Legal Assistant

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Be the detail behind effective legal work that supports Ontario's public service

Join our team and provide essential legal and administrative support to counsel through accurate document preparation, legal research and effective case management. Your organization and judgment skills will help the Legal Services Branch deliver timely and reliable support on matters that serve Ontario.

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About the job

You will:
• provide clerical and litigation support by preparing a variety of court forms, legal documents and routine correspondence
• prepare and process court documents within specific deadlines
• retrieve information related to case histories, research files and law library for relevant references
• open and close case files, and maintain a computer log of all legal documents and correspondence
• answer general correspondence and telephone inquiries
• organize and coordinate meetings, proceedings and court appearances appointments and conferences
• perform general administrative duties such as sorting mail and prioritizing incoming correspondence

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What you bring to the team

Mandatory:

• You are able to type 50 words per minute (you will be tested during the interview assessment phase)

Legal and administrative knowledge:

You have:
• demonstrated knowledge of legal office methods, procedures and complex policies and Rules of Civil Procedure
• knowledge of court administration practices and procedures, and relevant federal and provincial statutes
• knowledge of legal terminology, legal documents to prepare legal documents from precedents or information provided by counsel and other officials

• You can maintain file and case management systems

Communication and interpersonal skills:

• You have communication and interpersonal skills to deal tactfully with senior Ministry officials and members of the public
• You can draft correspondence and other legal documents using proper legal style, format and terminology

Organizational and judgement skills:

You have:
• organizational skills to meet deadlines in a high pressure environment and produce work accurately
• the ability to set priorities and meet conflicting demands
• the ability to work independently and perform tasks with minimal guidance
• a high degree of tact, initiative and judgement

Computer skills:

• You are proficient in computer software applications (e.g. Word, Adobe, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook) to produce correspondence, reports and legal documents
• You have knowledge of database applications to enter, track and update computer case management systems and to prepare reports

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Don't meet every qualification?

If you are excited about this position and meet most, but not all, of the listed qualifications, please still consider applying. We recognize that no one person might have every qualification in this job ad, and you just might be the right candidate!

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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.
• T-AG-248925/26

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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.