Job order – J0525-0879 – Contract

Published June 5, 2025

Title

Staff Lawyer (9 months)

City

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Job Description

Staff Lawyer (9 months)

Company Bio

Legal Aid Ontario employees are committed to making a difference in the lives of our clients.

As an integral partner in the Justice system, working at Legal Aid Ontario is more than just a job. It’s an opportunity to help people who need it the most; to ensure each client receives the access to justice afforded to them under the law.

If you are looking for a new challenge in your already meaningful career with a team dedicated to justice, and innovation in a flexible and supportive work environment consider this opportunity below.

Primary function
Work on important and interesting poverty law issues with a team committed to high quality legal services. Use your clinic law expertise and excellent analytical and writing skills to provide legal advice and opinions, and a range of legal supports, to advocates in community legal clinics and student legal services organizations (SLSOs) across Ontario. Create and maintain a range of publications in Employment law.

Primary Location: Toronto
Secondary Location: N/A

Reports to: Director, Clinic Resource Office

Key accountabilities
• Legal research and writing, primarily focused on Employment law and related areas – writing a range of publications from decision summaries and short website postings to comprehensive research memoranda
• Providing legal, strategic and practice advice to clinic and SLSO lawyers and community legal workers in clinic areas of law (social assistance, housing, EI, CPP/OAS, human rights & Charter)
• Participation in regional and provincial clinic CPD/training events, as appropriate
• Other project work in accordance with interests and skills

Required skills & experience
• Lawyer (Class L1 license) member in good standing of the Law Society of Ontario
• Excellent writing and analytical skills
• Significant recent experience practicing, and demonstrated expertise in, Employment law and one or more other major areas of clinic law in Ontario
• Experience appearing before one or more clinic law tribunals
• Demonstrated strong interest in clinic law issues
• Demonstrated superior legal research skills with traditional and electronic research sources
• Strong computer skills (including demonstrated advanced ability with Microsoft Word)
• Familiarity with Zoom and Teams
• Adept at working both independently and in a team environment
• Able to work with shifting priorities in a fast-paced work environment

Preferred Skills & Experience:
• Experience using the CRO website and practice resources
• Experience practicing in a variety of clinic law areas (e.g. housing, social assistance, CPP, EI, human rights & the Charter)
• Experience with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.)
• Superior knowledge of administrative law and procedure
• Publication experience
• Court litigation experience
• Experience delivering legal training presentations
• Ability to speak, read and write French

Final candidates for this position will be required to undergo a criminal record check.

To apply submit a cover letter & résumé.

This position is represented by The Society of United Professionals and the employee will be governed by the provisions of the collective agreement and union dues will be deducted bi-weekly from date of hire.

First preference will given to current members of The Society of United Professionals.

Please note that all applicants are encouraged to provide a valid email address for communication purposes. Applicants may receive written correspondence regarding this job posting directly to the email address provided on their resume or to the one used to set up their Candidate Profile if applying on Njoyn. As an applicant, it is your responsibility to ensure that you check your email regularly.

First time applying to LAO? You will need to create a profile AND then apply for the position.
Already have an Njoyn account? Just sign in and select “my jobs” to apply.
Once you have successfully applied you will receive a confirmation email.

Trouble applying? For telephone support please call 1-877-427-7717 or email support: candidate.njoynhelp@cgi.com.

Equity Statement

Building a diverse workforce that represents the communities we serve while promoting a safe culture and work environment that dismantles systemic barriers, welcomes fresh perspectives and embraces differences as a priority is a core value at LAO. LAO encourages applicants from equity-seeking groups, including but not limited to individuals who are First Nations, Inuit or Métis, Black and racialized, as well as persons with disabilities, women and members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community.

We recognize the value of equity, diversity and inclusion and are committed to addressing systemic barriers, and prioritizing, attracting and retaining diverse staff. All interested and eligible people will be considered, with due consideration to all protected grounds under the Ontario Human Rights Code.

Legal Aid Ontario values integrity, respect, responsiveness, excellence, independence, accountability, openness and consistency. Our recruitment process reflects our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion. Accommodations are available throughout the recruitment process as well as during employment at LAO. Please direct any accommodation requests to our recruitment team.

Skills

Accountability
Agile/Adaptable
Analytic/Systematic Thinking
Building Trust
Communication
Conceptual Thinking
Confident
Detail Oriented
Developing Others
Documentation
Forward & Strategic Thinking
Impact & Influence
Initiative
Interpersonal Understanding
Legal
Relationship Building
Results Orientation
Service Orientation
Teamwork & Partnering
Thorough

Reference

413713