About the job
Location: Surrey, BC
Status: Full-time Permanent
Affiliation: Professional Employees Association (PEA)
Salary range: Based on year of call – $70,931.93 (Yr1) to $141,376.75 (Yr16) + 10% Staff Lawyer Benefit Plan
Competition #: P054-24
Application Deadline: Open until filled
VALUES STATEMENT:
Our commitment to the principles of fundamental justice embedded in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and to Truth and Reconciliation, and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion is ambitious and foundational. It informs everything we do, as we defend liberty, equality, autonomy, and dignity; as we dismantle colonization, racism, sexism, transphobia and homophobia, and all discrimination. These are our values, and they inform our hiring practices too. Our business is aiding people in severe legal distress and necessitates internal and external alignment of practicing these values. Integrating Truth and Reconciliation, and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion throughout every aspect of The organization is critical to building that culture, and we prioritize ongoing resources to achieve that goal.
We are seeking a Managing Lawyer, Family Law Centres, to join our team.
The Opportunity
The Family Law Centres (FLC) provides both in-person and virtual services to clients who have experienced or are experiencing family violence. The FLC operates as a multidisciplinary clinic, offering legal services through a team that includes a managing lawyer, staff lawyers, paralegals, advocates, and administrative/intake legal assistants. Together, this team works to assist and advocate for clients facing multiple barriers to accessing legal aid services. Our approach is trauma-informed, anti-oppressive, and culturally sensitive, catering to those who have experienced family violence, those living in poverty or with low incomes, individuals from equity-seeking groups, and those whose first language is not English. We strongly encourage applicants who self-identify as belonging to an equity-seeking group or who have lived experience of systemic oppression to apply.
Reporting to an Excluded Manager, the Managing Lawyer is responsible for managing an Office and providing legal counsel and representation, including duty counsel, in the full range of family/child protection law practice including separation, divorce, parenting arrangements, property division and child protection matters within the context of The organization (THE ORGANIZATION) policies and procedures.
This role involves overseeing the delivery of professional legal services, supervising operations and resources, and liaising with the Vancouver Regional Centre on various initiatives.
Key accountabilities include, but aren’t limited to:
- Plan, direct, and manage the activities of the Office to ensure effective and efficient delivery of mandated and contracted services.
- Supervise a team of lawyers, paralegals, advocates, and intake staff, including performance planning, coaching, and feedback. Monitor and evaluate probation/trial periods, conduct staff lawyer file reviews, ensure compliance with timekeeping systems and caseload targets, and handle disciplinary matters in consultation with Human Resources.
- Provide leadership and direction for staff development, establishing individual performance goals and objectives.
- Mentor and coach junior and intermediate staff lawyers while maintaining an active seniorlevel practice caseload.
- Report to the Manager on Office operations, staff performance, training, and disciplinary matters.
- Manage expenses within approved budgets, including authorizing expenditures, approving overtime, vacation/sick leave, and travel expenses for all staff.
Who We Are
This is a non-profit organization established by the Legal Services Society Act in 1979. Our mission is to provide legal information, advice, and representation services to BC’s most vulnerable and marginalized citizens who lack the necessary resources to effectively access the justice system when their families, freedom, or safety are at risk. Our vision is to see BC’s legal system transformed, by the way THE ORGANIZATION represents our clients, into one more equitable and inclusive with a mission to strengthen client-centred legal help for British Columbians experiencing barriers accessing the legal system.
At THE ORGANIZATION, we know that our continued ability to help the people who need us is due to the hardworking individuals who make up our team, dedicated to making a difference in the lives of people in need. We foster a positive culture of open communication for our team to thrive within, underpinned by our values of client focus, advancing Truth and Reconciliation, and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, and change through leadership.
The organization is in the early stages of, and committed to a transformative journey of embedding Truth and Reconciliation, and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in all aspects of our work. We seek talent from equity-seeking groups, including but not limited to individuals who self-identify as First Nations, Inuit, or Metis descent, persons with diverse abilities, gender diverse, racialized, and members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, be a part of this exciting stage of The organization’s growth. We care deeply about the culture we are building and are looking for staff members who not only excel in their respective areas but are also passionate about supporting the people we serve and each other. If this resonates with you, we encourage you to apply. All interested and eligible applicants will be considered with due consideration to all protected grounds under the BC Human Rights Code. If we can do anything to make your application experience a positive and equitable one, we want to hear from you on what we can do better.
The Ideal Candidate
You have:
- Membership or eligibility for membership in the Law Society of British Columbia.
- Minimum of five (5) years of experience at the Bar in British Columbia or equivalent experience in another Canadian jurisdiction.
- Minimum of three (3) years of management/supervisory experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Experience in family and child protection law, with additional experience in poverty law and criminal law considered an asset.
- This position requires some travel and a valid BC driver’s license.
- Must be willing and able to travel throughout BC.
We Offer
A competitive annual salary, as well as a comprehensive benefits package (based on your employment status and affiliation including:
- Four weeks paid vacation to start that grows the longer you are with THE ORGANIZATION
- An excellent employee benefits package, where premiums are 100% paid by THE ORGANIZATION
- A generous defined benefit pension plan
- Support for training and development
- An Employee and Family Assistance program
- The opportunity to participate in various Employee programs (Employee Wellness, etc.)
- Support for a healthy work/life balance
- Generous leave provisions (sick time, special leaves)
- 13 paid statutory holidays
- An opportunity for a flexible hybrid work arrangement for some positions (THE ORGANIZATION reserves the right to change this policy at any time)
- Transit friendly employer for eligible staff to have their commute subsidized
- Dog-friendly offices
- Dedicated Cultural Leave provisions for Indigenous employees
- An Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Council, and Indigenous employees Council and Accessibility Committee of employees from equity-seeking groups that advises on ongoing improvements and investments in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at our workplace
How to apply: Please submit your resume, in confidence, via email to Puneet Singh at puneet@talentadvantage.ca. Please list your name and the role you are applying for in the subject line.
We would like to thank all external applicants for their interest but regret that only those shortlisted will be contacted.
