Counsel

ELIGIBILITY FOR THIS COMPETITION IS RESTRICTED TO STEP 1 CANDIDATES INCLUDING OPS ALOC AND OCAA LAWYERS living or working within 125 km of this location. Note: Eligible lawyers from outside the Area of Search may apply but will not be entitled to relocation or travel expenses for the transfer as set out below.

Step 1: All regular/fixed-term OCAA and ALOC lawyers on staff, current Redeployment List Members and current Articling Student Hireback Pool Members.
Step 2: In the absence of qualified applicants at Step 1 the competition may be reposted so that external applicants or non-members of the above-mentioned groups would then be eligible to apply.

The Crown Law Office - Civil (CLOC) provides legal representation for the Crown, its ministries and agencies, and administrative decision-makers across Ontario. CLOC counsel are routinely involved in complex, high-profile matters involving significant issues of public importance and appear in all levels of courts, including the Supreme Court of Canada,

CLOC has almost 100 counsel and opens on average 1,300 new litigation files per year in various areas of law, including, but not limited to civil forfeiture applications, litigation involving s.35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, personal injury actions, judicial review applications, human rights applications, and class actions.

CLOC requires up to four (4) junior counsel for its Litigation Group.

OPS Commitment to Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Anti-Racism:

We are committed to build a workforce that reflects the communities we serve and to promote a diverse, anti-racist, inclusive, accessible, merit-based, respectful and equitable workplace.

We invite all interested individuals to apply and encourage applications from people with disabilities, Indigenous, Black, and racialized individuals, as well as people from a diversity of ethnic and cultural origins, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions.

Visit the OPS Anti-Racism Policy and the OPS Diversity and Inclusion Blueprint pages to learn more about the OPS commitment to advance racial equity, accessibility, diversity, and inclusion in the public service.

We offer employment accommodation across the recruitment process and all aspects of employment consistent with the requirements of Ontario's Human Rights Code. Refer to the "How to apply" section if you require a disability-related accommodation.

What can I expect to do in this role?

Duties will include:

• Assisting senior, intermediate and other branch counsel with complex litigation files representing the Crown, provincial officials and employees, and agencies, boards and tribunals in various legal proceedings, including actions, applications, appeals and applications for judicial review at various levels of court and before administrative bodies.
• Independent carriage of litigation files includingCivil Remedies Act applications, human rights applications, Rowbotham applications, and personal injury actions.

How do I qualify?

Mandatory

Membership in good standing as a lawyer with the Law Society of Ontario

Technical Legal Experience

• Recent civil litigation experience.
• Recent experience litigating issues of Crown liability.
• Knowledge of theCrown Liability and Proceedings Act, 2019, Courts of Justice Act, Rules of Civil Procedure, Judicial Review Procedure Act, Class Proceedings Act, 1992, rules of evidence, mediation and Alternative Dispute Resolution.
• Knowledge and familiarity with public law litigation including class actions, litigation involving s.35 of theConstitution Act, 1982, human rights litigation, and Civil Remedies Act applications.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct research, handle own files and assist senior, intermediate and other branch counsel with complex files.
• Experience and ability to work to strict deadlines in a high-volume environment.
• Demonstrated judgment, analytical, interpersonal, written and oral communication skills.
• Experience working constructively on teams of diverse members and demonstrated interest in Ontario Public Service priorities relating to diversity.