Hotline Civil Procedure Lead

About Pro Bono Ontario

Pro Bono Ontario (PBO) delivers free legal services to low-income Ontarians who do not qualify for legal aid. Staff and volunteers on PBO’s province-wide Free Legal Advice Hotline provide summary advice and help with documents to people with a variety of civil, non-family legal problems. The Hotline answers over 30,000 calls each year (of which civil procedure questions represent 40% of total call volume) and makes a significant difference in the lives of people who would not otherwise have access to legal assistance.

About the Position

PBO is seeking a staff lead for the Hotline’s Civil Procedure Line.

This role offers the right candidate the opportunity to use their legal training to assist vulnerable Ontarians with issues that can severely impact their well-being, while working in a friendly environment that prioritizes work-life balance.

Duties and Responsibilities

The lawyer will be responsible for directly providing services by:

Answering Hotline calls and providing summary legal advice to callers with civil procedure questions (especially relating to Small Claims and Superior Court) by phone in accordance with a schedule to be determined.
Facilitating the provision of high-quality legal services by providing real-time support to volunteers through PBO’s volunteer Slack channel, particularly on questions of ethics, professional responsibility, client management, and civil litigation.
Identifying clients who require enhanced short term pro bono services and providing those services.
Identifying clients with meritorious claims who would benefit from full or unbundled representation by pro bono lawyers and facilitating those referrals.
Staying current in developments in the Rules of Civil Procedure, Small Claims Court Rules, and the Rules of Professional Conduct and updating other staff members on relevant changes.

Requirements:

We are seeking a positive and energetic candidate, who is both a team player and someone who can prioritize and manage diverse responsibilities well. Because this role involves providing live support to our volunteers, the successful candidate must be service-oriented and adept at shifting gears quickly to provide guidance and input when needed.

Other required qualifications include:

L1 license and in good standing to practice law in Ontario.
Minimum 3 years of civil litigation practice experience. Small Claims Court experience is an asset.
Keen interest in and understanding of the Rules of Civil Procedure, the Small Claims Court Rules, and the Rules of Professional Conduct, as well as a commitment to building expertise in this area.
Deep and demonstrated commitment to increasing access to justice in Ontario.
Excellent oral, written and organizational skills
Proficiency with the MS Office suite and comfort learning new technologies
Prior experience with Salesforce or another CRM is a significant asset
Prior customer service experience.
Must have sensitivity, patience and prior experience working with our client population, either having previously worked at a public interest organization or having worked on pro bono matters.

Additional Information

Salary range for full-time – $80,000 – $95,000 depending on qualifications.
Pro Bono Ontario offers an RRSP program, benefits, competitive vacation, and a largely remote working environment.
Pro Bono Ontario is an equal opportunity employer that welcomes candidates from Ontario’s diverse communities. We are committed to providing accommodations for people with disabilities. Please let us know if you require accommodation during any aspect of the recruitment process and we will collaborate with you to address your needs.

Closing Date

We will be conducting rolling interviews as applications are received. This means that we will review and interview candidates on an ongoing basis until the position is filled. We encourage you to apply early for the best chance of consideration.

Apply on the Pro Bono Ontario website: https://www.probonoontario.org/2024/07/03/hotline-civil-procedure-lead/