Lawyer, Immigration and Migrant Rights Focus, Clinical Instructor Position

Parkdale Community Legal Services

Permanent, Full-time

Parkdale Community Legal Services (PCLS) is one of Legal Aid Ontario’s network of community legal clinics providing poverty law services. PCLS is also a teaching clinic for Osgoode Hall Law School, and law students are our primary caseworkers working under the supervision of PCLS staff. We serve low-income clients in a diverse community on the west side of Toronto. We provide legal services in the areas of housing, immigration and migrant rights, workers’ rights, and social assistance, as well as on issues of violence, health, and human rights. We do casework and test litigation in conjunction with community development and organizing work to address systemic issues of poverty and social exclusion.

PCLS is seeking a skilled and experienced immigration lawyer to provide summary advice and representation on a wide range of immigration and refugee law matters. We welcome applicants with a preferred five years of experience in immigration and refugee law. The successful candidate will work in a team to supervise students and advance social justice, and be actively involved in community outreach, public legal education, and law reform initiatives. This is a permanent, full-time position.

The preferred start date is late February to early March, 2024.

As the position requires the lawyer to teach, mentor, and supervise five law students, the position is full-time in-person subject to any accommodation pursuant to the Ontario Human Rights Code.

Qualifications

Membership in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario.
Five years of legal experience in the areas of immigration and refugee law preferred (called to the bar in 2018 or earlier).
Experience representing community members before the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) of Canada, in particular the Immigration Division (ID) and Immigration Appeal Division (IAD), as well as the Federal Courts of Canada.
Experience assisting community members with refugee claims or appeals, as well as Humanitarian & Compassionate, Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA), citizenship applications, and applications to seek and maintain temporary status in Canada.
Demonstrated skills in mentoring and/or teaching.
Experience or ability to supervise students with full caseloads, meeting tight deadlines.
Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced environment requiring quick and appropriate judgment calls while supervising students with full caseloads.
Ability to work under little supervision managing and serving sensitive community needs.
Demonstrated commitment to working from an anti-racism, anti-oppression and social justice framework.
Experience with trauma-informed practice.
Experience working with a diversity of clients from low income and marginalized groups, in particular clients with mental health challenges.
Awareness of and support for community organizing for migrant rights and systemic change.
Ability to diffuse tense situations and to assist people in crisis in a calming and helpful manner.

Assets

Familiarity with resources in the community.
Understanding of the Osgoode Intensive Program in Poverty Law.
Advanced online casefile management skills and related IT skills.
Familiarity with the Legal Aid Ontario Clinic Information Management System (CIMS).
Knowledge of a second language pertinent to serving the Parkdale-Swansea community.
Experience or knowledge in other clinic areas of law (i.e., social assistance, housing, and employment)

Compensation

Annual salary of $101,000 plus a defined benefit pension plan, health benefits package, twenty vacation days, eighteen paid sick/wellness days, employee assistance program, and paid time off from December 25 – January 1.

Application

Please send your CV and cover letter in one PDF by email, with “Immigration Lawyer Application” in the subject line, to Kara.Gillies@pcls.clcj.ca.

Please apply by 5:00 PM on Friday, January 19, 2024. We regret that only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

As an employer, PCLS is dedicated to building an organization that reflects the diversity of our clients and the communities we serve. This includes diversity in languages spoken, culture, race, exual orientation and gender identity. We encourage applications from individuals from diverse, marginalized and racialized communities and backgrounds. PCLS promotes the principles of antioppression and adheres to the tenets of Ontario’s Human Rights Code. Please advise if you have any accommodation needs regarding the submission of your application or at any stage of the hiring process.