About LLG

Lethbridge Legal Guidance Society (“LLG”) is a non-profit society, established in 2006, providing legal services to individuals and families in the vibrant Southern Alberta City of Lethbridge and its surrounding communities.

Job Description and Summary of the Position

We are currently seeking a lawyer to join our team and serve as the Victim’s Representative Counsel (“VRC”). This position is based in the Lethbridge office; however, the VRC will be required to meet victims and survivors in local community agencies on occasion.

Under the general supervision of the Executive Director for LLG, this full-time position will be responsible for providing legal advice and representation to victims/survivors impacted by sexual, relationship, domestic and intimate partner violence and stalking as part of our legal team.

In addition to providing services onsite, the VRC will provide services to local sexual assault community partners, and other agencies as identified and approved including area police departments. This may include providing, legal advice, information, legal advocacy, and accompaniment to victims of intimate partner and domestic abuse or sexual assault.

As many of these legal matters intersect with family law, the successful candidate will have moderate experience in family law and will be comfortable appearing in both the Alberta Court of Justice and the Court of King’s Bench when required.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Work closely with the Executive Director and local community groups to expand LLG’s victims and survivors legal advocacy response.
• Advocate for victims and survivors in the legal system, including identifying overlapping legal issues in other areas such as family law and assisting with those matters where possible.

Legal advocacy includes:

• Work directly with survivors to assess legal advocacy needs and collaborate with LLG intake team regarding clients’ service plan.
• Provide legal advocacy and support to victims/survivors of sexual and domestic violence to navigate police, legal processes and community partners.
• Work to support victims involved in the criminal justice processes involving criminal and family law in consultation with legal system personnel (i.e., crown prosecutors, parole officers, victims’ services, community advocates) to gather or share information and to discuss progress of the legal case in the criminal and family justice system.
• Gather legal documents, explain the criminal court process and work closely with LLG’s staff counsel on family law cross-over files to provide wraparound coordination with the LLG program.
• Provide assistance with obtaining protective orders, communicating with crown counsel regarding criminal court-related legal matters.
• Educate victims/survivors on the criminal justice system and victims of crime rights and act as a liaison with police and crown prosecutors during investigation and prosecution of accused.
• Provide accompaniment to clients to speak with law enforcement and to court if required.

· Taking carriage of intersecting family law matters where applicable and preparing clients for family court and appearing in both the Alberta Court of Justice and the Court of King’s Bench when required.

• Provide legal services, advocacy and information in a manner that is trauma-informed, survivor-driven, flexible and geared toward each specific victim’s/survivor’s needs and priorities.

External

• Work with community members to build, support and enhance relationships with broad constituents including Chinook Sexual Assault Centre, the Lethbridge Police Victims' Services, Crown prosecutors, community advocates and other crisis responders to promote effective representation of victims/survivors in our coordinated community response.
• Create and provide training with and for domestic violence agencies, social workers, and other community organizations to inform providers, educators, and survivors about VRC services.
• Educate community partners and the community at large about the rights of sexual assault victims’ and survivors’ rights and the role of legal advocacy following domestic abuse or sexual assault.
• Educate community partners on relevant legislative updates and legal advocacy services provided by LLG. Participate in meetings with community advocates and educators and collaborate with domestic violence coalitions.

Internal

• Maintain current knowledge of relevant legal processes, legal issues and relevant legislative updates.
• Prepare and send legal paperwork and follow up with client calls and emails within a reasonable time.
• Comply with all relevant regulations, policies, standards, and protocols including those regarding privileged communication, mandated reporting of abuse, data collection, record keeping, and security related to use of technology including cell phone and computers.
• Coordinate and provides trainings related to sexual and domestic violence to LLG staff.
• Collaborate with other LLG staff and programs to enhance overall services to survivors.
• Document all activities and maintain records in accordance with best practices and licensure requirements and for grant reporting purposes.
• Enter and track demographic data for grant reporting purposes.
• Compile data and prepare reports including tabulating statistics on sexual and domestic violence calls and reports for grant related reporting.
• May serve on relevant committees and participate in LLG program development and events as required.

Preferred Qualifications (Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities)

• Law degree and at least 5 years of related experience including familiarity with criminal justice and family law legal system, active and in good standing with the Law Society of Alberta.
• Extensive experience and proven ability to work effectively with multiple stakeholders such as police, courts and social service agencies.
• Ability to foster and maintain positive, collaborative working relationships with social services, specifically working with victims/survivors of domestic violence.
• Strong written and oral communication skills and ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously, meet time sensitive deadlines and prioritize workload with minimal supervision.
• Demonstrated strong proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, and in general strong comfort with the use of emerging technologies.
• Able to work both independently and as a team and accurately maintain case files.
• Sensitivity and understanding of challenges specifically impacting survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault; experience/training in domestic violence and intergenerational trauma.
• Cultural competency and experience working with a diverse cultural and or linguistic population from different backgrounds and communities and identities.
• Experience facilitating workshops on issues related to the legal system and its impacts on sexual assault and domestic violence.
• Follows rules with respect to conflicts of interest and behaves in ways consistent both with the Law Society and other compliance requirements, and LLG policy.
• Uses access to sensitive and/or not yet public related information only in the performance of the responsibilities of the position and exercises care to prevent unnecessary disclosure to others.

Physical Demands/Working Conditions

• Valid driver’s license and access to a vehicle required to travel to other work-related sites.

· Ability to work in a crisis response environment and interact in-person where appropriate.

• Use self-care strategies and capacity to sustain providing services to trauma survivors.

COVID-19 considerations:

• All staff are required to work in office a majority of the time, with remote work implemented only as required.
• Following the pandemic, and in accordance with provincial and city regulations, LLG continues to provide certain clinic services remotely since March 2020 and will re-evaluate this as necessary.
• We follow safety protocols for all in-person meetings and regularly assess the necessity and effectiveness of this arrangement.
• All applicants must be able to ensure privacy, professionalism, and a team-player approach to the practice of law.

Instructions to Applicants

· Please submit your cover letter and resume in one application.

· Following an interview, you may be required to provide the contact information for three professional references.

· The position will remain open until filled.