Legal Counsel (Anticipatory)

Important messages

We are committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, starting with the hiring process. If you need to be accommodated during any phase of the evaluation process, please use the Contact information below to request specialized accommodation. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.

Assessment accommodation

The organization will accept applications on-line only. All job applications must therefore be submitted through the Public Service Resourcing System.

To apply for this process, you:
- must provide a cover letter (500 words maximum) and a resume;
- answer screening questions online (Your answers to the screening questions will be assessed against the resume that you submit. Any noticeable information that cannot be supported by your resume will be deemed invalid and may result in your application being screened-out from this process)

Tips for applicants:

You will be invited to clearly demonstrate how you meet each of the screening criteria by answering the questions in the Screening Questions section of the application.

When drafting your responses to the experience qualifications, follow this format:
1. include where, when and how you obtained the required experience
2. include the period(s) in which you performed the functions of the position(s).

By providing the required information in the suggested format, you will ensure that the assessors are in a position to assess the depth, complexity and scope of your experience.

Failure to provide sufficient information may result in your application being screened out of the process.

CANDIDATES WILL NOT BE SOLICITED FOR INCOMPLETE OR MISSING INFORMATION.

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 Department of Justice is often described as Canada's largest and most prestigious law firm. The Department makes and upholds federal laws and is the guardian of the Canadian justice system. By setting for itself the highest standards of integrity, fairness and professionalism, the Department of Justice has earned a reputation as a leader within the legal community.

No matter what your expertise, you will benefit from Justice Canada's supportive atmosphere, its emphasis on training and mentoring, and the ability to balance the personal and professional aspects of your life.

In the Ontario Regional Office our counsel are recognized within DOJ as experienced leaders in complex litigation. Our divisions have frequent court appearances and litigate some of the most diverse, high profile and challenging files in the country. Our Tax and Immigration Divisions respectively also handle the largest volumes of tax and immigration and refugee litigation in the country.

Intent of the process

The Immigration Law Division and the Tax Law Division are currently hiring.

A pool may be established to staff similar positions within the Ontario Regional Office or other regions within the Department of Justice.

A pool of qualified candidates will be established, and the results of this process will be used to staff similar or identical positions with various tenures, various security clearance levels, and/or various language requirements

Positions to be filled: Number to be determined

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

A covering letter in 500 words (maximum)

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

Eligibility for membership in the Bar of one of the provinces or territories of Canada or in the Order of Notaries in the Province of Quebec.

Recent* experience conducting civil or criminal litigation cases before courts or administrative tribunals, or recent experience providing litigation support or providing legal advice.

*Recent is defined as experience gained within the last 2 years.

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

Various language requirements
English Essential
Bilingual Imperative BBB/BBB
Bilingual Imperative CBC/CBC
Bilingual Imperative CCC/CCC

Information on language requirements

Demonstrating integrity and respect
Thinking things through
Working effectively with others
Showing initiative and being action-oriented

Ability to analyze legal issues
Ability to communicate effectively orally
Ability to communicate effectively in writing

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

Experience working in the area(s) of law relevant to the position(s) to be staffed.

Experience in one or more of the following areas: civil procedure, criminal law, national security law, constitutional law, Charter law, administrative law, Crown law, tort law, commercial law, aboriginal law, class actions, environmental law, real property law, procurement law, immigration law, extradition law, mutual legal assistance, tax law, files involving the General Anti-Avoidance Rule, files relating to transfer-pricing issues.

Knowledge of the law in at least one of the following areas: civil procedure, criminal law, national security law, constitutional law, Charter law, administrative law, Crown law, tort law, commercial law, aboriginal law, class actions, environmental law, real property law, procurement law, immigration law, extradition law and mutual legal assistance law, tax law, files involving the General Anti-Avoidance Rule, files relating to transfer-pricing issues.

The Department of Justice is committed to maintaining a representative workforce reflective of Canadian society. In support of achieving a diversified workforce and our employment equity goals, qualified candidates who self-declare in a staffing process as members of Aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities, visible minorities and/or women may be selected for appointment to fulfill organizational needs including reducing representation gaps.

Willing and able to work extended hours including weekends.

Willing to travel as required and for extended periods of time.

For positions in the Immigration Law Division: Periodically on call after-hours and on weekends for motions duty in Federal Court.

Conditions of employment

Reliability or Secret Status

Remain member in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario.

For positions in the Immigration Law Division: Periodically on call after-hours and on weekends for motions duty in Federal Court.

Other information

The Public Service of Canada is committed to building a skilled and diverse workforce that reflects the Canadians we serve. We promote employment equity and encourage you to indicate if you belong to one of the designated groups when you apply.

Information on employment equity

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

All information obtained throughout the selection process, from the time of application to close of process, may be used to evaluate the candidates.

The selection committee reserves all rights to use any methods that they deem appropriate in order to evaluate the candidates (written examination, interview, reference check, written samples, argue a motion, etc.).

Proof of citizenship will be required.

As part of the selection process, the use of online, innovative tools may be used for testing purposes. As a result, selected candidates will require access to a device that has internet capabilities.

Communication for this process will be sent via email. It is the responsibility of the candidate to ensure accurate contact information is provided and updated as required and to update their personal information when it changes. Candidates who apply to this selection process should include an email address that accepts email from unknown users (some email systems block these types of email).

Time sensitive correspondence may be transmitted via e-mail and it will be the candidate's responsibility to ensure they check their e-mail regularly. Failure to respond to communications may result in elimination from this process.

Testing/interviews will be conducted at locations of the employer's choice and may require candidates to travel to the test/interview location. Please note that candidates (including employees of the Public Service) will not be considered to be in travel status or on government business and that travel costs will not be reimbursed. Consequently, candidates will be responsible for travel costs.

Candidates may be required to meet some asset qualifications or the organizational needs, depending on the requirements of the specific position being staffed.

Other considerations may be a deciding factor in choosing the person to be appointed from the pool (i.e. other qualifications deemed relevant, organizational needs, and/or operational needs).

Persons are entitled to participate in the appointment process in the official language of their choice.

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 facilitate your full participation.

For Current Federal Public Service employees:

Please identify clearly your substantive group and level, your employment status, and Personal Record Identifier (PRI) on your application.

Employees at the same group and level or equivalent may be considered for deployment or secondment.

An assignment or acting appointment or secondment requires approval of your supervisor.

Preference

Preference will be given to veterans and to Canadian citizens, in that order, with the exception of a job located in Nunavut, where Nunavut Inuit will be appointed first.

Information on the preference to veterans

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