Lawyer 1-3 - Legal Services (Term)

Competition # : 49302

Department: Justice

Location: HALIFAX

Type of Employment: Term

Union Status: NSGLA

Closing Date: 20-Jul-26 (Applications are accepted until 11:59 PM Atlantic Time)

About Us

The Legal Services Division of the Nova Scotia Department of Justice is responsible for the provision of all legal services to the Province of Nova Scotia, excluding prosecutions. The lawyers in the Legal Services Division are involved in every aspect of provincial government operations and provide legal advice and services on a broad range of matters to the various departments, offices, agencies, boards and commissions.

The Legal Services Division consists of Solicitor Services, Litigation Services and the Registry of Regulations.

For more information on the Department of Justice Legal Services please visit our website.

About Our Opportunity

This is an opportunity to join the government’s law firm – the Legal Services Division of the Department of Justice. Legal Services lawyers advise and represent the provincial government on the most pressing legal and public policy issues of the day.

We are the legal counsel for the Government of Nova Scotia, Crown corporations, agencies, boards, and commissions. We help ensure that public affairs are administered effectively, efficiently and in accordance with the law.

This opportunity is for a term position on our Solicitor Services team, which comprises over 40 lawyers. Specially, this position is part of the Resources, Regulatory Enforcement and Real Property Team. This team advises the Departments of Agriculture, Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Natural Resources, Public Works and Housing and various Crown corporations and agencies.

Primary Accountabilities

• Advising Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Executive Directors, and other senior government leaders on matters of law, negotiation, strategy, and public policy
• Drafting and interpreting statutes and regulations
• Drafting and interpreting contracts
• Assisting with submissions to Cabinet
• Presenting information about government and law to the public generally or as part of a consultation process for public policy development
• Serving on project teams with senior and policy staff of client departments
  

Qualifications and Experience

As our successful candidate, you will:

• Be a practicing member of the Nova Scotia Barristers Society (or eligible for practicing membership), in good standing; and
• Have a minimum of 3 years of legal experience.
  

The following would be assets:

• Experience advising government departments, Crown corporations, agencies, boards, and commissions and other public sector entities;
• Experience in agriculture and food law;
• Experience with commercial transactions;
• Experience in real property (successfully completed the Land Registration Act Qualification Assessment); and
• Experience in construction law.
  
  

Our successful candidate will have excellent research, analytical, and organizational skills. You communicate effectively and persuasively, orally and in writing, and have the ability to function with minimal supervision in a team environment. Our ideal candidate will demonstrate the ability to offer creative and innovative solutions to complex challenges and have the flexibility to adapt and thrive in a continuously changing and demanding environment.

We will assess the above qualifications using one or more of the following tools: oral presentations, interview(s), and reference checks.

Equivalency

Applicants relying on education and experience equivalencies must demonstrate such equivalencies in their application.

Benefits

Based on the employment status and union agreement, the Government of Nova Scotia offers its employees a wide range of benefits such as a Defined Benefit Pension Plan, Health, Dental, Life Insurance, General illness, Short and Long Term Disability, Vacation and Employee and Family Assistance Programs. For information on all our Benefit program offerings, click here: Benefits for government employees.

Working Conditions

Physical effort includes:
• Sitting at a computer for long periods of time

Sensory attention includes:
• Ability to review voluminous written material, to write, to think conceptually and to think strategically
• Ability to lead and participate in meetings with senior and intermediate government staff and external partners, in-person and virtually.
• Long Periods of mental focus and a very good memory.
• Ability to handle adversarial people in ways that de-escalate and build insights with others

Mental pressure includes:
• Ability to handle pressure situations, multiple deadlines and many competing demands.
• Must handle hostile situations in a way that allows one to glean the relevant information but not engage it personally and not react to it negatively.
• May be required to work overtime on occasion.

Additional Information

This is a TERM full-time employment opportunity based in Halifax, NS, with an anticipated end date of August 31, 2027.

What We Offer

• Career development where you have access to career guidance, tools, resources, and ongoing training for every stage of your career
• Engaging workplace: our employees feel valued, respected, connected, and tuned in, we have forward-thinking policies and strategies
• Mentoring and collaborative team environment.
• Ability to participate in Earned Days Off (1 day off every 3 weeks).
• Countless career paths
  

Pay Grade: LAW I - LAW III

Salary Range: $3,639.93 - $7,385.75 Bi-Weekly

Employment Equity Statement: Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative, at all job levels, of the citizens we serve. The Government of Nova Scotia has an Employment Equity Policy, and we welcome applications from Indigenous People, African Nova Scotians and Other Racially Visible Persons, Persons with Disabilities and Women in occupations or positions where they are under-represented. If you are a member of one of these equity groups, you are encouraged to self-identify on your electronic application.

Accommodation Statement: We are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. Candidates may request accommodations based on any grounds protected by the Human Rights Act. If you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process, please contact us at competitions@novascotia.ca.

This is an Association position initially restricted to current Nova Scotia Government Lawyers Association employees. In accordance with the Agreement with the Nova Scotia Government Lawyers Association, the order of consideration will be eligible ‘Expression of Interest’ EOI applicants, eligible internal applicants then external applicants. PLEASE NOTE: Candidates will not be considered for an interview if applications are incomplete or are missing information.

Current government employees may access this posting through the link below:

If you are receiving a pension from the Nova Scotia Public Service Superannuation Plan (PSSP) or any related plans, you cannot receive pension payments while contributing to the same plan. If you accept a position that requires PSSP contributions, your pension payments must be stopped. Please contact the Nova Scotia Pension Services Corporation for more information.

Offer of employment is conditional upon the completion of all applicable background checks and confirmation of credentials, the results of which must be satisfactory to the employer. We thank all applicants for the interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. All questions and concerns may be directed to Competitions@novascotia.ca.