LEGAL AID BC

POSTING

 

TO:                                LABC STAFF (cc: BCGEU)

 

FROM:                           HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT

 

POSITION:                     ADMINISTRATIVE LEGAL ASSISTANT, TRUTH & RECONCILIATION AND EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION (T&R AND EDI)

 

                                       ONE REGULAR FULL-TIME POSITION – VANCOUVER

 

COMPETITION NO:        B030-24

 

DATE POSTED:             June 28, 2024

 

CLOSING DATE:            July 12, 2024

 

STARTING DATE:           ASAP

 

SALARY:                        Job Class 7 ($50,769 to $57,882)

 

HOURS OF WORK:        35 hours per week, Monday to Friday

This position has the option to participate in a modified work week schedule (37.5 hours/week) Monday to Friday, with the extra hours worked as one earned day off taken once every three-week scheduled cycle.

 

PRIMARY FUNCTION:   

 

Provide administrative legal assistance and support to management and the departments.

 

The following job duties are illustrative examples and shall not be construed as an exhaustive description of all the work requirements that may be inherent in the job.

 

VALUES STATEMENT: 

 

Our commitment to the principles of fundamental justice embedded in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and to Truth and Reconciliation, and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion is ambitious and foundational.  It informs everything we do, as we defend liberty, equality, autonomy, and dignity; as we dismantle colonization, racism, sexism, transphobia and homophobia, and all discrimination.  These are our values, and they inform our hiring practices too.  Our business is aiding people in severe legal distress and necessitates internal and external alignment of practicing these values.  Integrating Truth and Reconciliation and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion throughout every aspect of Legal Aid BC is critical to building that culture, and we prioritize ongoing resources to achieve that goal. 

 

DUTIES:

 

1. PROVIDES LEGAL ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT:

 

1. Use knowledge of the court system, criminal, immigration, and family law to review/act on calls and correspondence from the clients, lawyers and other justice system contacts; identify urgent matters and appropriate action/s required; communicate on behalf of managers when appropriate;
2. Draft routine administrative correspondence and edit legal correspondence;
3. Communicate information about services provided or required with community groups, agencies, lawyers and other members of the justice system;
4. Maintain manual and electronic filing systems;
5. Maintain bring forward system; and
6. Provide support to family, child protection, and immigration and criminal law services as required.

 

2. PROVIDE ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT:

 

1. Resolve day to day administrative problems by determining the nature of the problem and providing information directly and/or in correspondence;
2. Type, format, proof-read, and edit documents in accordance with accepted LABC style guidelines;
3. Record and monitor department/project expenditures, correct/report discrepancies, and summarize up-to-date spending on request;
4. Maintain department records of attendance, funding applications and contracts;
5. Verify and code invoices;
6. Organize, train and orient temporary/casual office staff;
7. Arrange meetings and/or conferences; contact participants; arrange venue and catering;
8. Make travel arrangements and monitor travel expense claims;
9. Maintain office supplies inventory and order office supplies;
10. Assist staff with the implementation of new/revised administration procedures.
11. Use a variety of software programs with speed and accuracy to produce a variety of materials;
12. Record, prepare and distribute minutes of meetings;
13. Maintain multi-user filing systems and computerized filing systems;
14. Open, read and action incoming mail and;
15. Post documents to LABC intranet site and maintain departmental intranet pages.

 

3. DEPARTMENT SPECIFIC ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT:

1. Collect, assemble, and edit data;
2. Prepare reports/papers and other documents in an appropriate format;
3. Convert documents to PDF format in accordance with accepted LABC style guidelines for posting on the intranet/internet;
4. Maintain and update contact databases, mailing lists, and other reference lists
5. Take inventory and maintain asset database; and
6. Prepare documents for Finance.

 

4. PERFORM OTHER RELATED DUTIES:

 

1. Contact and schedule focus of pilot groups for a variety of projects;
2. May assist in the preparation of user acceptance testing scenarios;
3. Ensure attendance is recorded for all staff in the Department; and
4. Perform other related duties as required.

 

QUALIFICATIONS:

 

Basic requirements

• Grade 12 education supplemented by business and/or legal administrative course(s)
• Minimum 2 years relevant experience as outlined in rated requirements
• Relevant learned or lived experience as a person from an inequity experiencing group is considered an asset
• Minimum typing speed 45 wpm
• Advanced skill in MS Word
• Intermediate skill in MS Excel
• Intermediate skill in MS Outlook
• Basic skill in MS Access
• Basic skill in MS PowerPoint
• OR an equivalent combination of education and experience

 

Rated requirements

• Understanding of Indigenous issues, cultures as well as Indigenous community groups and agencies
• Understanding of current issues affecting Indigenous communities
• Understanding of traditional Indigenous justice concepts, alternative measures, mediation and diversion practices
• Awareness of government laws and policies impacting Indigenous peoples
• Ability to communicate and relate to Indigenous people and their communities, with sensitivity to cultural and Nation differences
• Understanding of the structure and history of Indigenous communities within BC
• Knowledge of EDI issues and Canada’s justice and legal system
• Knowledge of court procedures
• Knowledge of legal administrative duties.
• Knowledge of computers and Windows-based software applications (Excel, PowerPoint, etc.)
• Knowledge of LABC policies and procedures an asset
• Ability to identify assess and solve problems
• Ability to allocate and process monetary payments
• Ability to draft routine correspondence
• Ability to organize workload, identify urgent work items, and set priorities
• Ability to work well under pressure and meet deadlines
• Ability to cope with a heavy workload
• Ability to work independently, take initiative and function as part of a team
• Ability to be discreet and manage confidential information
• Must have excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Must have a strong desire to assist disadvantaged clients
• Second language and/or demonstrated awareness of the community’s cultural diversity an asset
• Fluent in hybrid working environment and leveraging Zoom and Microsoft Teams to conduct work

 

This competition may require skills testing based on the qualifications for this position: Microsoft 365 (Office Suite) – Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Access Typing

 

We offer (based on your employment status and affiliation):

• 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

 

VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT www.legalaid.bc.ca

 

We would like to thank all external applicants for their interest but regret that only those shortlisted will be contacted.