Job Description

Competition # : 37066

Department: Justice

Location: HALIFAX

Type of Employment: Permanent

Union Status: NSGLA

Closing Date: 11/4/2022 (Applications are accepted until 11:59 PM Atlantic Time)

About Us

The Legal Services Division of the Department of Justice is the government's law office, responsible for the provision of all legal services (excluding prosecutions) to the Province of Nova Scotia. The lawyers in the Legal Services Division provide legal advice and services on a broad range of matters to the Government and many of its agencies, boards and commissions. The Legal Services Division consists of Solicitor Services, Litigation Services and the Registry of Regulations.

For more information on the Department of Justice Legal Services please visit our website:

About Our Opportunity

We are recruiting for a lawyer for our labour, employment and human rights team. The lawyer is responsible for providing effective and efficient legal counsel to the Government of Nova Scotia and its agencies, and to ensure that public affairs are administered in accordance with the law.

In this role, you will conduct litigation on behalf of the Province of Nova Scotia. You will appear before Courts as well as tribunals and other related administrative decision makers. You will also provide legal advice and opinions on matters of law and legal policy to senior government officials.

Primary Accountabilities

• Consult with client Deputy Ministers, Executive Directors, and other senior leaders on matters involving law, negotiation, tactics or public policy; may attend management committees of client departments.
• Appear before administrative tribunals, the Supreme Court, and Nova Scotia Court of Appeal regularly and the Supreme Court of Canada occasionally
• Present information about government and law to the public generally or as part of a consultation process for public policy development
• Serve on interdepartmental committees and project teams with senior and intermediate staff of client departments

Qualifications and Experience

As our successful candidate, you will:

• Be a practicing member of the Nova Scotia Barristers Society (or eligible for practicing membership), in good standing, with a minimum five years experience in practice including experience in labour and employment law

The following are assets:

• Litigation experience before courts, boards and tribunals, in particular the Nova Scotia Labour Board and Labour arbitrators
• Experience advising clients in one or more of the following areas:
• Labour and Employment Law
• Human Rights Law

Our successful candidate has excellent research, analytical and organizational skills. You communicate effectively and persuasively, orally and in writing, and have the ability to function with minimal supervision in a team environment. Our ideal candidate will demonstrate the ability to offer creative and innovative solutions to complex challenges and have the flexibility to adapt and thrive in a continuously changing and demanding environment.

We will assess the above qualifications using one or more of the following tools: written examination, standardized tests, oral presentations, interview(s), and reference checks.

Benefits

Based on the employment status and union agreement, the Government of Nova Scotia offers its employees a wide range of benefits such as Health, Dental, Life Insurance, Pension, General Illness (Short and Long Term), Vacation and Employee and Family Assistance Programs. Click to learn more about our various benefits offerings and eligibility criteria.

Working Conditions

Physical effort includes:

• Sitting at a computer for long periods of time

Sensory attention includes:

• Ability to review voluminous written material, to write, to think conceptually and to think strategically
• Mental focus is required for long periods of time and very good memory is required
• Ability to handle adversarial and hostile people in ways that de-escalate and build insights with others in frequently required.

Mental pressure includes:

• Ability to handle pressure situations, multiple deadlines and many competing demands.
• Long periods of concentration are required at hearings and writing briefs
• Must handle hostile situations in a way that allows one to glean the relevant information but not engage it personally and not react to it negatively.

Additional Information

This competition is to fill a Permanent employment opportunity based in Halifax

What We Offer

• Career Development where you have access to career guidance, tools, resources, and ongoing training for every stage of your career.
• Engaging workplace. Our Employees feel valued, respected, connected, and tuned in. We have forward-thinking policies and strategies.
• Countless career paths.
• Department Specific Flexible working schedules.

Pay Grade: MCL 20 - MCL 26

Salary Range: $2,895.54 - $5,550.79 Bi-Weekly

Employment Equity Statement:

Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative, at all job levels, of the citizens we serve. The Government of Nova Scotia has an Employment Equity Policy, and we welcome applications from Indigenous People, African Nova Scotians and Other Racially Visible Persons, Persons with Disabilities and Women in occupations or positions where they are under-represented. If you are a member of one of these equity groups, you are encouraged to self-identify on your electronic application.

This is an Association position initially restricted to current Nova Scotia Government Lawyers Association employees. In accordance with the Agreement with the Nova Scotia Government Lawyers Association, the order of consideration will be eligible 'Expression of Interest' EOI applicants, eligible internal applicants then external applicants. PLEASE NOTE: Candidates will not be considered for an interview if applications are incomplete or are missing information.

Current government employees may access this posting through the link below:

Offer of employment is conditional upon the completion of all applicable background checks and confirmation of credentials, the results of which must be satisfactory to the employer. We thank all applicants for the interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. All questions and concerns may be directed to Competitions@novascotia.ca.