Counsel

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ELIGIBILITY FOR THIS COMPETITION IS RESTRICTED TO STEP 1 CANDIDATES INCLUDING OPS ALOC AND OCAA LAWYERS  living or working within 125 km of this location. Note: Eligible lawyers from outside the Area of Search may apply but will not be entitled to relocation or travel expenses for the transfer as set out below.

Step 1: All regular/fixed-term OCAA and ALOC lawyers on staff, current Redeployment List Members and current Articling Student Hireback Pool Members.

Step 2: In the absence of qualified applicants at Step 1 the competition may be reposted so that external applicants or non-members of the above-mentioned groups would then be eligible to apply.

The Ministry of the Attorney General, Civil Law Division, seeks an experienced solicitor for an exciting and challenging opportunity to join the legal team at the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR-LSB). This is an opportunity to work on a varied practice in a medium-sized legal branch with a wonderful office culture and very interesting and fast-paced work.

MNR-LSB is committed to fostering an environment of diversity, anti-racism and equity. An effective member of the MNR-LSB is responsible, innovative and collaborative. A responsible member of MNR-LSB is someone who demonstrates authenticity, accountability and courage in how they interact with others; an individual who models ethical behavior, and who is honest and capable of making difficult choices. An innovative member is someone who embraces positive disruption, and who promotes the branch's values of diversity, anti-racism and equity; an individual who inspires others, values continuous learning and encourages development and integration. A collaborative member focuses on helping others to grow, proactively works on their self-education, and promotes an environment of inclusivity; an individual who consistently works to confront bias and systemic barriers while understanding the importance of creating a more diverse and accessible workplace.

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About the job

The main focus of the work will be providing legal advice and support to the Forest Industry Division of the Ministry of Natural Resources, primarily in the areas of corporate/commercial, forestry and natural resources, regulatory and public law. There would also be additional opportunities to work in other areas for which the Ministry of Natural Resources is responsible.
• This position includes:
• Providing regulatory advice and statutory interpretation in a variety of areas including forestry and natural resources law and administrative law
• Drafting, reviewing and negotiating contracts, transfer payment agreements, procurement documents, licenses, wood supply agreements, memoranda of understanding and other legal documents
• Drafting and advising on Orders-in-Council, regulations and legislation
• You would give written and oral advice to support the development of key Ministry policy, and Ministry approaches to operational matters that are complex and have cross-government implications
• You would draft briefing notes and other documents, brief senior management, participate in policy development and take on special projects
• You would also provide support to Crown Law Office Civil in respect of legal challenges

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What you bring to the team

Mandatory requirements

• Membership in good standing as a lawyer with the Law Society of Ontario

Knowledge and Skills

• Demonstrated experience in and knowledge of corporate/commercial, forestry, natural resources, regulatory and public law
• Demonstrated experience in drafting transfer payment agreements, contracts and procurement documents.
• Demonstrated experience in drafting legislation, regulations and Orders-in-Council
• You have a working knowledge of Aboriginal law, an understanding of the nature of the relationship between Indigenous peoples and the government, and are sensitive to the issues facing modern Indigenous communities
• You are a practical problem solver, good at working on teams with other lawyers and your clients
• You consistently deliver quality service in tight timelines and have a proven record of delivering practical legal advice to guide operational decision makers
• You are comfortable and effective in briefing senior officials
• Demonstrated oral and written communication skills, proven judgment and analytical skills and political acuity
• You have demonstrated great client service and have a proven record of building relationships with clients and colleagues and of fostering and creating a culture of diversity, anti-racism, equity and wellness in the workplace

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How we support diversity, inclusion and accessibility

We are building an inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We encourage everyone interested in working with us to apply, including people with disabilities, Indigenous, Black and racialized individuals, as well as people from all ethnicities, cultures, sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions.

Our hiring process is accessible, consistent with Ontario's Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005. We are working to prevent and remove barriers in our hiring processes and can offer  accommodation to address specific needs related to Code-protected grounds such as disability, family status and religion. For more information about accommodation during the hiring process please  contact us.

Learn more about the work the OPS is doing to create an inclusive, anti-racist, accessible and diverse workplace:

• diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives
• accessibility
• Anti-Racism Policy

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Additional information:

Note:

• About security checks:
  A criminal or other federal offence record does not automatically disqualify you from the position. We consider each situation based on the position's responsibilities.
  If a check is needed and you've lived outside of Canada in the past 5 years for 6 or more months in a row, or if you are not a Canadian resident, you'll need to provide an out-of-country police clearance certificate from the country you lived in.
  Employment screening checks are only reviewed and evaluated by the Transition and Security Office, which also maintains them and keeps them strictly confidential.
• For issues with submitting applications, or questions, please contact CSMD.HR.LegalCompeti@ontario.ca.

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How to apply:

1. You must apply online.
2. Your cover letter and resume combined should not exceed five (5) pages. For tips and tools on how to write a concise cover letter and resume, review the Writing a Cover Letter and Resume: Tips, Tools and Resources.
3. Customize your cover letter and resume to the qualifications listed on the job ad. Using concrete examples, you must show how you demonstrated the requirements for this job. We rely on the information you provide to us.
4. Read the job description to make sure you understand this job.
5. OPS employees are required to quote their WIN EMPLOYEE ID number when applying.
6. If you require a disability related accommodation in order to participate in the recruitment process, please Contact Us to provide your contact information. Recruitment services team will contact you within 48 hours.

Language requirements and assessment:
All external Ontario Public Service (OPS) job ads are posted in English and French. Check the "position(s) language" section at the top of each job ad for the language requirements. For all roles, candidates are assessed in English, the business language of the OPS. If the position is bilingual (English/French), you'll also need to pass a French-language proficiency test.

Exigences en matière de langue et évaluation:
Toutes les offres d'emploi externes de la fonction publique de l'Ontario (FPO) sont affichées en français et en anglais. Consultez la section « Langue du ou des postes » en haut de chaque offre d'emploi pour connaître les exigences linguistiques. Pour tous les postes, les candidats sont évalués en anglais, la langue d'affaires de la FPO. Si le poste est bilingue (anglais/français), vous devrez également passer un test de compétences linguistiques en français.