CROWN 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 has an immediate challenging opportunity for a counsel to join the Legal Services Branch of the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery (MPBSD).

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How we support diversity, inclusion and accessibility

We are committed to build a workforce that reflects the communities we serve and to promote a diverse, anti-racist, inclusive, accessible, merit-based, respectful and equitable workplace.

We invite all interested individuals to apply and encourage applications from people with disabilities, Indigenous, Black, and racialized individuals, as well as people from a diversity of ethnic and cultural origins, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions.

Visit the OPS Anti-Racism Policy and the OPS Diversity and Inclusion Blueprint pages to learn more about the OPS commitment to advance racial equity, accessibility, diversity, and inclusion in the public service.

We offer employment accommodation across the recruitment process and all aspects of employment consistent with the requirements of Ontario's Human Rights Code. Refer to the "How to apply" section if you require a disability-related accommodation.

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About the job

Reporting to the Deputy Director of the Business, Regulatory and Information Group in the Public and Business Service Delivery Branch, you would be responsible for providing strategic legal advice and support to the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery (MPBSD) and the Office of the Registrar General on a broad range of operational and policy issues in relation to MPBSD's vital events registration line of business, including:

• Providing oral and written legal opinions on issues relating to the registration vital events in the province (birth, marriage, death)
• Developing and advising on legislation and regulations
• Supporting client policy development, special projects and operational work
• Drafting and reviewing orders in council, minister's appointments
• Negotiating, drafting and interpreting memoranda of understanding and other administrative agreements.

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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 providing written and oral legal advice and opinions on an urgent basis including providing advice related to compliance with legislation relating to vital events registration, other statutes relevant to the MPBSD and the Office of the Registrar General and other regulatory matters primarily with respect to statutory interpretation and administrative law
• Demonstrated experience with policy development, and the development of legislation and regulations
• Experience drafting orders in council, administrative agreements, memoranda of understanding, and other similar documents
• Knowledge of MPBSD's vital events legislation (including the Vital Statistics Act, the Change of Name Act, the Marriage Act) and related issues
• Knowledge of administrative and regulatory law, practice and procedures
• Ability to recognize and assess legal implications in Ministry practices and programs

Other Essential Skills

• Proven analytical and judgement skills
• Demonstrated interpersonal and oral/written communication skills
• Demonstrated client service skills
• Ability to handle a high-volume practice and advise on urgent matters with short turnaround times
• Ability to conduct legal research in complex areas of law, handle files independently, and provide leadership in a team environment
• Ability and flexibility to adapt to a changing work environment

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Additional information:

Note:

• In accordance with the Ontario Public Service (OPS), Employment Screening Checks Policy (ESCP), the top candidate(s) may be required to undergo a security screening check. Refer to the above to determine the screening checks that are required for this position.
  
  Required security screening checks along with your written consent, will be sent to the Transition and Security Office (TSO), Corporate Talent Programs Branch, Talent and Leadership Division to evaluate the results. If applicable, the TSO, with your written consent, will request and obtain any additional employment screening checks that were not obtained directly by you.
  
  A record under the Criminal Code and/or other federal offence record(s) does not automatically mean you will be ineligible for the position. The employment screening check(s) will only be reviewed and evaluated by the TSO for the purpose of making a security clearance decision. The details of an individual's employment screening check(s) will be considered in specific relation to the duties and responsibilities of the position being filled. Employment screening check records will be maintained by the TSO and kept strictly confidential.
• For issues with submitting applications, or questions, please contact CSMD.HR.LegalCompeti@ontario.ca
  

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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.