Legal Director Position

Centre for Spanish Speaking Peoples (CSSP)

The Centre for Spanish Speaking Peoples (CSSP) is a nonprofit organization in Ontario serving the Latinx/Hispanic community for almost 50 years. Our vision is to create a united, engaged, and prosperous community through engagement and purposeful programs. With a new Executive Director at the helm, and an engaged board, we are poised for growth and transformation.

Required Qualifications:

Membership in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario
Knowledge of clinic/administrative law
Valid driver’s license and ability to travel to satellite clinic locations
Demonstrated commitment to social justice and community development

Responsibilities:

The Staff Lawyer will provide summary advice, referrals, and brief services and must have the ability to handle retained case files and represent clients in the courts and at administrative tribunals. The Staff Lawyer should have the ability to work in a fast-paced environment that requires multi-tasking, working independently but also as a team, and problem solving while managing strict deadlines. The Staff Lawyer must also have excellent communication and listening skills and demonstrate patience and understanding when assisting clients.

The salary range is $80,000 to $92,000 per year, depending on experience, and includes generous vacation entitlement (first year, 20 days), paid sick days, and after three months, group health and dental benefits and RRSP contributions.

Legal Clinic Leadership

Overall leadership and operational management of a high-volume legal clinic including consulting with the Executive Director, funders and community members; creative delivery of high-quality legal services; management of staff and caseload.
Support the development and implementation of organization policies and ensure that any specific to the clinic are in place.
Ensure smooth operations by adopting best practices and cohesive use of resources.
Implement effective and efficient internal systems and procedures with documentation.
Ensure all activities conducted comply with governing regulations, internal policies, and procedures.
Respond to the trends in the field of social justice and changes in federal and provincial government policies and legislation.
Initiate continuous quality improvements with recommendations.

People Leadership/Human Resources Management

Build and maintain a high-performance team able to deliver on strategic and operational plans
Create and foster a positive, healthy, safe work environment in accordance with all appropriate legislation and regulations.
Promote employee and volunteer engagement across the organization.
Oversee human resources development activities and provide proactive guidance to the senior management team on issues such as forward planning, career development, and performance management.
Encouraging positive union relations.

Financial & Risk Management

Support Executive Director in monitoring all finances, budgets, financial controls, including the annual financial audit.
Financial reporting for the Board and funders.
Identify and pursue funding opportunities, community outreach and development work.
Oversee the development and submission of funding proposals.
Maintain knowledge of corporate requirements and relevant legislation, advising the Executive Director and Board about major risks.

Who You Are

University degree in law (LLB or JD) and membership in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario.
3-5 years of progressive management and leadership experience ideally in the not-for-profit sector, including financial oversight, planning, and reporting, and human resources management.
Community legal clinic or equivalent experience serving low-income clients and vulnerable populations a strong asset.
Enthusiastic contributor with strong management and leadership experience in directing a team of professional and administrative staff in a unionized environment.
Knowledge base of housing law, employment law, immigration law, income assistance, social benefits, health and disability.
Comfortable working with a digital landscape of file management.
Driven and results oriented with a proven track-record of leading change in previous roles.
Strong strategic, analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills with demonstrated experience creating and implementing growth plans.
Excellent and effective communication skills with demonstrated respect for differences of opinion.
Familiar with completing funding applications and reports, including forming community partnerships and outreach with marginalized communities.
Bilingual, with an ability to express ideas and opinions clearly and effectively in both English and Spanish
Ability to understand community issues quickly, thinking strategically and proposing legal solutions that exercise good judgment.
Ability to ensure all activities conducted comply with governing regulations, internal policies, and procedures with a demonstrated commitment to racial equity and social justice.
Experience managing multiple case files and representing clients with a high degree of professionalism, initiative, and collaboration.
Experience working with or on Boards of community-based non-profits.

What You Get

A unique opportunity to create a lasting impact
Inclusive and diverse culture
Hybrid work arrangements
Opportunity to grow and develop
A Competitive NFP compensation package ranging between $113,000 to $130,000 CAD per year; commensurate with experience, plus group benefits.

As an employer, CSSP 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, dis/ability, sexual orientation, and gender identity. We encourage applications from individuals from diverse, marginalized, and racialized communities and backgrounds. CSSP is committed to an inclusive, barrier-free selection process and accommodations are available at every stage of the process, including the submission of an application. If you require accommodations to assist in the submission of your application, please contact careers@spanishservices.org

To apply for this position please click the link below. We thank all applicants, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

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