Duty Counsel, Criminal

Company Bio 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.

Primary function

This Duty Counsel will be required to provide criminal duty counsel services in Kitchener.

Criminal Duty Counsel is responsible for providing client service for criminal law matters in the courthouse, 5 days a week 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; and other duties as assigned.
Home Position: Kitchener Duty Counsel Office
Secondary/Tertiary location(s): Not applicable
Reports to: Manager of Legal Services Key accountabilities

• Act as a Criminal Duty Counsel
• Representing clients 5 days/week in person
• Ensure high quality of legal work in a cost effective manner
• Assess client financial eligibility using LAO criteria in order to effectively capture data
• File management as per LAO requirements including use of computer technology; data input for statistics measurements in a timely manner
• Assisting unrepresented clients who have been charged with criminal matters
• Representing clients at bail hearings, guilty pleas, remands and judicial pre-trials in-person
• Assessing clients’ needs, including the early identification of vulnerable clients, to facilitate referrals to appropriate services.
• Provide criminal law services as defense counsel at the Waterloo Region Courthouse in Kitchener, Ontario
• Providing assistance and representation at federal, provincial, and youth, remand, bail and plea courts, including specialty courts (Drug Treatment Court / Mental Health Court / Intimate Partner Violence Court)
• Providing summary legal advice (SLA)
• Interviewing clients, sureties, and witnesses
• Disclosure review
• Preparing and arguing bail hearings
• Other duties as assigned

• Member in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario
• 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 bail hearings, guilty pleas, remands, judicial pre-trials 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
• Proven experience in providing excellent client service to vulnerable…