Union:
The Society
Job Number: J1026-0107
Job Title: French Bilingual Duty Counsel - Family and Criminal
Job Type: Permanent Full Time
City, Province, Country: Cornwall, Ontario, Canada
Job Location: Cornwall
Job Category: Legal
Open Positions: 1
Posting Date: October 8, 2026
Closing Date: October 23, 2026
Salary: $95,678.79 - $163,502.20 /Year
Primary function
This Duty Counsel will be required provide criminal and family duty counsel services in Cornwall and occasionally at the satellite offices of Morrisburg and/or Alexandria.
This role may require travel throughout the district on occasion. As such, applicants with readily available transportation or an ability to rent a vehicle are preferred.
Criminal Duty Counsel is responsible for providing client service for criminal law matters in the courthouse, both virtually and 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.
Family Duty Counsel is responsible for providing client service for family law matters in the courthouse, both virtually and in person. Family Duty Counsel will be responsible for the intake and assessment of family law clients to determine the appropriate service for the clients, including but not limited to providing procedural and summary legal advice; drafting, reviewing and commissioning of family court documents and pleadings such as Applications, Answers, Motions, Affidavits and Financial Statements; in court representation at various stages of a family court and/or child protection proceeding; and other duties as assigned.
While most courts require appearances in person, for others it is a combination of in person and virtual. This position will appeal to a lawyer experienced in a broad range of criminal and family proceedings who can effectively navigate the demands of a busy in-person workplace.
Home Location: Cornwall
Secondary: Satellite Courts - Alexandria and Morrisburg
Reports to: Manager of Duty Counsel Services, Eastern District
Key accountabilities
• Act as Criminal and Family Duty Counsel
• Ensure high quality of legal work in a cost effective manner
• File management as per LAO requirements including use of computer technology; data input for statistics measurements in a timely manner
Criminal law:
• Assisting unrepresented clients who have been charged with criminal matters
• Representing clients at bail hearings, guilty pleas and remands
• Assessing clients' needs, including the early identification of vulnerable clients, to facilitate referrals to appropriate services.
• Provide criminal law services as defense counsel in the Ontario Court of Justice
• Providing assistance and representation at federal, provincial, and youth, remand, bail and plea courts, including specialty courts (Drug Treatment Court / Mental Health Court / Gladue Court)
• Providing summary legal advice (SLA)
• Interviewing clients, sureties, and witnesses
• Disclosure review and Crown pre-trials meetings
• Assisting with various motions and hearings (may include trials), including judicial pre-trials
• Preparing and arguing bail hearings
• Other duties as assigned
Family law:
• Advocate for clients in court and on court forms
• Provide family law duty counsel services, including providing instructions to Legal Aid Workers (and students), preparation of court documents for eligible clients, make appropriate referrals when required, including to mediation services
• Providing representation in the Superior Court of Justice (Unified Family Court) at first appearances, conferences, motions, negotiations, Family Responsibility Office (FRO) matters, Children's Aid Societies matters and other court hearings and services as required
• Assist unrepresented eligible clients with family settlement conferences as required
• Assist unrepresented clients with Child Youth and Family Services Act (CYFSA) matters (with document preparation and in court appearances)
• Open and maintain client files using SI (Service Integration system) and the DC criminal shared drive
• Ability to provide advice lawyer services at the Family Law Information Centre (FLIC)
• Demonstrated ability to provide sensitive and compassionate client service to those who may be victims of domestic violence
• Provide advice lawyer services on the Summary Legal Advice (SLA) telephone service for family
• Open and maintain client files and conflict lists on the family DC shared drive
• Other duties as assigned
Required skills & experience
• Member in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario
• Advanced English and French language skills: ability to read, write and speak fluently in a legal context
• 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 latest communication technologies including tablets and smartphones and ability to utilize video conferencing platforms in order to deliver services virtually (Zoom/Teams)
• Intermediary knowledge of Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint.
• Ability and willingness to travel between the district court locations.
Criminal law
• Sound knowledge and experience of all legislation related to criminal law.
• Demonstrated experience in representing clients with complex legal issues including conducing bails hearings, and guilty pleas, remands 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
Family law
• Sound knowledge and experience of all legislation related to family law.
• Demonstrated experience dealing with complex family law matters, and a strong knowledge of relevant family law legislation and in particular child protection law, including in court experience. Experience being lead on family and CYFSA files.
• Ability to draft legal documents without the need for revisions
• Experience using Divorcemate
Preferred Skills & Experiences
• Sound Knowledge of Legal Aid Ontario's operations and mandate
• Prior family and CYFSA law experience
• Demonstrated interest in aboriginal legal issues
• Training or advocacy experience in relation to mental health issues
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, and Short-Term Disability (STD).
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. Please clearly set out in your cover letter why you are interested in this position, and highlight relevant experience and skills that make you an ideal candidate.
Only those candidates selected for an interview will be notified. 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.
First Preference will be given to current members of the Society of United Professionals.
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: candidate.njoynhelp@cgi.com.
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