Counsel

Important messages

The Federal Public Service is stronger and most effective when we reflect the diversity of the Canadian population we serve. The Public Prosecution Service of Canada (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.

If you are unable to submit your application before the closing date, please do not hesitate to contact Rachel Gates-Flaherty by email at .

Duties

Prosecutors play a key role in the Canadian criminal justice system. As Counsel at the PPSC, you will conduct criminal prosecutions on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions on many significant and complex cases related to drugs, organized crime, terrorism, money laundering, human trafficking, war crimes, and so on. You will quickly gain a breadth of knowledge and experience as you work on a variety of prosecutions. Unlike in private practice, where little time is spent in court, prosecutors can go to court every day. You can acquire immediate trial experience that many private litigators must wait years to get.

Joining the Public Prosecution Service of Canada will be a transformative experience, both professionally and personally.

Upon appointment to the LP-01 position, the selected candidate will be placed in the Federal Prosecutors Development Program (FPDP). The FPDP is an organization-wide program designed to ensure that new federal prosecutors gain the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to be effective working-level (LP-02) prosecutors typically within four years.

Employees may be appointed to the LP-02 level upon completion of the Federal Prosecutors Development Program (FPDP). If the appointment into the Federal Prosecutors Development Program (FPDP) is term, it may result in an indeterminate appointment to the LP-02 level following successful completion of the program.

Work environment

The Public Prosecution Service of Canada (PPSC) is a federal government organization responsible for the prosecution of criminal offenses under federal jurisdiction. Our organization consists of approximately 1000 employees in regional offices across the country who all play a key role in strengthening Canada’s criminal justice system. The PPSC handles the prosecution of all Criminal Code offences in the territories as well as offences under all other federal legislation, such as the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, the Youth Criminal Justice Act, and the Fisheries Act.

The National Capital Regional Office (NCRO) is responsible for federal prosecutions in the East, Northwestern, and Northeastern regions of Ontario, as well as in judicial districts in western Quebec. The regional headquarters is located in Ottawa.

The NCRO has expanded with the creation of an office in Kenora. This office, located in the Kenora Market Square building, is growing with the addition of additional counsel positions. Kenora is situated on beautiful Lake of the Woods in Ontario, close to the Manitoba border and about 210 km east of Winnipeg.

Part of “Sunset Country”, Kenora is well known as a popular cottage destination, with premier fishing opportunities and spectacular hiking trails.

The NCRO is also expanding with the creation of a brand new office in Thunder Bay. Thunder Bay is the most populous municipality in Northwestern Ontario and is located on beautiful Lake Superior. We are looking at building a team of lawyers to take on this challenging work. Thunder Bay’s economy is a "knowledge economy" based on medical research and education. It has become the regional center for most provincial departments as well as the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Institute, Lakehead University and Confederation College.

Thunder Bay rests on the Canadian Shield with an abundance of nature activities and trails including on the famous Sleeping Giant, a large formation of mesas in Lake Superior that resembles a reclining giant. Thunder Bay is also home to a variety of music performance arts venues and the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra, the only professional orchestra between Winnipeg and Toronto.

Thunder Bay’s main tourist attraction is Fort William Historical Park, a reconstruction of the North West Company's Fort William fur trade post as it was in 1815, which attracts 100,000 visitors annually.

Intent of the process

The immediate need is to staff :
• (1) One LP-01 position in Kenora on an indeterminate basis (English Essential)
• (1) One LP-02 position in Kenora on an indeterminate basis (English Essential)
• (1) One LP-01 position in Thunder Bay on an indeterminate basis (English Essential)
• (2) Two LP-02 positions in Thunder Bay on an indeterminate basis (one English Essential, one Bilingual Imperative BBB/BBB).

Once the above-mentioned positions are filled, a list of qualified or partially qualified candidates may be established to fill future vacancies (LP-01 or LP-02 group and level) in Kenora and Thunder Bay with different tenures, linguistic requirements, language profiles, and/or security requirements. Therefore, we encourage you all to apply.

