Paralegal

Important messages

The Federal Public Service is stronger and most effective when we reflect the diversity of the Canadian population we serve. PPSC is dedicated to building and promoting a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce, representative of Canadian society where everyone feels they belong. All candidates in the area of selection who believe they are qualified are encouraged to apply, including Black, other racialized and Indigenous peoples, women, persons with disabilities and persons of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

Set yourself up for success! As the objective of this process is to assess qualifications needed for the position(s) to be staffed, let us know if you have a functional limitation or disability, which may affect your participation. For example, you may contact us if you need assistance in completing and submitting your application. Should you proceed to a future assessment stage, such as an exam or interview, we will send you an e-mail with additional information and you can determine if you may require an accommodation at that time (such as a different test format, an adaptive technology, or additional time). Assessment accommodations are designed to remove the obstacles without altering the criteria being assessed so that candidates with functional limitations can fully demonstrate their abilities.

If you require an accommodation during any phase of this assessment process, please use the Contact information below to request accommodation. All information received in relation to your accommodation will be kept confidential and your right to privacy will be protected.

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📍 The National Fine Recovery Program is seeking to fill two (2) Paralegal positions - anywhere in Canada.

📍 The Quebec Regional Office is seeking to fill one (1) Paralegal position - located in Montreal, Quebec.

Work environment

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📌 𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗬 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗠

The National Fine Recovery Program (NFRP) has the mandate, authority, duty and function of collecting unpaid federal fines, including conducting legal proceedings on behalf of the Crown.

We are a talented and dynamic team of recovery officers, paralegals and senior counsel committed to strengthening the collection of outstanding federal fines across Canada. All team members play a key role in the collection process by liaising with provincial courts, preparing files for collection, and collaborating with provincial and federal partners.

Under the guidance of senior paralegals, paralegals perform a variety of tasks in different areas of law, including conducting legal research, compiling evidentiary documents for collection efforts through legal proceedings, applying appropriate rules and procedures when managing a legal file, identifying important dates and court deadlines, analyzing and interpreting legal precedents and drafting case summaries, reviewing and analyzing legal issues, providing assistance at trial, liaising and organizing information from clients, governmental institutions or others.

We are seeking an inspired and forward-thinking paralegal to join our team and help advance our collection efforts through litigation. The Paralegal will have the opportunity to contribute to the development and implementation of legal collection proceedings in an interdisciplinary and collaborative environment.

Paralegals working in the National Fine Recovery Program of the Public Prosecution Service of Canada have the opportunity to gain valuable work experience in the field of law and to build a stimulating career in the federal public service.

📌 𝗤𝗨𝗘𝗕𝗘𝗖 𝗥𝗘𝗚𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗘

Located in the heart of the city in the Guy-Favreau Complex in Montréal, the Québec Regional Office (QRO) is easily accessible by public transportation. The many shops and activities surrounding the building will charm you!

With the well-being of our employees at heart, we offer a bilingual environment and a welcoming, respectful and inclusive workplace with many learning opportunities through a variety of programs and initiatives, advancement opportunities and competitive benefits. We also promote work-life balance.

Here's what our paralegals are responsible for doing:

➜ Work daily in a support role to senior paralegals as well as support to prosecutors.
➜ Types of tasks to be done: handling daily press review and transmission of relevant documents to the Correctional Service of Canada and the Ministry of Public Safety after making the appropriate redaction.
➜ Prepare sentencing tables in various matters as well as exhibit lists for prosecutors preparing to go to trial.
➜ Update and upload numerous legal documents to our regional knowledge management site.
➜ Retrieve various decisions and doctrine by consulting relevant legal databases to ensure that searches are complete and up-to-date.
➜ Assisting counsel in preparing their factums and briefs in accordance with the Court of Appeal Rules of Practice.

Intent of the process

The immediate need is to staff two (2) positions on an indeterminate basis for the National Fine Recovery Program and one (1) position on an indeterminate basis for the Quebec Regional Office.

Should future vacancies arise, a list of qualified and/or partially qualified candidates may be established from this process to staff positions in the National Fine Recovery Program or Quebec Regional Office with varying tenures.

Positions to be filled: 3

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

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

EDUCATION
ㅤ• Successful completion of two years of a post-secondary program with acceptable specialization in paralegal studies.

Degree equivalency

ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE
ㅤ• Experience* providing legal support services.
ㅤ• Experience* conducting legal research.

*Note that this could have been gained through work experience, student work experience and/or an internship paid or unpaid.

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

ASSET EXPERIENCE
ㅤ• Experience working as a paralegal.
ㅤ• Experience working as a paralegal in the area of criminal and penal law.
ㅤ• Experience working in collections or recoveries (e.g. monitoring accounts to identify overdue payments, finding and contacting debtors to arrange debt payoffs, keeping accurate records and reporting on collection activity).

ORGANIZATIONAL NEEDS
ㅤ• The organization is committed to establishing and maintaining a representative workforce. Qualified applicants who self-declare as members of a visible minority group, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, and/or women may be selected for appointment to fulfill organizational needs.

OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
ㅤ• Willingness and ability to work overtime occasionally.
ㅤ• Willingness and ability to travel occasionally.

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

Various language requirements
ㅤ• National Fine Recovery Program: Bilingual Imperative CBC/CBC
ㅤ• Quebec Regional Office: Bilingual Imperative BBB/BBB

Information on language requirements

Second Language Writing Skills Self-Assessment
In order to help you decide if you should apply to a bilingual position, an optional self-assessment of your writing skills in your second official language is available for you to take before completing your application.

For more information, please consult:
Unsupervised Internet Test of Second Language Writing Skills

KNOWLEDGE
ㅤ• Knowledge of legal research methods and resources.
ㅤ• Knowledge of basic criminal law concepts, rules and procedures.
ㅤ• Knowledge of the Canadian legal system.

COMPETENCIES
ㅤ• Thinking Things Through
ㅤ• Working Effectively With Others
ㅤ• Showing Initiative and Being Action-Oriented
ㅤ• Demonstrating Integrity and Respect
ㅤ• Attention to Detail
ㅤ• Oral Communication
ㅤ• Written Communication

ABILITIES
ㅤ• Ability to conduct legal research and analysis.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
Security:
ㅤ• National Fine Recovery Program: Enhanced Reliability
ㅤ• Quebec Regional Office: Enhanced Reliability + Secret

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

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.