Paralegal, Family Law Centre - Kamloops B023-26

Legal Aid BC•Kamloops, BC

1d•CA$67,053 - CA$76,597•Hybrid

About The Position

Legal Aid BC is seeking a regular full-time Paralegal for their Family Law Centre in Kamloops. This role involves interviewing clients, drafting legal documents, pleadings, and correspondence. The paralegal will provide advocacy, summary legal advice, and brief legal services, including legal information and referrals, under the supervision of a lawyer. Responsibilities also include providing front-line services for in-person, online, and telephone legal aid programs, including intake services, and delivering public legal education to community groups and LABC staff. Legal Aid BC is committed to embedding Truth and Reconciliation, and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in all aspects of its work and encourages applications from equity-seeking groups.

Requirements

Grade 12 education supplemented by post-secondary education in Law, Criminology, Library Science, and/or Social Work, or Paralegal/Legal Assistant Certificate from a recognized educational institute
Minimum 5 years relevant experience in a legal environment and/or as outlined in rated requirements
Ability to communicate effectively in English
OR an equivalent combination of education and experience
General knowledge of family and child protection law, family law mediation, dispute resolution options available to family law clients, legal proceedings, and collaborative processes.
Knowledge of Provincial Court family forms and Supreme Court family forms.
Experience screening for family violence, doing risk assessments and safety planning.
Ability to practice cultural sensitivity using extensive knowledge of Truth & Reconciliation and Equity, Diversity & Inclusion.
Ability to practice active listening, non-violent communication, non-violent crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques to achieve communication and information sharing with clients facing barriers to service through a lens of Truth and Reconciliation and Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI).
Knowledge of how to apply trauma informed, anti-oppressive, and culturally sensitive approach to engage with clients by obtaining client information to complete client documents.
Knowledge of local community’s cultural diversity and resources
An understanding of issues affecting Indigenous communities, knowledge of Indigenous cultures as well as Indigenous community groups and agencies.
An awareness of government laws and policies impacting Indigenous peoples and of the structure and history of Indigenous communities within BC.
Knowledge of administrative principles, practices, techniques, policies, and legislative development relevant to Indigenous programs, services and activities.
Knowledge of collaborative processes including the Ministry of Children and Family Development and Delegated Aboriginal Agency’s collaborative planning and decision-making policies.
Knowledge of LABC policies and procedures.
Ability to analyze/assess legal problems and provide legal information/advice.
Ability to conduct legal research, and advocate for clients.
Ability to prepare basic legal correspondence and court documents.
Ability to recognize and diffuse stressful situations and deal with clients in a sensitive manner.
Ability to make and maintain effective contacts with agencies, organizations, and other community groups.
Ability to be discreet and manage confidential information.
Ability to work well with others in a team setting.
Must have excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Ability to type 40 words per minute (wpm).
Intermediate knowledge of English grammar and spelling.
Must be familiar with general software applications (MS Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams)
Must have a strong desire to assist disadvantaged clients, including those experiencing family violence or addition issues, those with low income, those with mental disabilities, equity seeking groups, or those whose first language is not English.
Employment is conditional upon completing and obtaining clearance from the following: Criminal Record Check (CRC) in accordance with the Criminal Records Review Act, Security clearance check by BC Corrections including a Canadian Police Information Computer (CPIC) system check.

Nice To Haves

Microsoft 365 (Office Suite) – Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Access
Spelling
Typing
Written Assessment

Responsibilities

Review, assess and determine legal merit of referred cases, when applicable.
Respond to calls with brief legal services, including information and referral, legal information, and other services in accordance with procedures and policies.
Establish file, conduct legal research.
Under supervision of lawyer, prepare documents, including correspondence, documents, submissions, questions, and other materials required for general hearing preparation, and drafting and delivering correspondence as required.
Prepare witnesses for hearings and trials.
Provide advocacy to clients on legal issues that affect people experiencing poverty and/or low incomes and/or prepare and provide self-advocacy materials or resources.
Liaise and assess needs of community groups.
Participate in legal education workshops as directed by the Legal Aid BC management, staff lawyer, or managing lawyer.
Participate in community development projects such as conferences or forums on legal issues that affect people experiencing poverty and/or low incomes, as required.
Interview applicants, assess needs/urgency; determine coverage and eligibility for legal aid from a trauma-informed, anti-oppressive, and culturally sensitive approach.
Provide general legal information, summary legal advice to clients under supervision of a lawyer or refer to other agencies.
Provide supervision/direction to other interviewers.
Assist in the organization and presentation of training sessions to staff on legal issues that affect clients and people experiencing poverty and/or low incomes, as required.
Provide supervision and/or direction to support staff, including legal administrative staff.
Travel may be required throughout BC.

Benefits

Four weeks paid vacation to start that grows the longer you are with LABC
An excellent employee benefits package, where premiums are 100% paid by LABC
A generous defined benefit pension plan
Support for training and development
An Employee and Family Assistance program
The opportunity to participate in various Employee programs (Employee Wellness, etc.)
Support for a healthy work/life balance
Generous leave provisions (sick time, special leaves)
13 paid statutory holidays
An opportunity for a flexible hybrid work arrangement for some positions (LABC reserves the right to change this policy at any time)
Transit friendly employer for eligible staff to have their commute subsidized
Dog-friendly offices
Dedicated Cultural Leave provisions for Indigenous employees
An Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Council, and Indigenous employees Council and Accessibility Committee of employees from equity-seeking groups that advises on ongoing improvements and investments in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at our workplace