Positions to be filled: 5

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

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

ESSENTIAL OCCUPATIONAL CERTIFICATION (LP-01 & LP-02):
• Eligibility for membership in the Law Society of Ontario.

ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE (LP-01):
• Experience in making appearances in court as counsel, articling student or law student.

ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE (LP-02):
• 3 years' experience in criminal or quasi-criminal litigation acquired in the last 5 years.

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

ORGANIZATIONAL NEEDS (LP-01 & LP-02):
• 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 (LP-01 & LP-02):
• Possession of a valid driver’s license or ability and willingness to obtain. Note: the license class must, at a minimum, authorize the driver to drive a car, van or small truck, on all roads and highways without an accompanying driver.
• Requirement to travel which may include assignments on short notice and for extended periods.
• Ability and willingness to work outside normal working hours which may include working evenings, nights and weekends based on operational needs.

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

Various language requirements
Kenora (LP-01): English Essential
Kenora (LP-02): English Essential
Thunder Bay (LP-01): English Essential
Thunder Bay (LP-02): English Essential & Bilingual Imperative BBB/BBB

Information on language requirements

ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE (LP-01):
• Basic* knowledge of criminal law and procedures including knowledge of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

*Basic is defined as fundamental and developmental constituting the basis or starting point.

ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE (LP-02):
• Sound* knowledge of the role and practices of Counsel in the conduct of criminal litigation.
• Sound* knowledge of criminal law and procedures including knowledge of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and its relevant case law.

*Sound is defined as being capable of fulfilling their duties with minimal direction based on thorough knowledge.

ESSENTIAL COMPETENCIES (LP-01 & LP-02):
• Specialized skills and knowledge (such as understanding one’s role, legal skills and legal knowledge)
• Professionalism (such as professional conduct, professional fortitude, service orientation and self assessment)
• Judgement (such as decision making, critical thinking, and adaptability)
• Practice Management (such as file management)
• Communicating effectively (such as verbally, in writing and by listening attentively)
• Interpersonal Relationships (such as building relationships and emotion management)
• Leadership (such as coaching and mentoring, influencing others and teamwork)

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

ASSET EXPERIENCE (LP-01):
• Experience appearing in the Ontario Superior Court, the Ontario Court of Justice or an equivalent court in relation to criminal litigation.
• Experience appearing in the Ontario Superior Court, the Ontario Court of Justice or an equivalent court in relation to criminal litigation in Northwestern Ontario.
• Experience litigating as either lead counsel or as junior counsel assisting another, in criminal proceedings pursuant to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act or the Criminal Code.
• Experience addressing Indigenous justice issues in a litigation or an advisory capacity.
• Experience conducting judicial interim release proceedings, simple sentencing hearings or simple trials.
• Experience in preparing legal documents and performing legal research.

ASSET EXPERIENCE (LP-02):
• Recent* experience appearing in the Ontario Superior Court, the Ontario Court of Justice or an equivalent court in relation to criminal litigation.
• Recent* experience appearing in the Ontario Superior Court, the Ontario Court of Justice or an equivalent court in relation to criminal litigation in Northwestern Ontario.
• Recent* experience conducting litigation related to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and the Criminal Code.
• Recent* experience addressing Indigenous justice issues in a litigation or advisory capacity.
• Recent* experience conducting judicial interim release proceedings, trials and Charter motions.
• Recent* experience in preparing complex legal documents.
• Recent* experience conducting jury trials.

*Recent refers to the experience obtained in the last five (5) years.

Note: If one or more of the above-mentioned asset experience is applied during the process, please note that you will be asked to demonstrate how you meet the experience you indicated you possess.

Conditions of employment

• Security Clearance: Enhanced Reliability Status and Secret
• Member in good standing in the Bar of one of the provinces or territories of Canada.
• Must be a member, in good standing, of the Law Society of Ontario within 100 days of appointment.
• Applicants must be willing to be assigned to other types of work at the same group, level and tenure within the Public Prosecution Service of Canada. Assignment of work may be made within or between the various teams of counsel within the office and will be based on operational considerations and will not require relocation of residence.

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.