1-year Contract (2 positions)
Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic offers legal services and representation, trauma-informed counselling, and multilingual interpretation to diverse women (self-identified), non-binary, intersex, and Two-Spirit people who have experienced violence. We cultivate skills and resilience by fostering safety, dignity and equality, and we amplify voices to create individual and collective change. Together with our donors and volunteers, we are active in changing the conditions that create environments of violence and oppression.
The Clinic’s Legal Department provides services in family and immigration law and independent legal advice to survivors of sexual assault through a collaborative team of lawyers, Family Court Support Workers, and administrative staff.
We are seeking lawyers with experience in feminist legal advocacy and gender-based violence within the intersecting context of family law, immigration law, and sexual violence for a full-time, 1-year contract with the possibility of renewal.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
All duties and responsibilities will be carried out in accordance with Barbra Schlifer Clinic’s Mandate, Mission and Values Statements.
CLIENT SERVICES AND REPRESENTATION
- Trauma-informed representation of clients in family law matters before Family Courts in Toronto.
- Ability to expand practice skills in advice and representation for clients with intersecting legal issues in family law and immigration matters.
- Provide summary legal advice, brief intervention/advocacy services to women survivors of gender-based violence in the areas of family law, immigration, refugee law and criminal law.
- Assist self-represented clients in the drafting of various litigation documents and pleadings in family law matters, including applications, affidavits, financial statements, case conference briefs, settlement and trial management conference briefs and net family property statements, etc.
- Assess urgent legal matters and prioritize client issues/casework.
- Provide independent legal advice for sexual assault survivors.
- Work with interpreters for the delivery of client services, as needed.
- Assess the client’s needs for safety and social support and make appropriate referrals within or outside the Clinic.
SYSTEMIC ADVOCACY/LAW REFORM /RESEARCH
- Engage in the design and delivery of professional development and public legal education presentations on issues relevant to gender-based violence and the law.
- Support the Director of Legal Services with appellate advocacy.
- Participate in various external stakeholder committees and coalitions to represent and promote the interests of survivors of violence.
- Keep apprised of and updated on case law, statutes and regulations relating to the practice of family law, immigration law, law related to sexual assault and general legal issues related to gender-based violence.
STUDENT AND VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS
- Assist in the delivery of orientation/training, supervision, mentoring and evaluation of the Clinic’s law students and volunteers.
ADMINISTRATION AND OTHER
- Follow appropriate file/case management practices and maintain clear and complete client records.
- Collect and report statistics as required by the Clinic.
- Attend Legal Department and Clinic-wide meetings.
- Work collaboratively with other department staff including Intake, Counselling, Interpretation Services, Fundraising and Executive Office
- Engage in annual program planning and program evaluation where appropriate.
- Comply with all Clinic policies and procedures as revised from time to time.
SUPERVISION, TRAINING AND ONGOING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
- Participate in orientation, training and ongoing professional development programs as may be required by the Clinic and the Law Society of Ontario to ensure proficiency in all areas of responsibility.
- Attend knowledge enhancement sessions organized by the Clinic.
- Participate in ongoing supervision and periodic performance evaluations, as may be required by the Clinic.
KEY RELATIONSHIPS
- The Staff Lawyer is a member of the Clinic’s Legal Department. The Staff Lawyer will be a collaborative and supportive member of the Legal Department team and work collaboratively with other staff and Departments, as appropriate.
- The Staff Lawyer will report to and be supervised by the Director of Legal Services
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Membership in good standing in the Law Society of Ontario
- 1-3 years’ experience in the practice of family law with a specific interest in feminist legal advocacy
- Experience and/or familiarity with Canadian immigration law is an asset.
- Ability to empathize and communicate well with clients in a non-judgmental manner.
- Demonstrated ability to advocate strongly on behalf of clients and to engage in community development, public legal education, professional development, and law reform on issues relevant to survivors of gender-based violence.
- Excellent interpersonal, organizational, time-management and problem-solving skills; written and oral communication skills.
- Intermediate/advanced level skills in various computer applications and utilization of other office technology.
- Understanding of legal and social issues of violence against women and gender-based violence consistent with a feminist, intersectional, anti-oppression analysis.
- Commitment to working cooperatively in an inclusive, woman-positive, multi-disciplinary environment.
- Fluency in a language other than English is an asset.
CORE COMPETENCIES
- Commitment to working collaboratively with and supporting women of diversity within the context of a diverse agency.
- Engagement in a self-reflective, ethical, and collaborative practice that is non-judgmental and empathic and reflects the vision and mission statements of the Clinic.
- Incorporation of principles of diversity and equity in responding to the service needs of clients.
- Commitment to working toward removing systemic barriers to women’s independence and wellbeing.
- Excellent interpersonal, organizational, time-management and critical thinking skills, written and oral communication skills.
- Ability to work and support others in the context of a diverse environment.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a multi-disciplinary environment.
- Be a self-starter, creative and highly motivated.
- Share ideas and differences in the spirit of collaboration and cooperation.
- Commitment to ongoing personal and professional development.
SALARY: Starting salary for this position is $66,580 annually. A comprehensive benefits package is offered through a group plan as part of our United Way membership, following a successful probationary period, The position also includes pro-rated payment of Law Society Membership fees and Law Pro Insurance coverage.
DEADLINE FOR RESUMES: Tuesday, June 6, 2023
Posting will remain active until suitable candidates are engaged.
APPLICATION: Submit your cover letter and resume in ONE attachment to: hr@schliferclinic.com with the subject line Staff Lawyer. In your cover letter, please indicate where you found our job posting. Candidates may be asked for writing samples as part of the recruitment process.
Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic is an equal-opportunity employer that welcomes candidates from equity-seeking groups and is committed to providing accommodation for people with disabilities.
Please let us know if you require accommodation due to a disability during any aspect of the recruitment process, and we will work with you to address your needs.
We thank all candidates for their interest. However, only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted. NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE.