Legal 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

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📢 How does this work?

Step 1: Read the entire advertisement. Want to join our team? Let us know you’re interested! Click “Apply Online”

Step 2: Tell us about yourself! Attach your resume and answer the screening questions in the online application.

▪️ The assessment board will be using your resume to evaluate the screening questions. Please ensure your resume is up to date and contains thorough details on your education, certifications, and experience.

▪️ Do not assume that the screening board has any previous knowledge of your background, qualifications, or work history. You must be specific and provide concrete examples/details for each experience element, as applications will be screened only on the information provided.

▪️ Failure to provide sufficient information may result in your application being screened out of the process.

Step 3: We will carefully review all of your qualifications. If your talent matches one of our immediate or upcoming opportunities we may contact you for further information or assessment.

Duties

Duties of the Legal Counsel position include (but are not limited to):

↪ Providing legal advice, opinions, and recommendations to victims of sexual misconduct, under solicitor-client privilege, within the context of the criminal and military justice systems;
↪ Managing client case files of varying degrees of legal complexity;
↪ Liaising with external lawyers to provide information and insight on military justice.

Work environment

Together, the Department of National Defence (DND) and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) form the largest and most complex organization in Canada. DND's role is to provide services and support to the CAF in their operations and missions at home and abroad. DND and the CAF work side-by-side to fulfill the Government of Canada’s mission to defend Canada and Canadians and contribute to international peace, security and stability efforts.

What do we offer?

🍁 At DND we foster a work environment where employees have opportunities to grow, learn, progress in their careers and have job satisfaction over the long-term. You’ll enjoy:

▪️ A career among a dynamic and dedicated team
▪️ Opportunities for advancement
▪️ A diverse, respectful and inclusive work environment
▪️ A total benefits package including a competitive salary, health and dental insurance plans, pension plan and a variety of leave entitlements
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The Sexual Misconduct Support and Resource Centre (SMSRC) offers support services to currently serving and former Canadian Armed Forces members, National Defence public service employees, Cadets, Junior Canadian Rangers, and family members of the wider Defence Community. Services are currently available to those who are 16 years of age and older and are either directly affected by sexual misconduct or are supporting a loved one who is directly affected.

💻 Copy and paste these links into your search browser to learn more about the Sexual Misconduct Support and Resource Centre:
↪ https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/services/benefits-military/health-support/sexual-misconduct-response/about-smrc.html
↪ https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/services/benefits-military/health-support/sexual-misconduct-response.html
↪ https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/services/benefits-military/health-support/sexual-misconduct-response/legal-assistance-program.html

Intent of the process

The intent of this process is to fill one or more positions in various locations with various employment tenures and language profiles within the Department of National Defence.

As a result of this process, a pool of candidates may be established and used to staff the same or similar positions in various locations, durations, security requirements, operational requirements, and conditions of employment.

The SMSRC is open to various employment types and tenures! This includes full-time, part-time, indeterminate, term, or casual. Telework, may be considered, depending on the operational requirements of the position.

Note: You may be required to report the designated worksite at the request of the manager. Additionally, telework arrangements are not long-term commitments and will be evaluated, at minimum, annually. Should the telework agreement come to an end, you will be required to report to and work from the designated worksite.

Please reach out to the Human Resources Advisor at the bottom of the advertisement if you have any questions about work location.

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)

OCCUPATIONAL CERTIFICATION:

OC1. A member in good standing in the Bar of one of the provinces or territories of Canada or in the Order of Notaries in the Province of Québec.
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EXPERIENCE

EX1. Experience* providing legal services as counsel to participants in the criminal justice system.

EX2. Experience* in the provision of legal advice to victims of sexual misconduct.

EX3. Experience conducting legal analysis in the area of criminal law.

EX4. Experience briefing senior management and in preparing briefing materials.

*Experience will be assessed in terms of the depth and breadth of activities, the complexity and diversity of work handled, as well as the level of autonomy demonstrated.

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

ASSET EXPERIENCE

AEX1. Experience providing legal advice on the military justice system.

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

Various language requirements
Bilingual Imperative (CBC/CBC)
English Essential
French Essential

Information on language requirements

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COMPETENCIES

C1. Create vision and strategy
C2. Uphold integrity and respect
C3. Collaborate with partners and stakeholders
C4. Promote innovation and guide change
C5. Achieve results
C6. Communication
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ABILITY

AB1. 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)

ORGANIZATIONAL NEEDS

The Department of National Defence is committed to providing an environment where justice, fairness and the elimination of barriers helps build a skilled, diverse and representative workforce reflective of Canada. We welcome diversity in all its forms, promote employment equity and encourage you to indicate if you belong to one of the designated groups when you apply. Please note that preference for hiring will first be given to candidates who are members of the above-mentioned designated groups.

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

Information on employment equity

In support of Strong, Secure, Engaged (SSE) initiative #24, consideration may be given to the spouses or common-law partners of CAF members.

As a result of the relocation of a work unit at Aerospace Engineering Test Establishment (AETE) in 4 Wing Cold Lake, Alberta, the Department of National Defence is committed to providing access to other work opportunities for AETE- 4 Wing Cold Lake, Alberta employees. Employees of UIC 2671 – AETE- 4 Wing Cold Lake may be appointed or deployed to positions for which they are qualified ahead of other candidates.

As a result of the reduction of training activities at British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS), the Department of National Defence is committed to providing access to other work opportunities for BATUS employees. Employees of UIC 7777 – BATUS may be appointed or deployed to positions for which they are qualified ahead of other candidates.

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

▪️ Remain a member in good standing in the Bar of one of the provinces or territories of Canada or in the Order of Notaries in the Province of Québec.

▪️ Willing and able to travel, as required.

Candidates must meet and maintain the above condition of employment throughout their employment.

Other information

If there are limitations or special circumstances preventing you from submitting your application via the PSRS online portal, you must contact us and receive approval to apply via an alternate means PRIOR to the closing date.

▶ Depending on the position being staffed:
↪ Additional qualifications, operational requirements and/or conditions of employment may be required
↪ Varying degrees of breadth and depth of experience may be deemed essential
↪Asset qualifications may be invoked as essential qualifications
↪You may be contacted and asked to submit information or be further assessed

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

▶ A variety of assessment tools may be used. This may include application screening, interviews, role play scenarios, written assessments, reference checks, board knowledge, interactions with internal staff during the process, etc.
↪ Please note that your overall conduct and communications, including email correspondence, throughout the entire process may be used in the assessment of qualifications and competencies.

▶ Top down selection may be used during any stage of the selection process.

▶ Appointment decisions may be based on one or more of the following criteria:
↪ Matching of the individual's experience or qualifications to the strengths and weaknesses of the work team;
↪ Matching of the individual's experience or qualifications to the specific duties of the position being staffed;
↪ Depth, breadth, type of work-specific experience;
↪ Level/degree of one or more competencies/qualifications;
↪ Organizational Needs.

▶ All information obtained throughout the selection process, from the time of application to close of process, may be used to evaluate the applicants.

▶ Applicants who apply to this selection process must include in their application a valid email address and make sure that 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.