Senior 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

Work environment

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.

Justice employees are part of a proud tradition of providing legal services and advice to government that dates back 150 years. The work we do is complex, meaningful and rewarding.

The Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Section's mandate is to uphold the fight against impunity, including by prosecuting or denying safe haven in Canada to persons believed to have committed or been complicit in war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide. Counsel’s work consists primarily of providing legal and strategic advice largely focused on crimes against humanity and war crimes matters and will include issues relating to domestic criminal law, evidence and procedures. The advisory work pertains in large part to questions of evidence-gathering and analysis, international cooperation, witness interviews, investigative strategies and case building. In addition, the work may entail serving as a lead counsel on citizenship revocation files.

Intent of the process

The immediate need is to staff one Bilingual imperative BBB/BBB position indeterminately.

A pool of fully or partially qualified candidates may be established to staff similar positions within the Department of Justice with various tenures, language requirements, operational requirements, organizational needs and/or conditions of employment.

Positions to be filled: 1

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:
Eligibility for membership in the Bar of one of the provinces or territories of Canada or in the Order of Notaries in the Province of Quebec.

EXPERIENCE:
EX1: Approximately 8 years of experience working as a litigator on complex* criminal litigation.

EX2: Approximately 8 years of recent** experience working on files that involve international criminal law.

EX3: Approximately 8 years of recent** experience in providing legal advice to police or investigators in the context of complex* criminal investigations.

*Complex cases raise legal, financial, or political issues of significant risk, often with political or social sensitivity. They may deal with multiple interconnected legal or factual issues often involving questions of law that are new and emerging, be national in scope and/or hold great importance for the government of Canada.

**Recent experience means that a portion of the relevant experience was acquired within the last 6 years.

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

Bilingual - Imperative (BBB/BBB)

Information on language requirements

COMPETENCIES:
CO1: Demonstrating integrity and respect
CO2: Thinking things through
CO3: Working effectively with others
CO4: Showing initiative and being action-oriented
CO5: Demonstrating leadership***
***Leadership: The ability to coordinate and lead teams, mentor legal practitioners, and exert a positive influence on others.

ABILITIES:
A1: Ability to communicate effectively in writing
A2: Ability to communicate effectively orally
A3: Ability to analyze legal issues and provide strategic advice.

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

ASSET EXPERIENCE:
AEX1: Experience in dealing with the media.

AEX2: Experience in dealing with foreign national authorities and/or international organizations.

AEX3: Experience conducting prosecutions of war crimes, crimes against humanity and/or war crimes cases.

AEX4: Experience investigating or supporting investigations for the prosecution of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.

AEX5: Experience prosecuting cases that involve Canadian criminal law.

AEX6: Experience leading and managing a multidisciplinary team****.

**** Multidisciplinary team: teams comprised of employees from different disciplines. Typically, these disciplines concern lawyers, analysts, historians, paralegals, and legal assistants.

Selection may be limited to members of the following Employment Equity groups: Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities, visible minorities, women

Information on employment equity

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 2SLGBTQIA+**/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.

HOW TO SELF-DECLARE
If you are an Indigenous person, woman, member of a racialized group*, person with a disability:
• When you apply for a job through GC Jobs, complete the Employment Equity section under Requirements.
• Please note that your self-declaration as a member of First Nations, Inuit or Métis will be verified via the Affirmation of Indigenous Identity Form to be provided later in the staffing process. For more information on this requirement, please consult the Questions and Answers page: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-service-commission/services/appointment-framework/guides-tools-appointment-framework/affirmation-indigenous-identity-form.html. If you are a member of the 2SLGBTQIA+/ Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) community:
• For employees of the Department of Justice, please self-declare through the EE Self-Declaration tab in PeopleSoft by accessing the “Self Service” module and providing consent that your information can be used for Staffing actions, such as actings, appointments, assignments.
• For candidates external to the Public Service and employees of the Public Service outside of the Department of Justice, please respond to the self-declaration screening question as part of your application.

OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
Willingness and ability to travel abroad as required and for extended periods of time.
Willing and able to work extended hours including weekends.

Conditions of employment

Secret security clearance

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

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

• Communication for this process will be sent via e-mail. It is your responsibility to verify your e-mails and spams regularly.

• It is your responsibility to ensure that a current and valid e-mail address is provided and updated accordingly and that it accepts messages from unknown senders.

• You are encouraged to provide a second e-mail address in your application.

• You are entitled to participate in the appointment process in the official language(s) of your choice.

• You will be required to submit your proof of education documents at the time of assessment. If you were educated outside of Canada, you must have your credentials and/or diploma assessed against Canadian education standards. The public service will accept any Foreign Educational Credentials as long as they are deemed comparable to Canadian standards, through a recognize credential assessment service. Information is available at the following link:
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-service-commission/jobs/services/gc-jobs/degree-equivalency.html

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.