Paralegal level C and level D

Important messages

At time of application, screening questions will be asked to you. You WILL HAVE to provide concrete examples, in a few paragraphs explaining WHEN, WHERE and HOW you obtained each EXPERIENCE (essential and/or asset) criterion. Describe the examples in specific terms, providing sufficient details so that the screening board can clearly understand your examples. Content of your response must be supported by your résumé. Lack of details and what is required may result in your application being rejected as the screening board will have insufficient information. APPLICANTS WILL NOT BE SOLICITED FOR INCOMPLETE OR POSSIBLE MISSING INFORMATION.

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

Duties

EC-03 - Key Activities:

Conducts standard legal research and standard analysis on legal issues where precedents are available but not abundant. Prepares summaries and recommendations.

Organizes sensitive and/or confidential documents, information and data for parts of medium to mega complex cases/files/projects.

Under general guidance conducts activities that are of medium complexity within cases/files/projects.

When responsible for own case/file/project, administers routine low complex cases/files/projects where precedents are available. Represents client(s) in legal systems (e.g. small claims court, tax court, arraignment court, judgment debtor examinations and administrative tribunals) and/or assist counsel with the conduct of legal proceedings in legal systems.

Technical advice and guidance to contacts on basic research techniques and various legal procedures and processes.

Maintains and updates legal and administrative databases, as well as management information systems.

EC-04 - Key Activities:

Conducts comprehensive legal research and standard analysis on a variety of legal issues where precedents are limited in number and are not directly available. Precedents may be adapted to each specific case/file/project. Prepares summaries and recommendations.

Organizes sensitive and/or confidential documents, information and data for medium complex cases/files/projects and for parts of high or mega complex cases/files/projects.

Conducts activities that are of medium complexity within cases/files/projects, which includes the initial drafting of legal opinions.

Supports counsel in the administration of a case/file/project, which includes collaborating with lead counsel and planning and developing the administrative conduct of case/file/project.

When responsible for own case/file/project, administers low complex cases/files/projects that are not routine and where precedents are not easily available. Represents client(s) in legal systems (e.g. small claims court, tax court, arraignment court, judgment debtor examinations and administrative tribunals) and/or assist counsel with the conduct of legal proceedings in legal systems.

Broad technical advice to contacts on various legal procedures and processes.

Participates in the development, maintains and updates legal and administrative databases, as well as management information systems.

Coaches and mentors colleagues and/or leads a team.

Work environment

WHY JOIN CANADA'S LEGAL TEAM ?

• Are you passionate about paralegal field and interested in contributing to innovation and change?
• Are you an action-oriented self-starter?
• Do you have strong analytical skills?
• Are you a client service-oriented team player and a solution-oriented partner?

If you have what we are looking for, this is a great opportunity for you to join our energetic team and take on new challenges, contribute significantly to change and service delivery improvement, and be fulfilled as an paralegal professional.

BEING A MEMBER OF CANADA'S LEGAL TEAM MEANS:

• Working in en energetic team of paralegal specialists who value communication, cooperation and excellence in client service delivery.

• Participating in a culture of change by innovating and fostering practical solutions in order to serve Canada’s legal system well.

• Working in a virtual team as part of a national structure, with your colleagues located throughout Canada and your clients in various departments nationwide. Your workplace may be in downtown Ottawa or downtown Montreal.

WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER:

The Department of Justice has implemented many well-being and mental health initiatives, including the 2017–2018 Wellness Campaign, the Health & Wellness Platform and the Mental Health Passport. Employees’ well-being, career development and work-life balance are of the utmost importance in our Department, and that is why we support flexible working arrangements such as variable work weeks, compressed work weeks, telework and virtual work.

Intent of the process

This pool will be used to staff 5 positions for the Quebec Regional Office. It will be used as well to staff other positions in the future and similar positions within the Department of Justice with various tenures (such as: indeterminate, acting/acting extension, specified period, assignment/secondment, deployment, etc.), various languages requirements (English or French essential, bilingual imperative of various levels) and various condition of employments, which may vary according to the position to be staffed.

Positions to be filled: 5

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)

Diploma of Collegial Studies in Paralegal Technology or Diploma of a University (including certificates equivalent to 2 years post-secondary) in Law from a recognized institution.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE:

EC-03:

- Very good and recent experience* in factual AND legal research notably through the use of electronic legal data bases.

