOW

To apply, please send your resume and cover letter to NSLA-Careers@nslegalaid.ca. Please indicate Position Title and Location and whether you are an internal or external applicant in the email subject line.

While we appreciate receiving all applications, only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted. All applications will be held in strict confidence.

Job Type: Fixed term contrac