COUNSEL

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The Ministry of the Attorney General, Court Services Division, Family Policy and Programs Branch seeks a legal policy counsel to work on a variety of family justice policy initiatives.

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About the job

Duties Will Include: Working with a team of legal and policy professionals, you will lead and/or participate in legal and operational policy development and implementation processes in relation to the family justice system and courts administration, including: review of statutes, regulations and common-law developments; development of legislation and regulations; provision of legal/strategic policy analysis and advice; provision of litigation advice and support; preparation of Management Board and Cabinet submissions, option papers, briefing materials and correspondence; assessment of operational impacts of legal and policy changes; assessment of legal implications of operational and policy issues; and development and implementation of proposals for policy changes. You will also be involved in providing operational support to court staff, including: making recommendations and developing opinions with respect to legal and procedural matters; review of court manuals and directives to court staff to ensure legal and procedural accuracy; assistance in implementing new initiatives; and ongoing liaison with court staff.

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What you bring to the team

Mandatory requirements

Membership in the Law Society of Upper Canada.

Knowledge and Skills

Thorough knowledge of provincial and federal family law statutes and regulations including the Family Law Rules, the Rules of Civil Procedure, the Courts of Justice Act, and related legislation; superior analytical and strategic policy development skills, including an ability to write in plain language; superior written advocacy skills; superior analytical and research skills; excellent understanding of the role of the judiciary and justice stakeholders in the family justice system in Ontario; experience in providing strategic advice for consideration by senior officials; knowledge of government decision making processes and the legislative/regulatory process; sound understanding of the governments justice policy agenda; extensive experience drafting and reviewing legal opinions, briefing notes, house book notes, options papers, presentation materials and correspondence; demonstrated ability to manage the preparation/approval of complex work products; proven ability to identify, manage and problem solve complex and sensitive issues and manage changing priorities; superior stakeholder management skills including experience working with the judiciary, the bar and other stakeholders on the development of law reform initiatives; superior legal, policy, analytical and research skills; excellent oral and written communication skills; superior organizational and interpersonal skills; demonstrated ability to assist and support other counsel; strong aptitude and desire to work in a team environment; strong relationship building skills; ability to work on several complex projects under tight and shifting time frames; ability to use computer software packages (e.g. Microsoft Outlook, PowerPoint, Word, Quicklaw).

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Additional information:

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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.

All external applicants (including former employees of the Ontario Public Service) applying to a competition in a ministry or Commission public body must disclose (either in the cover letter or resume) previous employment with the Ontario Public Service. Disclosure must include positions held, dates of employment and any active restrictions as applicable from being rehired by the Ontario Public Service. Active restrictions can include time and/or ministry-specific restrictions currently in force, and may preclude a former employee from being offered a position with the Ontario Public Service for a specific time period (e.g. one year), or from being offered a position with a specific ministry (either for a pre-determined time period or indefinitely). The circumstances around an employee's exit will be considered prior to an offer of employment.

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