Legal Assistant Inventory

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

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.

GIVE YOURSELF THE BEST CHANCE TO SUCCEED!
At every step of the process, from the application to the end of the assessment, accommodation measures are available to you. Examples include: accessible environments, different formats, larger fonts, adaptive technology, extra time, individual testing and more. Accommodation measures are designed to remove barriers to ensure a fair assessment, and they allow candidates to fully demonstrate their competencies.

Persons requiring accommodation preventing them from applying on-line should contact the Collective Staffing Services unit prior to the closing date at: . Otherwise, your job application should be submitted through the Public Service Resourcing System.
• General questions on how to apply online (Toll-free: 1-888-780-4444 & TTY/TDD: 1-800-465-7735)
• Advertisements over the phone (Toll-free: 1-800-645-5605)

PORTABILITY OF ASSESSMENT RESULTS: Candidates who participated in the Legal Assistants selection process posted in March 2022 (2022-JUS-EA-CSSU-136257) and who choose to submit a new application to this inventory, will have their assessment results transferred for the first inventory extraction of candidates (target extraction date October 7, 2022). Applicants who did not succeed in the previous process and who wish to submit their application after this first extraction may be reconsidered and reassessed for subsequent placement in the pool. Applicants who were found qualified in the previous process will be retained and will have their results transferred. Therefore, they do not need to reapply to this process.

Work environment

Why should you join Canada's Legal Team? Well, that’s easy to answer. The Department of Justice offers a diverse workplace where teamwork, respect and collaboration are highly valued. The Department 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 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 the Department of Justice's supportive atmosphere, its emphasis on training and mentoring, and the ability to balance the personal and professional aspects of your life. The Department of Justice offers competitive salaries and benefits and gives you the opportunity to hone your legal knowledge and skills. Your professionalism and drive will be recognized and rewarded with enriching opportunities in a team-oriented environment.

We are proud to be named Canada's most attractive employers by Canadian law students for the past four (4) years (i.e. 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021).

Intent of the process

A pool of qualified candidates will be established from inventory extractions which may be used to staff similar positions within the Department of Justice (and in our Legal Services Units located in various government departments).

These vacancies may require various language requirements, operational requirements, conditions of employment and/or work locations, which may or may not be listed in this job advertisement.

We are looking to staff a significant number of positions across Canada in 2022 and 2023.

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)

EDUCATION

A secondary school diploma from a recognized institution or an acceptable combination of education, training and/or experience.

If you were educated outside of Canada, you must have your certificates and/or diplomas assessed against Canadian education standards through a recognized credential assessment service. Please see the Degree equivalency link for further information.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE

Experience in providing legal or administrative support services to legal professionals.

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

Various language requirements
Bilingual Imperative with various linguistic profiles, English Essential and/or French Essential

Information on language requirements

KNOWLEDGE

Knowledge of legal terminology and legal documents.

ABILITY

Ability to communicate effectively.

COMPETENCIES

Demonstrating Integrity and Respect

Thinking Things Through

Working Effectively with Others

Showing Initiative and Being Action-Oriented

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

ASSET QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

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.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE

Experience in providing support as a legal assistant in a particular area of law such as, but not limited to: Tax, Aboriginal, Real Property, Immigration, Personal Injury, Criminal, Civil litigation and etc.

KNOWLEDGE

Knowledge of the Federal Court rules.

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 woman, a person with a disability, a member of a racialized group* or a member of the 2SLGBTQI+**/Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) community we encourage you to self-declare in this staffing process.

* Please note that this group is currently designated as members of visible minorities in the Employment Equity Act and the self-declaration form.
** 2SLGBTQI+: Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and people who identify as being part of sexual and gender diverse communities.

INFORMATION ON SELF-DECLARATION
Self-declaration information can be factored into the screening, assessment or selection decision to address our commitment to eliminate gaps and increase representation for these groups. This information will only be used in connection with this selection process.

OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

The following requirements may be accommodated based on a persons' needs or status:

Willingness and ability to work overtime on short notice;

Willingness and ability to travel on occasion;

Willingness and ability to work on site in a physical workplace.

Conditions of employment

Various security clearance levels.

Some positions may require a higher level security clearance depending on the requirements of the position to be filled.

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

*The incumbent and their 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

EVALUATION PROCESS
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► STEP 1 – APPLICATION
You will need to submit your application online to confirm your interest and eligibility for consideration.

Please note that it is not sufficient for applicants to simply state that they meet the criterion or list their current responsibilities or to direct to the resume. Rather, they must provide directly in each screening question concrete examples that illustrate the activities they have actually performed and explain how these activities meet the requirements. Applicants who do not clearly demonstrate how they meet the essential criteria and that they possess the asset qualifications (education and experience) will be screened out. Ability to communicate effectively in writing will be assessed through the screening questions.

► STEP 2 – ONLINE EXAM (PART 1, 2 & 3)
Candidates that are pulled from inventory extractions will be invited to complete a two-part online multiple-choice exam, followed by a written question. Screening of applications will be conducted for those that will pass both exams.

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

CANDIDATES WILL NOT BE SOLICITED FOR INCOMPLETE OR MISSING INFORMATION.

As part of the selection process, we will be using online testing software.

Candidates may be required to meet asset qualifications, organizational needs or other qualifications specific to the position being staffed that may or may not be listed in this job advertisement.

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

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.

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.