Role Responsibilities

Are you an experienced lawyer looking for an in-house role with the Alberta Public Service? Do you seek sophisticated and highly varied legal work in a collaborative and rewarding environment? The People and Communities Legal Team (PAC) of Alberta Justice’s Legal Services Division has an exciting opportunity for an experienced lawyer to join our team! 

PAC is a team of 12 lawyers, and professional support staff, who deliver a full range of solicitor services and related strategic advice to the Departments of Seniors, Community and Social Services (SCSS), Child and Family Services (CFS) and Jobs, Economy and Trade (JET) (Child Care Divisions only).

PAC is also now supporting work in the transition of Health and AHS services, related to the Continuing Care sector, to SCSS and the newly created Assisted Living Alberta. 

In this role, you will assist Government of Alberta clients with a range of legal matters in such areas as capital project financing and capital grants, ,a variety of other grants and contracts,  privacy, information sharing and disclosure (including Health Information Act), legislative development, real estate law, administrative law (Citizen Appeal Panel, Human Rights Commission, Ombudsman), Crown debt collections, , public procurement, corporate governance issues, and statutory interpretation issues.  

Responsibilities will include but not limited to: 

• Provide general corporate counsel legal and related strategic advice to SCSS, CFS and JET (Child Care Divisions).   
• Negotiate and draft social services grants and contracts and other agreements and documents
• Conduct transactional work
• Assist clients with the development of legislation and various orders and directives 
• Statutory interpretation
• Provide advice on compliance with legislation
• Conduct legal research and prepare memorandums including legal opinions and briefs 
• Collaborate effectively with colleagues on the team and across the various legal teams within Alberta Justice, as well as clients and outside legal counsel.

The ideal candidate will be capable of forming good client relationships and will have:

• A strong client focus
• Excellent problem solving and interpersonal skills
• Strong analytical, research, verbal, and written communication skills
• Strong legal drafting skills
• High flexibility and the ability to work within a team and respond quickly to address frequently changing client needs, issues, and priorities.

Please click on this link to view the job description for this position.

APS Competencies

Competencies are behaviors that are essential to reach our goals in serving Albertans. We encourage you to have an in depth understanding of the competencies that are required for this opportunity and to be prepared to demonstrate them during the recruitment process.

This link will assist you with understanding competencies: https://www.alberta.ca/system/files/custom_downloaded_images/psc-alberta-public-service-competency-model.pdf.

• Agility - Must be able to anticipate, assess, and readily adapt to changing priorities, maintain resilience, and work effectively in changing environments
• Drive for Results - Sets goals and prioritizes work to accomplish them.  Follows through on duties and tasks and reports on progress.
• Develop Self and Others - Desire to invest in the development of the long-term capability of self and others
• Build Collaborative Environments - Leads and contributes to the conditions and environments that allow people to work collaboratively and productively to achieve outcomes.
• Develop Networks - Proactively builds networks, connects and build trust in relationships with different stakeholders
• Systems Thinking - Understands how work contributes to the achievement of departmental goals.  Anticipates changes in own area based on activities in other areas.
• Creative Problem Solving - Have the ability to assess options and implications in new ways to achieve outcomes and solutions.

Qualifications

It is required to have a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) or Juris Doctor (JD) degree. 
You must be an active member or must have immediate eligibility for full membership with the Law Society of Alberta.
The candidate must have a minimum of 4 years of related of legal counsel experience.
For Law degrees obtained outside Canada, proof of accreditation from the National Committee on Accreditation (NCA) is required. 

Specific experience in providing legal advice in one or more of the following areas is considered an asset:

• Administrative law and regulatory compliance
• Capital financing (lending and grant programs)
• Corporate governance
• Real property law
• Information sharing and privacy law, including the Health Information Act
• Public procurement (including requests for proposals)
• Creditors’ remedies 
• Statutory interpretation

Requirement:
Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.

In your cover letter, please briefly summarize:

• Legal experience and expertise.
• Relevant strengths and skills.
• Reasons for interest in the position. 

Minimum recruitment standards outline the minimum education and experience required for appointment to a job classification. 
Refer to https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-minimum-recruitment-standards.

Notes

Hours of work: Monday – Friday, 8:15 am - 4:30 pm (36.25 /week)

Positions currently available: One permanent salaried position

Location: This opportunity is located in Sterling Place, 9940 – 106 Street NW, Edmonton, Alberta, while renovations take place in the team’s permanent location at Peace Hills Trust Tower, 10011 – 109 Street NW, Edmonton, Alberta.

Final candidates will be asked to undergo a security screening.

Any costs associated with obtaining the required documents/checks as noted or interview travel expenses, will be the responsibility of the candidate. Out-of-province applicants can obtain the required documents/checks from the province they currently reside in. 

What we offer:

• Working for the Alberta Public Service - https://www.alberta.ca/advantages-working-for-alberta-public-service.aspx
• Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP) - https://www.pspp.ca
• Management Employees Pension Plan (MEPP) - https://www.mepp.ca
• Alberta Public Service Benefit Information - https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-benefits
• Professional learning and development - https://www.alberta.ca/professional-development-support-directive
• Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool - https://researchapscareers.alberta.ca
• Positive workplace culture and work-life balance
• Opportunity to participate in flexible work arrangements such as working from home up to two days per week and modified work schedule agreement.