Community Lawyer, Immigration and Migrant Rights Focus, Clinical Instructor Position

Parkdale Community Legal Services

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, supervised by PCLS staff. We serve low-income clients in a culturally diverse community on the west side of the city, particularly in the areas of housing, immigration and migrant rights, workers’ rights, and social assistance, violence and health issues, in conjunction with community development work to address systemic issues of poverty and social exclusion.

PCLS seeks a skilled and experienced immigration lawyer to provide summary advice and representation in a wide range of immigration and refugee law matters. We welcome applicants with at least seven years of experience in the above areas of law. Working in a team to supervise students and advance social justice, the lawyer will also be actively involved in community outreach, public legal education and law reform initiatives. The position is a full-time permanent position.

The anticipated start date is late January to mid-February 2023.

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.
At least seven years of legal experience in the areas of immigration and refugee law (called to the bar in 2015 or earlier)
Substantial experience representing community members before the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) of Canada in particular the Immigration Division (ID), Immigration Appeal Division (IAD), as well as the Federal Court (FC) and Federal Court of Appeal (FCA)
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 quick-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 with working with a diverse range of clients from low income and marginalized groups, in particular clients with mental health challenges.
Appreciation of the nature and role of community organizing and systemic community work.
Ability to diffuse tense situations and to assist people in crisis in a calming and helpful manner.

Assets

Familiarity with issues facing immigrant communities in Parkdale
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

Salary range: annual salary of $86,000 – $115,000 plus defined pension and health benefits package, twenty vacation days, eighteen paid sick/wellness days, and paid time off from December 26 – January 1.

Salary will be determined based on year of call, qualifications, and experience.

Application

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

Please apply by 5:00 PM on Tuesday January 3, 2023. 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, sexual orientation and gender identity. We encourage applications from individuals from diverse, marginalized and racialized communities and backgrounds. PCLS promotes the principles of anti-oppression 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.