Union:

The Society

Job Number: J0926-0061

Job Title: Duty Counsel, Criminal

Job Type: Permanent Full Time

City, Province, Country: Kitchener, Ontario, Canada

Job Location: Kitchener

Job Category: Legal

Open Positions: 1

Posting Date: September 3, 2026

Closing Date: September 16, 2026

Salary: $95,678.79 - $163,502.20 /Year

Primary function

This Duty Counsel will be required to provide criminal duty counsel services in Kitchener.

Criminal Duty Counsel is responsible for providing client service for criminal law matters in the courthouse, 5 days a week in person. Criminal Duty Counsel will be responsible for the intake and assessment of criminal law clients to determine the appropriate service for those charged with criminal offences, including but not limited to providing procedural and summary legal advice; drafting and reviewing criminal court documents; in court representation at various stages of criminal court proceedings; and other duties as assigned.

Home Position: Kitchener Duty Counsel Office
Secondary/Tertiary location(s): Not applicable

Reports to: Manager of Legal Services

Key accountabilities
• Act as a Criminal Duty Counsel
• Representing clients 5 days/week in person
• Ensure high quality of legal work in a cost effective manner
• Assess client financial eligibility using LAO criteria in order to effectively capture data
• File management as per LAO requirements including use of computer technology; data input for statistics measurements in a timely manner
• Assisting unrepresented clients who have been charged with criminal matters
• Representing clients at bail hearings, guilty pleas, remands and judicial pre-trials in-person
• Assessing clients' needs, including the early identification of vulnerable clients, to facilitate referrals to appropriate services.
• Provide criminal law services as defense counsel at the Waterloo Region Courthouse in Kitchener, Ontario
• Providing assistance and representation at federal, provincial, and youth, remand, bail and plea courts, including specialty courts (Drug Treatment Court / Mental Health Court / Intimate Partner Violence Court)
• Providing summary legal advice (SLA)
• Interviewing clients, sureties, and witnesses
• Disclosure review
• Preparing and arguing bail hearings
• Other duties as assigned

Required skills & experience
• Member in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario
• Demonstrated experience in representing clients with complex legal issues including conducing bails hearings, and guilty pleas
• Sound knowledge of the Criminal Code of Canada, Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, criminal law procedures, rules of evidence and case law
• Demonstrated experience in providing criminal law services including experience with complex legal issues and bail hearings, guilty pleas, remands, judicial pre-trials and youth court.
• Sound knowledge of the Criminal Code of Canada, Youth Criminal Justice Act, Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, criminal law procedures, rules of evidence and case law
• Practical understanding of the Rules of Professional Conduct
• Proven interpersonal, communication, presentation and negotiation skills coupled with strong advocacy skills
• Proven judgment and analytical ability to determine appropriate legal remedies and demonstrated research skills
• Knowledge and appreciation of impact of court proceedings on immigration, criminal, family and other poverty law issues; and the integrated nature of legal issues faced by LAO clients
• Proven experience in providing excellent client service to vulnerable populations such as racialized communities, First Nations, youth and those experiencing mental health or addiction challenges or victims of domestic violence and/or homelessness
• Ability to communicate with accuracy and fluency when speaking with clients and providing advice, as well as when representing clients in court.
• Ability to work independently and unsupervised in a busy environment while also demonstrating collaboration and teamwork with colleagues and other stakeholders
• Ability to work as a team with other Legal Aid Workers, staff lawyers, and per diem Duty Counsel
• Sound knowledge and understanding of Legal Aid Ontario's operations and mandate
• Demonstrated ability to use Service Integration and the latest communication technologies including tablets and smartphones and ability to utilize video conferencing platforms in order to deliver services virtually (Zoom/Teams)
• Demonstrated knowledge of Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint, Divorcemate and Legal Files
• Ability to communicate in French is an asset

What do we offer?

At Legal Aid Ontario, we are committed to fostering a supportive and rewarding work environment for our employees. Our comprehensive benefits package reflects this commitment and is designed to enhance both professional and personal well-being.

We have a comprehensive health and wellness program that include dental, health and life insurance along with Basic Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance, Short-Term Disability (STD), and Long-Term Disability (LTD).

Employees at Legal Aid Ontario also enjoy generous paid time-off policy, including vacation days, sick days, discretionary days, and statutory holidays.

Employees are eligible to be enrolled to the Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP), administered by the Ontario Pension Board (OPB).

How to apply?

To apply submit a cover letter & résumé.

Only those candidates selected for an interview will be notified by email.
Final candidates for this position will be required to undergo a criminal record check.

This position is represented by The Society of United Professionals and the employee will be governed by the provisions of the collective agreement and union dues will be deducted bi-weekly from date of hire.

Please note that all applicants are encouraged to provide a valid email address for communication purposes. Applicants may receive written correspondence regarding this job posting directly to the email address provided on their resume or to the one used to set up their Candidate Profile if applying on Njoyn. As an applicant, it is your responsibility to ensure that you check your email regularly.

First time applying to LAO? You will need to create a profile AND then apply for the position.
Already have an Njoyn account? Just sign in and select "my jobs" to apply.
Once you have successfully applied you will receive a confirmation email.

Trouble applying? For telephone support please call 1-877-427-7717 or email support: [email protected]

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