About Us

This is an opportunity to join the government’s law firm – the Legal Services Division of the Department of Justice. Legal Services lawyers advise and represent the provincial government on the most pressing legal and public policy issues of the day. 

We are the legal counsel for the Government of Nova Scotia, Crown corporations, agencies, boards, and commissions. We help ensure that public affairs are administered effectively, efficiently and in accordance with the law.

This opportunity is for a position on our Solicitor Services team. The Solicitor Services team comprises over 45 lawyers.

For more information on the Department of Justice Legal Services please visit our website.
 

Primary Accountabilities

• Advising Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Executive Directors, and other senior government leaders on matters of law, negotiation, strategy, and public policy
• Drafting and interpreting statutes and regulations
• Drafting and interpreting contracts
• Assisting with submissions to Cabinet
• Presenting information about government and law to the public generally or as part of a consultation process for public policy development
• Serving on project teams with senior and policy staff of client departments
   

Qualifications and Experience

As our successful candidate, you will:

• Be a practicing member of the Nova Scotia Barristers Society (or eligible for practicing membership), in good standing; and
• Have a minimum of 3 years of legal experience at the bar. 

The following are assets, but not required:

• Experience advising government departments, Crown corporations, agencies, boards, and commissions and other public sector entities; and
• Experience with commercial transactions.
• Experience in resources law, such as agriculture, energy, environment, fisheries, and natural resources; and
• Experience in aboriginal law.
   

Our successful candidate will have excellent research, analytical, and organizational skills.  You communicate effectively and persuasively, orally and in writing, and have the ability to function with minimal supervision in a team environment.  Our ideal candidate will demonstrate the ability to offer creative and innovative solutions to complex challenges and have the flexibility to adapt and thrive in a continuously changing and demanding environment.
We will assess the above qualifications using one or more of the following tools: oral presentations, interview(s), and reference checks.
 

Equivalency

Applicants relying on education and experience equivalencies must demonstrate such equivalencies in their application. 
 

Benefits

Based on the employment status and union agreement, the Government of Nova Scotia offers its employees a wide range of benefits such as a Defined Benefit Pension Plan, Health, Dental, Life Insurance, General illness, Short and Long Term Disability, Vacation and Employee and Family Assistance Programs. For information on all our Benefit program offerings, click here: Benefits for government employees.
 

Working Conditions

Physical effort includes:
•    Sitting at a computer for long periods of time

Sensory attention includes:
•    Ability to review voluminous written material, to write, to think conceptually and to think strategically
•    Mental focus is required for long periods of time and very good memory is required

Mental pressure includes:
•    Ability to handle pressure situations, multiple deadlines and many competing demands.
•    Long periods of concentration are required
•    May be required to work overtime to respond to government deadline.
 

Additional Information

This competition is being used to fill two (2) Permanent employment opportunities in the Legal Services Division.

What We Offer

• Career development where you have access to career guidance, tools, resources, and ongoing training for every stage of your career
• Engaging workplace: our employees feel valued, respected, connected, and tuned in, we have forward-thinking policies and strategies
• Countless career paths