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.
Do you wish to make a difference by contributing to positive public safety change for Ontarians? Are you interested in a unique kind of litigation that does not seek to assign liability, guilt or blame, but rather identifies and potentially closes gaps in policy, protocol, law and operation?
This is an exciting opportunity for counsel wishing to join a dynamic and progressive organization and have an integral role in a recently modernized inquest system. Reporting to the Chief Counsel to the Chief Coroner for Ontario, you will have carriage of a large caseload of complex mandatory and discretionary inquests while working directly with a presiding inquest officer and investigator in each case.
Although the main location for the office of the Chief Coroner is in Toronto, candidates are able to work out of any of the six (6) regional offices listed (Hamilton, Kingston, London, Ottawa, Sudbury, Thunder Bay).
OPS Commitment to Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Anti-Racism:
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.
What can I expect to do in this role?
Duties and responsibilities will include:
• Preparing for and conducting inquests, including meeting with interested parties, working with the presiding inquest officer to develop inquest scope and a strategy for the inquest, bringing forward relevant evidence, and working collaboratively with parties and the inquest team to arrive at appropriate recommendations to present to the jury
• Providing advice to the presiding inquest officer and direction to the investigator and constable members of the inquest team
• Identifying issues raising broader implications for the inquest system and reporting on them to legal management
• Providing legal opinions and advice on inquest-related matters, including judicial review applications
• Contributing to the strategic development and overall operations of the Inquest Unit, and the modernization of inquest practices and approaches
• Assisting in building and maintaining positive working relationships with relevant stakeholders, such as government ministries and agencies, justice sector members, community organizations, public interest advocacy groups and the general public, on inquest-related matters
• Participating in committees, training and administrative duties as assigned
How do I qualify?
Mandatory
Membership in good standing as a lawyer with the Law Society of Ontario
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
• Expert knowledge of workplace health and safety issues
• Demonstrated experience and expertise in construction or mining-related legal issues, with experience in the inquest context an asset
• Demonstrated litigation experience and expertise, with experience as an inquest counsel an asset
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of the role and function of a quasi-judicial decision maker and his or her counsel's role, function and obligations
• Proven ability to identify and problem-solve contentious issues
• Awareness of the richness of many different cultures of people within Ontario with whom he or she will interact as colleagues, partners, participants at inquests and members of the public
• Knowledge and understanding of Indigenous cultures and history and, particularly, how the justice system impacts on Indigenous peoples, including understanding of Indigenous perspectives, histories, cultures, and traditions (including legal traditions)
• Knowledge of administrative law, criminal and/or regulatory law and procedure, rules of evidence and case law
• Knowledge of conflict of interest and bias principles
• Awareness of and sensitivity to the unique difficulties and emotions associated with inquests
• Proven ability to handle a high-volume practice and function well under the pressure of timelines and unexpected demands
• Experience in providing training and education to clients and/or the legal profession
Interpersonal and Communication Skills
• Demonstrated judgement and analytical ability to determine appropriate legal approaches and solutions
• Demonstrated high-level interpersonal, presentation and communication skills
Computer Skills and Other
• Ability to use Word, Outlook and PowerPoint
• Technical skills to work effectively with computer technology and databases made available to professional staff
• Ability and willingness to travel throughout Ontario as required
