Regional Counsel - Central East Region

ELIGIBILITY FOR THIS COMPETITION IS RESTRICTED TO STEP 1 CANDIDATES INCLUDING OPS ALOC AND OCAA LAWYERS living or working within 125 km of this location. Note: Eligible lawyers from outside the Area of Search may apply but will not be entitled to relocation or travel expenses for the transfer as set out below.

Step 1: All regular/fixed-term OCAA and ALOC lawyers on staff, current Redeployment List Members and current Articling Student Hireback Pool Members.
Step 2: In the absence of qualified applicants at Step 1 the competition may be reposted so that external applicants or non-members of the above-mentioned groups would then be eligible to apply.

The Ministry of the Attorney General, Criminal Law Division, offers a challenging opportunity for an experienced lawyer to act as Counsel to the Director of Crown Operations for Central East Region.

The Criminal Law Division is a large geographically dispersed operation with approximately 1900 staff who help protect community and personal safety through prosecution of offences across the province.

The Ministry of the Attorney General's vision is to create an innovative, sustainable and responsive justice system that inspires public confidence and upholds the Rule of Law; a necessary precondition for a just society. The Criminal Law Division has a responsibility to ensure public safety, through the effective and efficient prosecution of crime. The prosecution of crime is the core business of the division and is a non-discretionary essential service required to guarantee basic public safety and security.

The position is based in Newmarket with service provided to all of the Central East Region as required and is located in the Office of the Director of Crown Operations.

OPS Commitment to Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Anti-Racism:

We are committed to build a workforce that reflects the communities we serve and to promote a diverse, anti-racist, inclusive, accessible, merit-based, respectful and equitable workplace.

We invite all interested individuals to apply and encourage applications from people with disabilities, Indigenous, Black, and racialized individuals, as well as people from a diversity of ethnic and cultural origins, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions.

Visit the OPS Anti-Racism Policy and the OPS Diversity and Inclusion Blueprint pages to learn more about the OPS commitment to advance racial equity, accessibility, diversity, and inclusion in the public service.

We offer employment accommodation across the recruitment process and all aspects of employment consistent with the requirements of Ontario's Human Rights Code. Refer to the "How to apply" section if you require a disability-related accommodation.

What can I expect to do in this role?

Duties Will Include:

• Providing legal and strategic analysis and advice, information and related services (i.e. research, opinions, Attorney General Consents, Freedom Of Information requests, etc.) on matters affecting the region
• Ensuring effective case Management and Jordan timeline strategies are carried out in the region
• Preparing correspondence/briefing notes on behalf of the Regional Director/Deputy Director, Assistant Deputy Minister and Deputy Minister and Attorney General
• Responding to requests from the public
• Establishing and maintaining professional relationships with all members of the organization and other participants in the justice system to support regional, divisional and ministry goals and to support the administration of justice

How do I qualify?

Mandatory

• Membership in good standing as a lawyer with the Law Society of Ontario

Legal Experience

• Excellent working knowledge of the Criminal Code of Canada, Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, criminal law procedures, rules of evidence and case law
• Demonstrated litigation experience
• Knowledge and understanding of the role and function of Regional office, ministry/divisional policies, programs and current priorities to deal with all levels of staff including Minister/Deputy Minister's offices
• Experience working on major/lengthy cases involving forensic/scientific evidence, voluminous amounts of disclosure, and complex legal and factual issues
• Experience providing legal advice and training on legal issues to the police and Crowns
• Working knowledge and understanding of the role and function of a prosecutor in the criminal justice system in Ontario

Interpersonal and Communication Skills

• Superior interpersonal, presentation and communications skills
• Excellent writing and advocacy skills
• Good judgment and analytical ability to determine appropriate key issues, set priorities and to determine appropriate legal remedies
• Superior ability to research, analyze and organize a principled approach to cases and issues
• Sophisticated ability to work as part of a team within the criminal justice system and with community stakeholders

Other Essential Skills

• Willingness and ability to travel to court locations within the Central East region (Cobourg, Peterborough, Lindsay, Oshawa, Newmarket, Barrie and Bracebridge) and across the province to provide training and/or prosecute cases
• Technical skills to work effectively with computer technology and databases made available to professional staff