Judicial Assistant

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

Work environment

You wish to put your legal knowledge into practice and provide essential judicial support to the federal judiciary, this position is for you.

Judicial assistants have the honour of contributing directly to the success of the courts. They work closely with judges to help them excel in their mission of delivering judicial services of a high quality while strengthening the concepts of judicial independence, impartiality and access to justice that are the very foundation of a sound administration of justice. Dedication and respect toward the Judiciary is essential so that access to justice, a fundamental principle, prevails for all Canadians. As such, despite the sanitary measures, it is impossible for us to telework on a full-time basis. The support we provide to the Federal Courts requires a certain presence in the office on a regular basis. We are therefore looking for candidates who are passionate about their profession and who wishes to contribute to the judicial history of Canada.

Intent of the process

A pool of pre-qualified or fully qualified candidates may be created to staff similar or identical positions with various tenure, various linguistic profiles and security requirements within the Courts Administration Service.

Candidates may be evaluated further, for specific opportunities, on qualifications (including conditions of employment and operational requirements) that are deemed relevant to the positions to be filled, whether or not these qualifications have been listed on the job advertisement.

Positions to be filled: 4

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

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

Successful completion of a post-secondary* program, certificate or diploma relevant to the position, such as paralegal studies or legal studies OR an acceptable combination of education, training or experience relevant to the position**.

Definitions :
* “Post-secondary education” means years of education following high school graduation (grade 12 or Secondary V).
** “Acceptable combination of education, training or experience relevant to the position” is defined as a minimum of a high school graduation (grade 12 or Secondary V) and two (2) years of work experience in a judicial, quasi-judicial*** or legal environment.
*** “Judicial or quasi-judicial environment” means a Federal Board, Commission, Tribunal or Court (Federal, Provincial or Municipal).

Degree equivalency

Extensive* experience working in a judicial, quasi-judicial** or legal environment.

Definitions:
* Extensive experience is defined as the breadth and depth of experience, as well as the type (range, scope, and complexity) of work handled related to the experience criteria.
** “Judicial or quasi-judicial environment” means a Federal Board, Commission, Tribunal or Court (Federal, Provincial or Municipal).

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

Asset Qualifications:

Experience as a judicial or legal assistant or legal secretary.

Experience transcribing information from voice recordings, handwritten notes, electronic legal text transmissions or digital audio recordings.

Experience working for several members of the judiciary or lawyers at once, and juggling conflicting priorities and deadlines of these persons.

Experience in scheduling travel and accommodation arrangements, including the preparation of itineraries and agendas.

Experience researching information using legal research tools.

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

Bilingual - Imperative
Various Bilingual Imperative: (CCC/CCC, BBB/BBB)

Information on language requirements

Ability to proofread, edit and format legal documents

Ability to plan, establish and manage changing priorities and meet deadlines

Ability to communicate effectively orally

Ability to communicate effectively in writing

Adaptability

Attention to detail

Judgment

Effective interpersonal skills

Reliability

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

Organizational Needs:

Courts Administration Service is committed to having a skilled, diversified workforce of Canadian society it represents. As a result, selection may be limited to members of the following Employment Equity groups: women, Aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities and members of visible minorities. We encourage members of these designated groups to self-identify.

Operational Requirements:

Willing and able to work overtime on short notice.

Willing and able to work between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Willing and able to work in the workplace.

Conditions of employment

Secret security clearance

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

By completing the Employment Equity section in your application, you help create a Public Service that is diverse, inclusive and representative of identities, cultures, perspectives and experiences that make up Canada.

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 (https://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/pol/doc-eng.aspx?id=32694), 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.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and further to public health guidelines, preventative measures are being taken to ensure health and safety during the recruitment process.

Due to current circumstances, all assessment may be done virtually.

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.

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

Candidates must clearly demonstrate in the screening questionnaire how they meet the education and experience factors listed as essential and/or asset qualifications on the statement of merit criteria. In order to do so, the candidate must provide the information as part of their answer to the pertinent screening question, using concrete examples in the provided area. The assessment board cannot and will not make any assumptions about your experience. Note that it is not sufficient to only state that the qualifications are met or to provide a listing of current or past responsibilities. Resumes may be used as a secondary source to validate the experience described in the experience questionnaire. Failure to clearly demonstrate in the questionnaire how you meet the education and experience, both essential and/or asset, where applicable, may result in the rejection of your application.

A variety of tools and assessment methods may be used, which may include, but is not limited to written tests, interviews and reference checks. Other sources of information (such as performance agreements, work samples, board member knowledge, etc.) may be used to inform the assessment of the criteria identified on the Statement of Merit Criteria. Any information that you provide throughout this process, including email correspondence, may also form part of the assessment.

Asset qualification(s) may be applied in this selection process.

Written communication may be assessed via the job application.

Candidates will be required to provide proof of their education credentials in the form of a diploma or official transcript.

If a qualified candidate has been selected and appointed on an indeterminate basis from the established pool, they will be removed from the pool. If a candidate is selected for a specified period (including term, acting, or assignment/secondment) appointment, they will remain in the pool for future offers.

We will communicate with applicants by e mail. It is your responsibility to verify your e- mails regularly. Applicants shall ensure that the e-mail address provided is valid and make sure this address is functional at all times and accepts messages from unknown users.

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.