Counsel/Prosecutor/Lawyer Job in Yellowknife Recruiting by Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat

Counsel/Prosecutor/Lawyer

Important messages

The Federal Public Service is stronger and most effective when we reflect the diversity of the Canadian population we serve. The Public Prosecution Service of Canada (PPSC) is dedicated to building and promoting a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce, representative of Canadian society where everyone feels they belong. All candidates in the area of selection who believe they are qualified are encouraged to apply, including Black, other racialized and Indigenous peoples, women, persons with disabilities and persons of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

Set yourself up for success! As the objective of this process is to assess qualifications needed for the position(s) to be staffed, let us know if you have a functional limitation or disability, which may affect your participation. For example, you may contact us if you need assistance in completing and submitting your application. Should you proceed to a future assessment stage, such as an exam or interview, we will send you an e-mail with additional information and you can determine if you may require an accommodation at that time (such as a different test format, an adaptive technology, or additional time). Assessment accommodations are designed to remove the obstacles without altering the criteria being assessed so that candidates with functional limitations can fully demonstrate their abilities.

If you require an accommodation during any phase of this assessment process, please use the Contact information below to request accommodation. All information received in relation to your accommodation will be kept confidential and your right to privacy will be protected.

If you are unable to submit your application before the closing date, please do not hesitate to contact Tania Desormeaux by email at

When you apply to this selection process, you are not applying for a specific job, but to an inventory for future vacancies. As positions become available, applicants who meet the qualifications may be contacted for further assessment.

Duties

Prosecutors play a key role in the Canadian criminal justice system. As Counsel at the PPSC in Yellowknife, you will conduct criminal prosecutions on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions on many significant and complex cases related to personal injury offences, sexual violence offences, homicide, drugs, aggravated assaults and so on. You will quickly gain a breadth of knowledge and experience as you work on a variety of prosecutions. Unlike in private practice, where little time is spent in court, prosecutors can go to court every day. You can acquire immediate trial experience that many private litigators must wait years to get. In addition, in Yellowknife, you will be tasked to deal with complex matters early in your career unlike in the Southern part of Canada.

Joining the Public Prosecution Service of Canada will be a transformative experience, both professionally and personally.

Work environment

The Northwest Territories Regional Office (NWTRO) is responsible for the prosecution of all Federal and Criminal Code offences in the NWT. The regional headquarters is located in Yellowknife. Communities throughout the NWT are served by circuit in both the Territorial and Supreme Court and prosecutors travel by air to some 20 communities and by road to one community.

The NWTRO prosecutes Criminal Code offences, in addition to offences under other federal statutes typically prosecuted by the PPSC. The caseload of the regional office includes a high number of personal injury offences, including homicide cases, aggravated assault and assault causing bodily harm or with a weapon. The region actively reviews the files of high risk offenders and applies in appropriate cases for dangerous or long-term offender status following conviction.

Yellowknife sits on the shore of Great Slave Lake, the tenth largest lake in the world. There are many attractions, seasonal festivities and plenty of activities to take part in year round for everybody to enjoy.

Additional benefits of working in the North:

1) Northern Allowance - in addition to your base salary to offset the costs of living in Yellowknife.
2) Relocation assistance.
3) Vacation Travel Assistance - paid travel outside the territory once a year. The amount allocated varies.
4) Room for growth in our organization.
5) Training opportunities.

Intent of the process

The immediate need is to staff two LP-01 Counsel positions and one LP-02 Counsel position on an indeterminate or specified period basis in Yellowknife (Northwest Territories).

The results of this inventory may also be used to staff similar positions with various tenures, linguistic requirements, language profiles, and/or security requirements, as needs arise.

Please note that if successful and offered a position with PPSC, you would be required to relocate to Yellowknife. This process is not intended to staff positons in other locations. We thank you for your interest in the PPSC.

Upon appointment to the LP-01 position, the selected candidate will be placed in the Federal Prosecutors Development Program (FPDP). The FPDP is an organization-wide program designed to ensure that new federal prosecutors gain the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to be effective working-level (LP-02) prosecutors typically within four years.

A term appointment into the Federal Prosecutors Development Program (FPDP) may result in an indeterminate appointment to the LP-02 level following successful completion of the program.

Positions to be filled: Number to be determined

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

In order to be considered, your application must clearly explain how you meet the following (essential qualifications)

Occupational Certification:
- Eligibility for membership in the Bar of Northwest Territories.

Experience:
LP-01:
- Experience in making appearances in court as counsel, articling student or law student.

LP-02:
- Recent* experience in the conduct of criminal or quasi-criminal litigation.

Experience is associated with a broad range of criminal litigation over a three year period.

*Recent refers to the experience obtained in the last five years.

If you possess any of the following, your application must also clearly explain how you meet it (other qualifications)

Asset Qualification - Experience:
LP-01:
- Experience that demonstrates an interest in criminal law.

Organizational Needs:
LP-01 and LP-02:
The organization is committed to establishing and maintaining a representative workforce. Qualified applicants who self-declare as members of a visible minority group, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, and/or women may be selected for appointment to fulfill organizational needs.

Operational Requirements:
LP-01 and LP-02:
- Possession of a valid drivers licence. Note: the licence class must, at a minimum, authorize the driver to drive a car, van or small truck, on all roads and highways without an accompanying driver.
- Requirement to travel which may include assignments on short notice and for extended periods.
- Ability and willingness to work outside normal working hours which may include working evenings, nights and weekends based on operational needs.

The following will be applied / assessed at a later date (essential for the job)

English essential

Knowledge:
LP-01:
- Basic* knowledge of criminal law and procedures including knowledge of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

*Basic is defined as fundamental and developmental constituting the basis or starting point.

LP-02:
- Sound** knowledge of the role and practices of Crown Counsel in the conduct of criminal litigation in the Public Prosecution Service of Canada.
- Sound** knowledge of criminal law and procedures including knowledge of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and its relevant case law.

**Sound is defined as being capable of fulfilling their duties with minimal direction based on thorough knowledge.

Competencies:
LP-01 and LP-02:
- Specialized Skills and Knowledge (such as understanding ones role, legal skills and legal knowledge).
- Professionalism (such as professional conduct, professional fortitude, service orientation and self assessment).
- Judgement (such as decision making, critical thinking, and adaptability).
- Practice Management (such as file management).
- Communicating effectively (such as verbally, in writing and by listening attentively).
- Interpersonal Relationships (such as building relationships and emotion management).
- Leadership (such as coaching and mentoring, influencing others and teamwork).

Conditions of employment

- Reliability and Security: Secret
- Member in good standing in the Bar of one of the provinces or territories of Canada.
- Authority to work and appear as counsel with respect to matters under federal and territorial jurisdiction in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Law Society of Northwest Territories.
- Applicants must be willing to be assigned to other types of work at the same group, level and tenure within the Public Prosecution Service of Canada. Assignment of work may be made within or between the various teams of counsel within the office and will be based on operational considerations and will not require relocation of residence.
- Medical clearance
- All conditions of employment must be met and maintained throughout the tenure in the position.

Other information

The Public Service of Canada is committed to building a skilled and diverse workforce that reflects the Canadians we serve. We promote employment equity and encourage you to indicate if you belong to one of the designated groups when you apply.

Preference

Preference will be given to veterans first and then to Canadian citizens and permanent residents, with the exception of a job located in Nunavut, where Nunavut Inuit will be appointed first.

We thank all those who apply. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

Contact information

Apply online