Legal Assistant Inventory- Various Streams

Important messages

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). We would recommend that you add to your contacts the following e-mail address: .

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.

When you apply to this selection process, you are not applying for a specific job, but to an inventory for future vacancies. As positions become available, applicants who meet the qualifications may be contacted for further assessment.

To apply for this process, you:
- Do not need to provide a cover letter (just a résumé);
- 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:
- Please provide complete and thorough details of your education and experience.
- Do not assume that the screening board has any previous knowledge of your background, qualifications, or work history. You must be specific and provide concrete examples/details for each experience element, as applications will be screened only on the information provided.
- Failure to provide sufficient information may result in your application being screened out of the process.
- Your responses may be used to assess your ability to communicate effectively in writing.

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 inventory will be updated every 90 days. You will receive a notice in your applicant account 14 days before the end of your active period to determine whether or not you wish to keep being considered for an additional 90 days.

Persons with a disability preventing them from applying on-line should contact us at 1-800-645-5605.

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: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-service-commission/services/assessment-accommodation-page.html

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 legal assistants is multi-faceted, stimulating and enriching. Legal Assistants 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 Legal Assistants 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

The intent of this process is to create qualified pools for all 3 streams. The 3 streams are identified as:

Stream 1: Legal Assistant, providing legal assistant support to a legal practitioner.
Stream 2: Legal Assistant, working with civil proceedings in the province of Quebec.
Stream 3: Legal Assistant, working in Notarial Law and Real property Law in the province of Quebec.

Please do not wait to submit your application as extractions will be made throughout the year as staffing needs arise. Targeted extractions will be pulled based on the regional need.

Depending on the needs of the organization, candidates may be randomly selected from the inventory for assessment purposes. What is random selection? It involves using a computerized algorithm to randomly select a group of candidates from within a larger pool.

A pool of qualified candidates will be established and may be used to staff similar or identical positions with various linguistic profiles and requirements, security profiles and various tenures.

Positions to be filled: Number to be determined

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

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

All Streams:
• A diploma or certificate from a law-related program (e.g. legal assistant, law clerk, paralegal assistant program or an equivalent program) from a recognized institution or an acceptable combination of education, training and/or experience.

Degree equivalency

Stream 1:
• Experience in providing legal assistant support to a legal practitioner.

Stream 2:
• Experience as a legal assistant working with the rules of court that apply to legal proceedings in Quebec.

Stream 3:
• Experience as a legal assistant working with the rules of Notarial Law and Real property Law in the province of Quebec.

If you possess any of the following, your application must also clearly explain how you meet it (other qualifications)

• Graduation with a degree from a recognized University.

Degree equivalency

• Experience providing legal assistant support to a civil litigation practitioner acquired during the last 3 years.

• Experience providing legal assistant support to a prosecutor or criminal law practitioner.

• Experience in Tax Law.

• Experience in Aboriginal Law.

• Experience in Property Law.

• Experience in Personal Injury Law.

• Experience working with evidence management software, such as Ringtail.

• Experience scheduling and organizing travel arrangements and in completing travel expense claims using the current Government of Canada travel system.

• Experience working in the Federal Public Service within the Minister of Justice portfolio (e.g. Public Prosecution Service of Canada, Courts Administration Service, etc.)

• Experience working with National Security files and related agencies.

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, CBB/CBB, CCB/CCB, CBC/CBC, CCC/CCC, BBC/BBC, BCB/BCB

Information on language requirements

Stream 1:
• Knowledge of the Court rules that apply to legal proceedings in Federal Court.

All Streams:
• Knowledge of legal terminology and legal documents.

• Demonstrating Integrity and Respect
• Thinking Things Through
• Working Effectively with Others
• Showing Initiative and Being Action-Oriented

• Ability to prepare routine correspondence and routine legal documents.
• Ability to format non-legal documents and legal documents.
• Oral Communication: Presents and discusses ideas, concepts and issues in a clear, concise, and effective manner orally.
• Written Communication: Presents and discusses ideas, concepts and issues in a clear, concise, and effective manner in writing.

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

• Knowledge of the rules of courts as they apply to legal proceedings in Quebec.

• Knowledge of the rules relating to notarial law and real estate transactions in the province of Quebec.

• Ability to proof-read documents.

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.

Information on employment equity

• Willingness and ability to travel as required.

• Willingness and ability to work overtime as required.

• In some locations, willingness and ability to work from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Conditions of employment

Various security clearance levels such as reliability, secret and top secret.

Medical Clearance* for positions located in the Department of Justice, Northern Regional Offices (Whitehorse, Yellowknife and Iqaluit) only.

*The incumbent and his/her dependents may be required to obtain Health Canada medical clearance in accordance with the Isolated Posts and Government Housing Directive.

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

We will only accept on-line applications received via the GC Jobs site.

CANDIDATES WILL NOT BE SOLICITED FOR INCOMPLETE OR MISSING INFORMATION.

Proof of education, in the form of a diploma, degree, or official transcripts, will be requested at the assessment stage of this process. Candidates with foreign credentials must provide proof of Canadian equivalency. Consult the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials for further information at http://www.cicic.ca/.

Proof of citizenship will be required.

A written test will be administered.

Interviews will be administered.

Reference checks may be administered.

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.

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.

Please note that if appointed to bilingual positions, candidates will be entitled to $800 bilingualism bonus per year.

For the positions located in Iqaluit (Nunavut), Whitehorse (Yukon) and Yellowknife (Northwest Territories), the following applies:

Additional allowances will be provided for these positions in accordance with the National Joint Council's Isolated Posts and Government Housing Directive. More detailed information can be found at the following link: http://www.njc-cnm.gc.ca/directive/d4/v237/en

Vacation Travel Assistance is available: https://www.canada.ca/en/treasury-board-secretariat/services/terms-conditions-employment/isolated-posts-government-housing.html

You may also be eligible for the Northern residents deductions when you file your tax return with the Canada Revenue Agency. More information can be found at the following link: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/individuals/topics/about-your-tax-return/tax-return/completing-a-tax-return/deductions-credits-expenses/line-255-northern-residents-deductions.html

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.