* Such an experience can usually be acquired after having worked, for a certain period and in an active way, on legal matters. Although a specific number of years cannot be a determinant in itself, it appears that a paralegal does not usually gain “very good and recent experience” in legal or factual research without having spent approximately 3 years of his/her career in this area over the past 5 years.

EC-04:

- Considerable experience* in factual AND legal research notably through the use of electronic legal data bases.

* Such an experience can usually be acquired after having worked, for a certain period and in an active way, on legal matters. Although a specific number of years cannot be a determinant in itself, it appears that a paralegal does not usually gain “considerable experience” in legal or factual research without having spent approximately 5 years of his/her career in this area over the past 8 years.

- Considerable experience providing legal (paralegal) support on high to mega complex cases/files/projects*.

*”high to mega complex cases/files/projects” are defined as ones that involve multiple factual and legal issues of a complex nature; that raise legal issues in areas where the law is not clearly established or that challenge established law or procedures. Those cases/files/projects often require dealing with stakeholders.

ABILITY AND COMPETENCIES :

EC-03 and EC-04 :

Ability to draft legal documents.

Written and Verbal Communication: To obtain and to exchange messages, verbally and in writing, and to retransmit them in a clear and effective way by using suitable medium and a language adapted to the audience.

Team Work: Ability to work in collaboration with others and to contribute significantly to the collective effort to achieve established objectives.

Interpersonal relationships: To establish and maintain constructive relationships so the organization can progress, by encouraging respect, fairness and mutual understanding.

Initiative: Identifying what needs to be done and doing it before being asked to or required by the situation

EC-03 only :

Ability to analyse legal problems.

EC-04 only :

Ability to analyse legal problems and to formulate recommendations.

Leadership: Mentoring and coaching a team of paralegals and other employees in a legal environment.

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

Various language requirements
Bilingual Imperative : CBB/CBB or CCB/CCB

Information on language requirements

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

ASSET QUALIFICATIONS :

EC-03 :

- Recent experience** in preparing and processing legal documents pertaining to commercial or real estate property transactions in the Province of Quebec.

** Recent experience can usually be acquired after having worked approximately 1 year of his/her career in this area over the past 3 years.

EC-04 :

- Recent experience** in preparing and processing legal documents pertaining to commercial or real estate property transactions in the Province of Quebec.

** Recent experience can usually be acquired after having worked approximately 3 years of his/her career in this area over the past 5 years.

The Department of Justice is committed to establishing and maintaining a representative workforce. Qualified candidates who self-declare as members of a visible minority group, Aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities and/or women may be selected for appointment to fulfill organizational needs.

Willingness and ability to travel occasionally to support jurists in the context of a file.

Willingness and ability to work overtime as required.

Conditions of employment

Reliability : RELIABILITY or SECRET

Other information

Take into consideration that the evaluation period for the appointment process will take place between October 2017 and January 2018.

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

For your information, this appointment process is not the same as the process Paralegal - Secondary Recruitment (JUS-2017-EA-PSR-110018) currently underway until October 19, 2017.

Communication for this selection process will be sent via e-mail. Candidates who apply to this selection process must include in their application a valid email address. They must make sure that this address is functional at all times and accepts messages from unknown users. It is the responsibility of the candidate to ensure that accurate contact information is provided and updated as required.

The Department of Justice encourages persons with priority entitlements to self refer to our selection processes in circumstances where they believe that they meet the essential qualifications of the advertised position.

If you require any accommodations (e.g. an alternative method of assessment, a technical aid, accessibility requirements, etc.) at any stage of the assessment process, please contact us so that we can take the appropriate measures to ensure your full participation in a fair and equitable manner.

Reference checks may be sought and may also be used to validate the experience described in your application.

An interview may be administered.

A written examination may be administered.

All information, communication or exchange obtained throughout the process, from the time of application to close of process to appointment, may be used for evaluation and selection of candidates.

A top down selection approach may be used in this selection process.

Selection/Appointment decisions may be based on the merit criteria established for the position, for example:
- Fitting of the individual's experience or qualifications to the strengths and weaknesses of the work team
- Fitting of the individual's experience or qualifications to the specific duties of the position being staffed
- Depth and breadth of the experience related to the type of work
- Level/degree of one or more competencies/qualifications.

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

Candidates are entitled to participate in the appointment process in the official language of their choice. Applicants are asked to indicate their preferred official language in their application.

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.