Counsel

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

*** INSTRUCTIONS TO FOLLOW ***

You must submit a complete application, consisting of screening questions which clearly demonstrate how you meet the screening criteria; occupational certification, experiences and assets (if applicable) and a résumé. The screening questions will be used as the primary tool in the screening process and the résumé may be used to substantiate the information provided.

In your response to the screening questions, please provide concrete examples and the following information:

1. Name of the department or organization where the experience was acquired;
2. Title of the position occupied and duration for which you exercised the functions;
3. Specific details of tasks, projects, or accomplishments demonstrating how the experience was acquired.

Please note that point form, “copy and paste" from your resume and comments such as “refer to my attached resume” will NOT be accepted. Failure to provide this information in the requested format WILL result in your application being rejected.

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

By applying to this selection process, you are committing to be available for the assessments that will take place throughout the selection process.

Intent of the process

The immediate need is to staff up to four (4) positions with the Central Agencies Portfolio, Treasury Board Secretariat, Legal Services and two (2) positions with the Public Safety, Defence and Immigration Portfolio, Royal Canadian Mounted Police Legal Services Unit, on an term or indeterminate basis.

A pool of partially or fully qualified candidates may be established from this process which may be used to staff similar positions within the Department of Justice with various tenures (indeterminate, acting/acting extension, specified period, assignment/secondment, deployment, etc.), various language requirements (English essential, English or French Essential, Bilingual Imperative of various levels BBB/BBB, CCC/CCC, CBC/CBC) and various conditions of employment, which may vary according to the position to be staffed.

Positions to be filled: 6

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

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

OCCUPATIONAL CERTIFICATION:

OC - Eligibility for membership in the Bar of one of the provinces or territories of Canada or in the Chambre des notaires du Québec

EXPERIENCE:

EX1 - Significant* experience providing legal services as counsel.

* Significant experience is defined as the depth and breadth of experience normally associated with performance of the duties working on legal and/or legal policy matters as counsel over a period of at least four (4) years.

EX2 - Significant* and recent ** experience in conducting litigation as counsel.

* Significant experience is defined as the depth and breadth of experience normally associated with performance of the duties working on legal and/or legal policy matters as counsel over a period of at least four (4) years.

**Recent means experience acquired within approximately the last six (6) years.

EX3 - Experience in drafting written submissions.

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

Various language requirements
English essential, English or French Essential, Bilingual Imperative of various levels BBB/BBB, CCC/CCC, CBC/CBC.

Information on language requirements

KNOWLEDGE:

K1 - Knowledge of administrative law.

K2 - Knowledge of labour and employment law.

K3 - Knowledge of human rights law.

COMPETENCIES:

CO1 - Demonstrating integrity and respect

CO2 - Thinking things through

CO3 - Working effectively with others

CO4 - Showing initiative and being action-oriented

CO5 - Oral communication

CO6 - Written communication

CO7 - Ability to analyze legal issues and provide strategic advice

CO8 - Ability to manage the legal practice, including using digital tools.

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

ASSET QUALIFICATIONS:

AEX1 - At least one (1) year experience in labour and employment litigation.

AEX2 - At least one (1) year experience in law of policing or in a law enforcement context.

AEX3 - Experience representing clients in settlement negotiations, mediations, and alternative dispute resolution processes.

AEX4 - Experience appearing before federal administrative tribunals.

AEX5 -Experience appearing before the Federal Courts.

ORGANIZATIONAL NEEDS:

The Department of Justice believes that to be able to effectively serve the public, its workforce needs to reflect the diversity of the Canadian population. Diversity is a great source of strength in driving Canada’s Legal Team in ensuring that Canada’s justice system is as fair, accessible and efficient as possible. The Department is committed to a representative workforce that represents the Canadian public we serve. If you are an Indigenous person, a person with a disability, a member of a racialized group* and/or a woman and are interested in bringing in different perspectives and insights we encourage you to self-declare in this staffing process. This self-declaration information can be factored into departmental strategies and selection decisions to address our commitment to eliminate gaps for these groups.

* Please note that this group is currently designated as members of visible minorities in the Employment Equity Act and the self-declaration form.

OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Willing and able to work extended hours including weekends.
Willing and able to travel, as required.

Conditions of employment

Secret security clearance - Some positions may require Top Secret security clearance.

Remain a member in good standing of the Law Society of a province or territory of Canada or in the Chambre des notaires du Québec.

All employees of the core public administration are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and attest to their vaccination status unless accommodated based on a medical contraindication, religion, or another prohibited ground for discrimination as defined under the Canadian Human Rights Act.

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

• Reference checks may be sought.

• A written examination may be administered.

• An interview may be administered.

• Candidates must meet the essential qualifications to be appointed to a position.

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

• Other qualifications may be taken into consideration in the selection decision.

• Top-down selection or any volume management mechanism may be used during any stage of the selection process. Please note that achieving a pass mark on any of the assessment methods used does not mean you will move forward in the selection process. Management may decide to use a cut-off mark that is higher than the pass mark on any evaluation methods used throughout the process.

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

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

• You must provide proof of your education credentials, upon request.

• Persons 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 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.

• For this selection process, our intention is to communicate with the candidates by email. Candidates who apply to this selection process must include in their application a valid email address and make sure that this address is functional at all times and accepts messages from unknown users (some email systems block these types of email).

• IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CANDIDATE TO ENSURE ACCURATE CONTACT INFORMATION IS PROVIDED AND UPDATED AS REQUIRED.

• Locations, dates and times for exams and/or interviews will be determined by the employer. Scheduling of alternative exam and interview dates will only be considered for religious reasons, death in the family, in cases of serious illness or for a reasonable reason approved by the selection committee. A doctor's certificate or other proof will be required. By applying to this selection process, you are committing to be available for the assessments that will take place throughout the selection process.

On October 6, 2021, the Government of Canada announced details of its plans to require vaccination across the federal public service.

As per the new Policy on COVID-19 Vaccination for the Core Public Administration Including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, federal public servants in the Core Public Administration and members of the RCMP must attest to their vaccination status. The requirement for employees to be fully vaccinated applies whether they are teleworking, working remotely or working on-site. This is a condition of employment and it applies to indeterminate (permanent), determinate (term), casual, and student hiring. Should you reach the point in the selection process where it is necessary to verify terms and conditions of employment then the hiring manager or a human resources representative will contact you in order to complete an attestation.

We thank all those who apply.

Preference

Preference will be given to veterans first and then to Canadian citizens and permanent residents, 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.