Role Responsibilities

Justice and Public Safety and Emergency Services Legal Team

Are you a lawyer who enjoys working at the intersection of law, policy, and government decision-making?

The Justice and Public Safety and Emergency Services Legal Team (JPSES) offers a unique opportunity to advise on some of the Government of Alberta's most complex, high-profile, and impactful legal matters. The team serves as the dedicated legal advisor to the Ministries of Justice and Public Safety and Emergency Services, providing both day-to-day legal support and strategic counsel on high-impact issues that directly affect public safety, democratic governance, government operations and the administration of justice in Alberta.

Why Join JPSES?

Few legal practices offer the same breadth, variety, and opportunity to have a role in the development of public policy.

Our lawyers work on matters that are often legally complex, politically sensitive, and highly visible. We regularly tackle emerging issues where there may be limited precedent and where thoughtful legal analysis can help shape government responses and future legislative frameworks.

If you are intellectually curious, enjoy solving difficult legal problems, and are interested in seeing how legislation, policy, and government operations intersect, this is an exceptional opportunity to build a rewarding public sector legal career.

The Opportunity

This position is ideal for lawyers who are energized by the interplay between legislation and public policy, and who want to contribute to meaningful government initiatives from concept development through implementation. From legislative reform and emerging public policy initiatives to novel legal issues with no clear precedent, the work is intellectually demanding, highly collaborative, and directly connected to outcomes that matter to Albertans.

As a member of the JPSES Legal Team, you will work closely with policy makers, senior government officials, and ministry leadership to navigate complex legal issues and develop practical solutions. You will have the opportunity to be involved in legislative and regulatory reform, support major government priorities, and help shape the legal framework governing matters such as public safety, law enforcement, corrections, youth justice, information sharing, democratic processes, and other significant public-interest initiatives.

What You will Do

The work is varied, intellectually challenging, and often at the forefront of emerging legal and policy issues. The JPSES team moves continually between legislative development, public law, governance, statutory interpretation, drafting or providing advice on agreements and contracts, strategic advice, and support for major government initiatives.

In your role with the JPSES legal team, you would:

• Support government decision-making by providing legal risk assessments and strategic advice on high-profile initiatives and emerging issues.
• Provide strategic legal advice on novel and complex matters affecting Justice and Public Safety and Emergency Services with a focus on
  • Statutory Interpretation
  • Administrative Law
  • Corporate Law, including Contract Law
  • Privacy Law
• Advise on legislative and regulatory reform, including developing legislative proposals, interpreting statutes, supporting policy development, and working closely with Legislative Counsel during the drafting process.
• Advise on contracts, grants, procurement, information-sharing arrangements, privacy considerations, and other operational matters, including drafting legal instruments as appropriate.
• Collaborate with clients, colleagues across Legal Services Division, and other stakeholders to develop creative and practical solutions to challenging legal questions.
• Coordinate specialized legal services across government, ensuring client departments receive the appropriate legal expertise while maintaining a consistent legal strategy.

Ideal Candidates

We are looking for lawyers who:

• Enjoy statutory interpretation and legislative development.
• Have an interest in public law, governance, and public policy and an active desire to expand their knowledge in these areas.
• Thrive in a collaborative, fast-paced environment, working well independently and with a team.
• Are comfortable managing ambiguity and advising on novel legal issues, using strong research and problem solving skills.
• Have a strong client focus and can clearly communicate (orally and in writing) practical, strategic advice on complex matters.
• This role offers a rare opportunity to combine legal analysis, strategic thinking, and policy development while contributing to initiatives that matter to Albertans.

The Job Description is provided for further details on 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.

• 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

Requirements:

• 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.
• For Law degrees obtained outside Canada, proof of accreditation from the National Committee on Accreditation (NCA) is required.
• Experience required for each classification is:
  • Civil Crown Counsel 1 – One to four (1-4) years of related legal experience;
  • Civil Crown Counsel 2 – Minimum of four (4) years of related legal experience;
  • Civil Crown Counsel 3 – Minimum of eleven (11) years of related legal experience.
• A cover letter is required along with your application. In your cover letter, please briefly summarize:
  • Legal experience;
  • Relevant strengths and skills; and
  • Reasons for interest in the position.

Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.

Preference will be given to the applicants who have:

• Experience providing strategic legal advice, including on large, complex projects;
• Experience providing advice on the interpretation and application of legislation;
• Experience prioritizing issues effectively to respond to numerous challenges and changing demands;
• Flexibility and the ability to work within a project team or individually;
• Exceptional legal, problem solving, communication and collaboration skills;
• Exceptional analytical, research and effective writing skills; and
• Experience advising public sector clients.

Assets:

Practice experience or expertise providing legal advice on:

• Statutory interpretation in a government context, including legislation specific to the Crown and/or public agencies.
• Development of legislation and statutory instruments.
• Administrative law, including the application of administrative law principles to decision makers.
• Public law.
• Contracts, grants, and government procurement.
• Governance matters respecting public agencies.

Minimum recruitment standards outline the minimum education and experience required for appointment to a job classification.

Notes

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

Positions Currently available: One (1) Permanent Salaried position is available.

Location: This opportunity is located at Bowker Building, 9833 - 109 Street, Edmonton, Alberta.

Final candidates will be required to undergo a criminal records check (CRC). 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.

Links and information on what we have to offer:

• Working for the Alberta Public Service.
• Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP).
• Management Employee Pension Plan (MEPP).
• Alberta Public Service Benefit Information.
• Professional learning and development.
• Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool.
• Positive workplace culture and work-life balance.