Administrative Assistant; Secretary ; Temporary

Competition # : 49444

Department: Justice

Location: HALIFAX

Type of Employment: Temporary

Union Status: NSGEU - NSPG

Closing Date: ​06-Aug-26 ​ (Applications are accepted until 11:59 PM Atlantic Time)

About Us

The Court Services Division of the Nova Scotia Department of Justice is dedicated to excellent service and the provision of fair and accessible administration of justice.

The Division provides administrative support to the courts listed:
Nova Scotia Court of Appeal, Supreme Court of Nova Scotia (including Family Division), Provincial Court, Family Court, Small Claims Court, Probate Court and Bankruptcy Court. The courts act independently from the government to address individual cases.

For more information on the Department of Justice Court Services please visit our website:

About Our Opportunity

The duties include responding to inquiries from clients, stakeholders, the legal community and outside agencies and vendors; preparing correspondence, reports and special projects; preparing agendas and taking minutes of meetings; transcribing, processing invoices, maintaining a filing and record retention system. Under general supervision, provides secretarial and administrative support to the Courts Management Team at the ______________.

Primary Accountabilities

• Review and proofread documents and presentations, answer telephone inquiries, maintain a filing system and bring forward systems, materials, notices, agendas and statistics for meetings, including the preparation and distribution of minutes; maintain appointment calendars, open mail and prepare routine replies, maintain manuals and prepare statistical or factual information
• Liaise and interact on behalf of the Court Administrator or Supervisor(s) with members of the Department and the judiciary
• Perform records and file management in accordance with departmental policy, procedure and practice; order stationary supplies and equipment and maintain the stock room for support staff and judges
• Ensure all purchases upon direction from the Court Administrator are ordered, accounted for and posted to the budget, to ensure that the budget is current and respond to the status of these aspects of the budget
• Maintain personnel files for staff who report to the Court Administrator or the Supervisor(s)

Qualifications and Experience

As the successful candidate you will have completed a one year secretarial/commercial course and have three years of experience in a legal setting, or an acceptable equivalent.

Your excellent typing, transcribing skills, organizational, administrative, and interpersonal skills are required. As well, you must be proficient in Microsoft Suite programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook). Familiarity with financial transactions and invoicing, accounts payable and working with vendors required. You will demonstrate an ability to be a self-starter and work under minimum supervision. Demonstrated experience working in a high demand, high stress environment would be an asset.

The successful candidate must exercise a high degree of independent action. Knowledge of the Justice System is preferred. Effective communications and the ability to interact with staff, the legal profession, senior government officials, judiciary, vendors and the general public is required.

Equivalency

Equivalencies include, but are not limited to:

• Four years or more of related work experience in a legal setting

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

Working Conditions

• Normal work week is 35 hours/week, 7 hours/day
• May be required to work overtime on occasion
• This position is based out of two locations and will require a regular presence at both Halifax and Dartmouth Provincial Court. Travel between the two locations may vary depending on operational needs

Additional Information

This is a TEMPORARY employment opportunity with an anticipated end date of January 1, 2027. The appointment status (‘term’, ‘temporary’ or ‘casual’) is dependent on the start date of the successful candidate.

As part of the competition process, candidates may be required to complete some Grammar, Excel/PowerPoint or related…