Division

Legal Services

Important Notices & Amendments

There are currently two positions available for legal counsel:

• general municipal solicitor with a portfolio that includes responsibility for all real estate matters (including expropriations) and related agreements (such as leases and licenses) on behalf of the Region.
• general municipal solicitor acting as the primary point of contact providing legal support to the Niagara Transit Commission, a municipal service board of the Region that assumed operational responsibility for consolidated transit services across the region effective January 1, 2023.

About Us

Serving a diverse urban and rural population of more than 475,000, Niagara Region is focused on building a strong and prosperous Niagara. Working collaboratively with 12 local area municipalities and numerous community partners, the Region delivers a range of high quality programs and services to support and advance the well-being of individuals, families and communities within its boundaries. Nestled between the great lakes of Erie and Ontario, the Niagara peninsula features some of Canada\xe2\x80\x99s most fertile agricultural land, the majesty of Niagara Falls and communities that are rich in both history and recreational and cultural opportunities. Niagara boasts dynamic modern cities, Canada\xe2\x80\x99s most developed wine industry, a temperate climate, extraordinary theatre, and some of Ontario\xe2\x80\x99s most breathtaking countryside. An international destination with easy access to its binational U.S. neighbour New York State, Niagara attracts over 14 million visitors annually, as well as a steady stream of new residents and businesses. Please note that effective February 12, 2023 mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations are no longer required as per the Niagara Region\xe2\x80\x99s amended COVID-19 Vaccination Policy. As a result, you will not be required to submit verification of your vaccination status before starting employment with the Niagara Region. However, the Niagara Region continues to reserve the right to reintroduce vaccination requirements in the future if necessary to respond to changing public health advice and\\or government direction. The Niagara Region continues to strongly encourage everyone to remain up-to-date with vaccinations.

Job Summary

Reporting to the Director Legal and Court Services, Legal Counsel are responsible for providing legal support and advice on a broad range of legal matters to the staff and Council of The Regional Municipality of Niagara including the development, review and implementation of agreements, by-laws, policies and procedures, general municipal law, administrative law, planning and development, real estate law, expropriations, environmental law, regulatory compliance, risk management, civil litigation, employment, labour and human rights matters and representing the Region before courts, administrative tribunals and boards; and negotiating with external agencies and partners at municipal, provincial and federal levels.

Education

• Post-secondary degree from a recognized university.
• Law degree (LLB) from a recognized law school.

Knowledge

• Minimum 5 years legal practice with emphasis on general municipal law (including municipal planning and development), civil litigation, contracts, real estate, procurement, and freedom of information/privacy.

• Supervisory experience is preferred.
• Greater than 5 years\xe2\x80\x99 experience in municipal/public sector law is preferred.
• Must be a Barrister and Solicitor entitled to practice law in Ontario and a full member in good standing of the Law Society of Ontario.

Responsibilities

Provides professional legal services, in all areas of the law required by the client\xe2\x80\x99s needs including but not limited to: real estate law, municipal planning and land development law, environmental law, commercial law, municipal law, contract law, administrative law and construction law, as well as areas of the law specifically relevant to the Region including, including procurement, development charges, freedom of information and protection of privacy, long-term care facilities, social assistance and public health law. (35% of time)

• Prepares, reviews and vets contracts entered into between the Corporation and its external clients, venders and third party service providers.
• Analyzes and reviews company agreements or proposed agreements focusing on the implications of complex legal issues.
• Provides legal advice and counsel to clients, carrying out transactions with significant legal elements, and intermediating between clients and specialized outside legal counsel, and reporting to client.
• Provides professional legal services to the Regional Corporation and all its constituent elements, including Council, Council committees, Regional Departments, Niagara Regional Housing, Niagara Regional Police Services, staff committees, and staff.
• Maintains up-to-date internal files, including legal precedents, in alignment with divisional and corporate records management and retention requirements.

Manages the litigation process, providing professional legal services and expertise, in the areas of civil litigation and regulatory litigation. (30% of time)

• Maintains professional competence in all applicable areas of the law.
• Develops and coordinates litigation strategies and timelines on litigation files
• Assesses and adjusts internal reserves as necessary throughout litigation process.
• Meets with and advises clients, witnesses and expert witnesses (both internal and external) in relation to procedural and substantive aspects of their testimony for legal proceedings.
• Directs and conducts further investigations in order to obtain further evidence in support of the litigation.
• Prepares pleadings (claims and defences as necessary).
• Obtains, organizes and vets documents for legal production.
• Maintains up-to-date internal files, including legal precedents, in alignment with divisional and corporate records management and retention requirements.
• Attends court and conducts any necessary interim application required to facilitate orderly resolution of the litigation.
• Conducts discovery and other court procedures in advancing and defending the corporation\xe2\x80\x99s or insured\xe2\x80\x99s legal position.
• Conducts mediation, informal settlement negotiations and judicial settlement conferences and advises clients in relation to settlement issues.
• Conducts and prepares all necessary court documents and acts as liaison with Risk Management Program Manager, insurer and external legal counsel as required for claims files.

Conducts legal research and prepares legal opinions as required to meet the needs of the clients. (15% of time)

• Conducts legal research and prepares legal opinions at the direction of the Director Legal and Court Services, or as requested by the client on all issues affecting the corporation, but primarily in the areas of legislative or contractual interpretation, liability, quantification of damages and court processes.
• Provides ad hoc, oral and written legal advice to internal clients on an as needed basis.
• Acts as a source of information to provide corporate perspective to diverse client groups within Region that may have less exposure to operations outside their particular area of expertise.

Provides leadership for the activities and mentoring of employees within the Legal and Court Services division, and those hired to do work on behalf of the Legal and Court Services division providing work direction, setting priorities, assigning tasks/projects, determining methods and procedures to be used, resolving problems, ensuring results are achieved. (10% of time)

• Selects and retains outside lawyers, overseeing their work, liaising between outside lawyers and the Region and appraising their performance.
• Provides direction, guidance, coaching and support to other legal staff in the division and non-legal staff throughout Region.
• Acts as a facilitator between staff in different departments and representatives of public with emphasis on problem solving and achieving overall Niagara Region objectives.

Provides support to division and department activities. (10% of time)

• Participates in various non-legal administrative matters for the Region, such as staff committees and task forces.
• Supports the planning and monitoring of the Legal and Court Services Division budget.
• Provides policy development and advice within overarching corporate initiatives and for specific departments

Special Requirements

• Regional staff strive to enable the strategic priorities of council and the organization through the completion of their work. Staff carry out their work by demonstrating the corporate values.
• May be required to support Regional emergency operations under the incident management structure, at the direction of the Emergency Operations Centre Director.

Closing Statement

Uncover the wonder of the Niagara Region and join a team dedicated to meeting tomorrow\xe2\x80\x99s challenges TODAY!

Let us know why you would be an excellent team member by submitting your online application.

We thank all candidates for their interest however, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
If you require an accommodation for the application process in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, the alternate formats for contacting us are as follows:

• Email: myhr@niagararegion.ca
• Phone: 905-980-6000 or 1-800-263-7215
• Bell Relay: 1-800-855-0511
• In-person: Sir Isaac Brock Way, Thorold, ON L2V 4T7 \xe2\x80\x93 Human Resources Department