Senior Paralegal Officer

Important messages

NOTE: You must clearly demonstrate in detail, in a covering letter, how you meet the education and experience requirements, including the *recent and *significant criteria. You must provide concrete and detailed examples to clearly demonstrate how you meet the education and experience requirements listed in the essential qualifications and asset qualifications section. The screening board cannot make any assumptions about your experience or education. It is not sufficient to say that you have the required qualifications or to list your current duties. One effective approach would be to use the wording of each experience criterion as a heading and then write one or two paragraphs demonstrating that you have the required experience and ensure that clear and accurate details are provided

Applications that do not clearly demonstrate that the candidate meets the screening criteria will not be given further consideration.

Failure to provide this information will result in your application being rejected.

Screening of applications/selection of candidate(s) may be based on asset qualifications, operational requirements or the organizational needs, depending on the requirements of the specific position being staffed.

Intent of the process

To staff 4 indeterminate EC-04 positions with various linguistic profiles.

A pool of qualified candidates may be established through this process to staff identical or similar positions at the EC-04 group and level with various tenures and various linguistic requirements (bilingual imperative and English Essential).

Positions to be filled: 4

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

A covering letter in 2,500 words (maximum)

You must meet all essential qualifications in order to be appointed to the position. Other qualifications may be a deciding factor in choosing the person to be appointed. Some essential and other qualifications will be assessed through your application. It is your responsibility to provide appropriate examples that illustrate how you meet each qualification. Failing to do so could result in your application being rejected.

The following will be applied / assessed at a later date (essential for the job)

Various language requirements
Bilingual imperative CCC/CCC
English Essential

Information on language requirements

EDUCATION

Successful completion of two years of a post-secondary program with acceptable specialization in social science, statistics, library/archival work or a law-related field

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE

Recent* and significant** experience providing litigation support before the Federal Courts, Superior/Provincial Courts or Administrative Tribunals;

Recent* and significant** experience drafting legal documents including pleadings or legal submissions;

Recent* and significant** experience reviewing and analyzing documents and incoming requests, in the context of legal proceedings, in order to determine next steps;

Experience conducting legal research;

Recent* experience in the usage of legal information management systems.

*Recent is defined as having performed these services within the last 5 (five) years.

**Significant is understood to mean the depth and breadth of experience normally associated with having performed a broad range of paralegal activities which are normally acquired during a period of two (2) years in a paralegal position.

KNOWLEDGE

Knowledge of the major legislation administered by Employment and Social Development Canada;

Knowledge of administrative law principles;

Knowledge of general procedures before administrative tribunals and Federal or Superior/Provincial Courts;

Knowledge of legal research tools.

ABILITIES

Ability to communicate effectively verbally;

Ability to communicate effectively in writing;

Ability to work effectively under pressure and manage multiple priorities;

Ability to identify relevant facts and legal issues;

Ability to work autonomously;

Ability to determine the applicable course of action based on legal principles, statutory authorities, research and/or an analysis of specific fact scenarios;

Ability to delegate to and mentor/monitor the work of junior colleagues.

PERSONAL SUITABILITIES

Dependability
Judgment
Initiative
Thinking Skills
Effective interpersonal relations

The following may be applied / assessed at a later date (may be needed for the job)

ASSET QUALIFICATIONS

Experience pleading orally before Administrative Tribunals, Superior/Provincial or Federal Courts;

Demonstrated innovative/forward thinking skills;

Proficient in working with commonly used application software.

ORGANIZATIONAL NEEDS

Employment and Social Development Canada is committed to employment equity (EE). In order to achieve a representative workforce, selection may be based on qualified candidates self-declaring as being a member of one or more of the following EE groups: Aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities, women and visible minorities.

OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Willingness and availability to work overtime as required and adopt flexible work hours.

Conditions of employment

Secret security clearance

Other information

A written test will be administered.

Language tests results will be required to confirm proficiency for bilingual positions.

An interview will be administered.

Reference checks will be sought.

Acknowledgment of receipt of applications will not be sent; we will contact candidates when the screening process is completed.

Please identify clearly your substantive group and level and your employment status on your resume and/or application form.

Please ensure that your Personal Record Identifier (PRI) is included in your application, if applicable.

Pass marks will be established for each qualification. However, achieving the pass mark is not a guarantee of an appointment or that candidates will be put through the next stages of the assessment process.

Candidates invited to a written test will be required to bring proof of their education credentials, in the form of a diploma or official transcript and proof of citizenship in the form of Birth Certificate, Valid Canadian Passport or Citizenship Card (original documents only).

Persons are entitled to participate in the appointment process in the official language of their choice. Applicants are asked to indicate in their on-line application their preferred official language for each of the following: a) correspondence, b) written exam and c) interview.

Communication for this process will be sent via e-mail. It is the responsibility of the candidate to ensure that accurate contact information is provided and updated as required.

Please note that within the context of this selection process, all candidates will be required to pay for their own travel for various assessment phases.

The Public Service of Canada is committed to building a skilled, diverse workforce reflective of Canadian society. As a result, it promotes employment equity and encourages candidates to indicate voluntarily on their application if they are a woman, an Aboriginal person, a person with a disability or a member of a visible minority group.

The Public Service of Canada is also committed to developing inclusive, barrier-free selection processes and work environments. If contacted in relation to a job opportunity or testing, you should advise the Public Service Commission or the departmental official in a timely fashion of the accommodation measures which must be taken to enable you to be assessed in a fair and equitable manner. Information received relating to accommodation measures will be addressed confidentially.

Preference

Preference will be given to veterans and to Canadian citizens, in that order.

Information on the preference to veterans

We thank all those who apply. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.