Staff Laywer, Family & Duty Counsel, Family & Criminal

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Union: The Society Job Number: J0526-0816 Job Title: Staff Laywer, Family & Duty Counsel, Family & Criminal Job Type: Contract Contract Duration (months): 24 City, Province, Country: Manitoulin, Ontario, Canada Job Location: Manitoulin Job Category: Legal Job Level: SL Open Positions: 1 Posting Date: June 8, 2026 Closing Date: June 19, 2026 Salary: $95,678.79 - $163,502.20 /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

To act as Family Staff Lawyer serving Manitoulin Island.
Family staff lawyers provide services on an Enhanced basis or under acknowledged Certificates and are responsible for drafting court documents for domestic and some child protection matters. The staff lawyer will be responsible for:
• The intake and assessment of family law clients to determine the appropriate service for the clients,
• Providing procedural and summary legal advice;
• Drafting, reviewing and commissioning of family court documents and pleadings such as Applications, Answers, Motions, Affidavits and Financial Statements;
• Establishing and providing summary advice through the Family Law Information Clinic (FLIC)

Secondary Function
To act as duty counsel and oversee the delivery of family law and criminal law duty counsel services on Manitoulin Island, which includes travel throughout the Island. This role may require travel throughout the district on occasion, including Espanola and Sudbury. As such, applicants with readily available transportation or an ability to rent a vehicle are preferred.

Family Duty Counsel is responsible for providing client service for family law matters in the courthouse, both virtually and in person. Family Duty Counsel will be responsible for the intake and assessment of family law clients to determine the appropriate service for the clients, including but not limited to providing procedural and summary legal advice; drafting, reviewing and commissioning of family court documents and pleadings such as Applications, Answers, Motions, Affidavits and Financial Statements; in court representation at various stages of a family court and/or child protection proceeding; supervision of per diem duty counsels and other duties as assigned.

Criminal Duty Counsel is responsible for providing client service for criminal law matters in the courthouse, both virtually and in person. Criminal Duty Counsel will be responsible for the intake and assessment of criminal law clients to determine the appropriate service for those charged with criminal offences, including but not limited to providing procedural and summary legal advice; drafting and reviewing criminal court documents; in court representation at various stages of criminal court proceedings; supervision of per diem duty counsels and other duties as assigned.

Home location: Manitoulin Island
Secondary and Tertiary locations: Espanola and Sudbury
Reporting: Manager, Legal Services

Key accountabilities

• Assessment of clients’ needs, including the early identification of vulnerable clients, to facilitate referrals to appropriate services.
• Provide summary legal advice to clients on family law and child protection matters and procedures, both virtually and in person, and act as the Advice Lawyer in Family Law Information Clinics (FLICs) established and offered throughout Manitoulin Island
• Review court documents and assist in drafting pleadings and other documents.
• Oversee the administration and application of financial eligibility tests in accordance with LAO policy
• Assist the Manager of Legal Services in the administration of the local LAO office(s), including assisting with the coordination of family law services and ensuring adequate resources are allocated to various courts and clinics.
• Maintain conflict lists, record data and produce reports as required.
• Travel may be required within the District to assist in clinics and satellite courts, including in Espanola and Sudbury
• Ensure high quality of legal work in a cost effective manner
• Perform other duties and administrative tasks as assigned and remain adaptable and flexible in a changing environment.

As a Family and Criminal Duty Counsel the responsibilities include:
• Representing clients both in-person and remotely
• Ensure high quality of legal work in a cost effective manner
• File management as per LAO requirements including use of computer technology; data input for statistics measurements in a timely manner

Family Duty Counsel
• Advocate for clients in court and on court forms
• Provide family law duty counsel services, including providing instructions to Legal Aid Workers (and students), preparation of court documents for eligible clients, make appropriate referrals when required, including to mediation services
• Providing representation in the Ontario Court of Justice (OCJ), Superior Court of Justice (SCJ) at first appearances, conferences, motions, negotiations, Family Responsibility Office (FRO) matters, Children’s Aid Societies matters and other court hearings and services as required
• Assist unrepresented eligible clients with LAO family settlement conferences as required
• Assist unrepresented clients with Child Youth and Family Services Act (CYFSA) matters (with document preparation and in court appearances)
• Ability to provide advice lawyer services at the Family Law Information Centre (FLIC)
• Demonstrated ability to provide sensitive and compassionate client service to those who may be victims of domestic violence
• Provide advice lawyer services on the Summary Legal Advice (SLA) telephone service for family
• Maintain client files and conflict lists
• Other duties as assigned

Criminal Duty Counsel
•Assisting unrepresented clients who have been charged with criminal
•Representing clients at bail hearings, guilty pleas and remands both in-person and remotely
•Assessing clients’ needs, including the early identification of vulnerable clients, to facilitate referrals to appropriate services.
•Provide criminal law services as defense counsel in the Ontario Court of Justice
•Providing assistance and representation at federal, provincial, and youth, remand, bail and plea courts, including specialty courts (Indigenous Peoples’ Court / Gladue Court, Drug Treatment Court, Mental Health Court)
•Providing summary legal advice (SLA)
•Interviewing clients, sureties, and witnesses
•Disclosure review and Crown pre-trials meetings
•Assisting with various motions and hearings (may include trials), including judicial pre-trials
•Preparing and arguing bail hearings
•Other duties as assigned

Required skills & experience

•Lawyer/Member in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario
•Demonstrated family law experience and knowledge of relevant family law legislation, including the Child, Youth and Family Services Act and the Family Responsibility Office and Support Arrears Enforcement Act (FRO) with the ability to research and retrieve information as required
•Experience practicing law as a family duty counsel or lawyer including providing advice, Summary Legal Advice Family (SLAF), mediation, settlement conferences, trials etc.
•Client-focused with personal motivation and accountability
•Proven experience in providing excellent client service to vulnerable populations such as racialized communities, First Nations, youth and those experiencing mental health or addiction challenges or victims of domestic violence and/or homelessness
•Ability to communicate with accuracy and fluency when speaking with clients and providing advice, as well as when representing clients in court.
•Ability to work independently and unsupervised in a busy environment
•Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues and stakeholders
•Sound knowledge and understanding of Legal Aid Ontario’s operations and mandate
•Demonstrated ability to use latest communication technologies including tablets and smartphones and ability to utilize video conferencing platforms in order to deliver services virtually (Zoom/Teams)
•Demonstrated knowledge of Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint, Divorcemate and Legal Files
•Ability and willingness to travel/access to transportation

Family
•Demonstrated Knowledge and experience of relevant family law legislation and in particular child protection law and in court experience in both family and child protection matters.
•Experience being lead on family files.
•Ability to work independently in a busy environment
•Ability to draft legal documents without need for review

Criminal
•Demonstrated experience in representing clients with complex legal issues including conducing bails hearings, and guilty pleas
•Sound knowledge of the Criminal Code of Canada, Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, criminal law procedures, rules of evidence and case law
•Demonstrated experience in providing criminal law services including experience with complex legal issues and bails hearings, guilty pleas, remands and youth court.
•Sound knowledge of the Criminal Code of Canada, Youth Criminal Justice Act, Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, criminal law procedures, rules of evidence and case law
•Practical understanding of the Rules of Professional Conduct
•Proven interpersonal, communication, presentation and negotiation skills coupled with strong advocacy skills
•Proven judgment and analytical ability to determine appropriate legal remedies and demonstrated research skills
•Knowledge and appreciation of impact of court proceedings on immigration, criminal, family and other poverty law issues; and the integrated nature of legal issues faced by LAO clients