Senior Counsel, Criminal (24 months)

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Union: The Society Job Number: J0226-0912 Job Title: Senior Counsel, Criminal (24 months) Job Type: Contract Contract Duration (months): 24 City, Province, Country: Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada Job Location: Thunder Bay and Northwest Ontario Job Category: Legal Job Level: SL Open Positions: 1 Posting Date: March 17, 2026 Closing Date: March 30, 2026 Salary: $90,186.96 - $154,117.41 /Year

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.

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.

Primary function

The Senior Counsel Program has provincial scope and complements LAO’s existing mixed model of private bar and duty counsel services by providing eligible clients with another option for high quality full representation.

The successful candidate will be responsible for assisting vulnerable clients on a wide range of criminal matters, up to and including full trial representation. Senior Counsel also accept court appointments, and facilitate mentorship opportunities for staff lawyers and private counsel to further enhance access to justice.

Home location: Thunder Bay
Secondary/Tertiary Locations: Fort Frances, Kenora, Dryden, Ignace, Sioux Lookout, Lac Seul, Red Lake, Marathon, Nipigon, Manitouwadge, Gerladton, Longlac, Schreiber, Nishnawbe-Aski Nation (including Treaty#3, Western part of Treaty #9 west of Constance Lake, Armstrong, Whitesand)

Reports to: Manager, Legal Services/Acting Director – Senior Counsel Program

Key accountabilities

• Work in conjunction with existing LAO staff lawyers, paralegals and Legal Aid Workers (LAWs) including in respect of responding to client referrals.
• Carriage of criminal matters through to trial where client is eligible for, and wishes, the services of LAO Senior Counsel for extremely vulnerable and hard-to-serve clients, for example, those with mental health issues, who are homeless, street-involved, suffering with substance abuse, dealing with current or past intimate partner/domestic abuse, Indigenous, Racialized, and youth.
• Conduct special and complex lengthy bail hearings, bail reviews, fitness hearings, NCR hearings, and ORB hearings.
• Accept court appointments (primarily Amicus, 672.24, possibly 486.3 and O’Connor/Mills) and advance test case or public interest litigation, where appropriate.
• Conduct client meetings and provide timely, clear and concise professional advice to clients.
• Perform legal research to ensure the best outcome for the client.
• Draft relevant legal documents in a timely and efficient matter.
• Maintain currency of legal knowledge in criminal law, specifically revelant to the social justice sector.
• Fulfill case management responsibilities to deliver the efficient defence of criminal matters.
• Perform all administrative duties relating to file management to ensure efficient and timely management of client files and to support the Department’s business needs.
• Maintain currency and compliance with LAO training, policies and procedures, including timely submission of dockets and disbursements and any expenses incurred.
• Serve as mentors to duty counsel, providing coaching and support where needed, partnering with duty counsel who could work as 2nd chair where permitted by management and appropriate, or coaching, and where suitable, continuing professional development.
• Provide mentoring and guidance to non-lawyer staff, particularly with respect to making appropriate referrals to the certificate program.
• Partner on select matters with private counsel to support the certificate roster.
• As needed, work in multi-disciplinary teams on projects, working groups and committees to recommend program enhancements and to design, improve and implement ideas arising from those committees.

Required skills & experience

• Member in good standing of the Law Society of Ontario.
• Ability to work with others in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to work independently
• Collegial and team-oriented attitude with the ability to work in multi-disciplinary teams as required
• Sound judgment and problem solving skills.
• Applicants must meet LAO’s Criminal Law Standards or Equivalencies, including demonstrated expertise and substantial recent involvement in criminal law as outlined at: Applicants who are LAO Roster members must have a demonstrable record of service quality, including a history of a positive working relationship with LAO and be in good standing with legal accounts.
• Ability to develop an appropriate theory of a criminal case and to conduct pretrial motions and voir dires, examination and cross-examination of witnesses, the tendering and challenging of evidence, jury selection, opening and closing addresses, contested sentencing, and reopening.
• Experience representing clients in all stages of criminal proceedings before the Ontario Court of Justice and Superior Court of Justice including a sufficient amount of contested trials.
• Experience serving low income Ontarians, Indigenous and racialized clients, and clients with mental health issues.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Canadian criminal law and procedure (e.g. Criminal Code of Canada, Youth Criminal Justice Act, Controlled Drugs and Substances Act), the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and other relevant legislation.
• Excellent oral and written communication and advocacy skills including the ability to effectively communicate with a diverse clientele.
• Proven ability to analyze and express legal issues and provide advice.
• Understanding of the nature and scope of the work and the roles and responsibilities of LAO’s mandate and services.
• Demonstrated interest in developing organizational capacity to deliver LAO senior litigation services.
• A willingness to travel within the Northwest region to the court locations noted above. Reasonable and necessary travel expenses will be compensated..

Preferred Skills & Experiences:

• Ability to use the latest communication technologies including smartphones and video conferencing platforms in order to deliver services virtually. (Zoom/Teams)
• Proficiency in using computer-based file management and data entry systems such as PeopleSoft/Service Integration, Legal Files, as well as Microsoft Office
• Eligibility for Extremely Serious Matters (ESM) and Complex Case Rate (CCR)
• Proficiency in French is considered an asset
• Ability to provide legal services in a language other than French or English will be considered an asset

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