Paralegal - Post-Secondary Recruitment

Important messages

Give yourself the best chance to succeed!

If you have a limitation that may impact your performance during an assessment, such as a test or interview, you may require an accommodation. Assessment accommodations are designed to remove the obstacles without altering the criteria being assessed so candidates with limitations can fully demonstrate their abilities.

To request an assessment accommodation or if you have questions, including the physical environment of the exam room, please contact us as soon as possible at

Each request will be individually reviewed. You will be asked to provide information regarding your limitations. If needed, professional documentation could be requested to determine the appropriate accommodation measures. For more information about assessment accommodation, please visit our website at https://www.canada.ca/en/public-service-commission/jobs/services/recruitment/graduates/post-secondary-recruitment/exams-and-assessment-accommodation.html

*NOTE: Please note your application and your answers to the screening questionnaire will be used to assess your ability to communicate effectively in writing.

This staffing process may be used not only to staff positions situated in the work locations identified at the beginning of this advertisement, but also for positions in Gatineau and elsewhere in Canada based on current and future staffing needs of the Department.

Duties

Under the guidance of a legal professional, paralegals perform a variety of tasks in different areas of law, including research, compiling documents, drafting various procedures, creating court files, providing assistance for some trials, dealing with clients, and organizing information from clients and governmental or other institutions.

Work environment

Why should you join the Justice team?

The Department of Justice can offer you a rewarding career, where you are part of a team working to ensure that Canada has an accessible, efficient and fair system of justice.

The Department of Justice supports the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada in virtually every area of law, from the development of policy to the drafting of legislation, and from litigation to the provision of legal advice to other federal departments and agencies. The issues Justice lawyers deal with on a daily basis are often on the cutting edge of legal trends and have significant impacts on Canadian society.

The tradition of excellence at the Department of Justice is embodied in its culture, which values inclusiveness, fairness and respect for Canada's legal system.

The work of a paralegal is multi-faceted, stimulating and enriching. Paralegals working for the Department of Justice have an opportunity to gain valuable work experience with Canada’s single largest legal organization. The working conditions and the experienced teams are assets for those who like challenges.

Department of Justice paralegals work in a collaborative and mutually supportive team environment. Their contribution is essential to the achievement of the mandate of the Department, which is a leader in the field of justice.

Intent of the process

A pool of qualified candidates will be established and may be used to fill positions within the Department of Justice Canada with various tenures (permanent and temporary), various work locations, various language requirements and various security levels. This pool will also be accessible to all federal organizations who may be interested in staffing similar positions across Canada.

Positions to be filled: 20

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

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.

In order to be considered, your application must clearly explain how you meet the following (essential qualifications)

EDUCATION:

A post-secondary diploma from a recognized college in a paralegal or legal technician program OR a Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized university with acceptable specialization such as social science*, statistics, library/archival work or a law-related field.

*Note: "Social science" includes economics, political science, sociology, anthropology, history, psychology, geography, criminology, and other disciplines associated with social science. "Library/archival work" includes gallery and museum functions.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCES:

EC-02 ONLY:
Experience in providing support services to legal professionals (paralegals, counsel, notaries).*

*Experience can be gained through, among others, student work, apprenticeship, volunteer activities or extra-curricular activities.

EC-03 ONLY:
Significant experience* in providing paralegal support services.

*Significant experience is defined as the depth and breadth of experience acquired over a period of at least three (3) years.

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

Various language requirements
English essential
French essential
Bilingual imperative (BBB/BBB, CBC/CBC, CCC/CCC)

Information on language requirements

Second Language Writing Skills Self-Assessment
In order to help you decide if you should apply to a bilingual position, an optional self-assessment of your writing skills in your second official language is available for you to take before completing your application.

For more information, please consult:
Unsupervised Internet Test of Second Language Writing Skills

ABILITIES:

Ability to conduct legal research using information technology as it applies to the practice of the law (e.g. CANLII, Quicklaw, Westlaw, Practical Law, etc.);
Ability to identify, analyze and summarize factual and legal issues;
Ability to present information/documentation using the appropriate computer software;
Ability to plan, organize and work effectively under pressure;
Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS:

Reasoning
Judgment
Reliability
Working effectively with others
Showing initiative and being action-oriented

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

EXPERIENCES:

Experience in litigation support such as documentary evidence gathering, management and disclosure;
Experience in working with litigation support software such as Ringtail or Summation;
Experience in conducting legal research;
Experience drafting legal documents for review by counsel (i.e. pleadings, legal opinion, legal risk assessment, affidavit, etc.).

Selection may be limited to members of the following Employment Equity groups: Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities, visible minorities, women

Information on employment equity

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance - is the minimum. Other levels of security up to Top Secret could be applicable.

Please note that the security clearance levels are not used at the screening stage. The hiring department is responsible for the security clearance process.

Tests

How and when will I be assessed?

- You will receive an unsupervised internet test (PSEE UIT 370) at the end of October to be completed within a five (5) day window.

- If you are successful at the unsupervised test, you will be invited to the supervised in-person test (PSEE 371) that will be administered starting in November 2017.

For more information on these tests, the testing process and assessment accommodation, please visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-service-commission/jobs/services/recruitment/graduates/post-secondary-recruitment/exams-and-assessment-accommodation.html

Other information

Management may use top-down consideration of scores and cut-off scores at various steps in the process to determine the number of candidates who will be further considered in the process. Selection decisions may be based on the level, breadth or degree of qualifications achieved in one or more qualifications; for example, preference may be given to the candidate who has scored highest on a specific qualification or combination of qualifications.

Candidates from outside the public service may be required to pay for travel and relocation costs associated with this selection process.

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.