Legal Aid Worker

Legal Aid Ontario employees are committed to making a difference in the lives of our clients.

As an integral partner in the Justice system, working at Legal Aid Ontario is more than just a job. It's an opportunity to help people who need it the most; to ensure each client receives the access to justice afforded to them under the law.

If you are looking for a new challenge in your already meaningful career with a team dedicated to justice, and innovation in a flexible and supportive work environment consider this opportunity below.

Building a diverse workforce that represents the communities we serve while promoting a safe culture and work environment that dismantles systemic barriers, welcomes fresh perspectives and embraces differences as a priority is a core value at LAO. LAO encourages applicants from equity-seeking groups, including but not limited to individuals who are First Nations, Inuit or Métis, Black and racialized, as well as persons with disabilities, women and members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community.

We recognize the value of equity, diversity and inclusion and are committed to addressing systemic barriers, and prioritizing, attracting and retaining diverse staff. All interested and eligible people will be considered, with due consideration to all protected grounds under the Ontario Human Rights Code.

Legal Aid Ontario values integrity, respect, responsiveness, excellence, independence, accountability, openness and consistency. Our recruitment process reflects our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion. Accommodations are available throughout the recruitment process as well as during employment at LAO. Please direct any accommodation requests to our recruitment team.

Primary function

This position is responsible for supporting the mandate of the Central West District, working out of the Duty Counsel office in the Milton courthouse. The Legal Aid Worker (LAW) works with their manager, staff lawyers, and other LAWs to provide direct client service and administrative support in a busy courthouse environment.

This position will be primarily focused on supporting family law duty counsel services. This could include client triage, financial testing, preparation and drafting of non-complex family court documents and pleadings, including the drafting and preparation of applications, answers, motions, affidavits, and financial statements, attendance in court, and other duties as assigned. Additionally, the legal aid worker may be asked to provide supplementary support to criminal duty counsel services. This could include triage, financial testing, providing basic procedural information, interviewing sureties, appearances in criminal set date court and video remand court.

Home Location: Milton Courthouse
Secondary Location: Not applicable

Reports to: Manager of Legal Services, Milton

Key accountabilities

Direct Client Services
• Provide services in courthouse locations including client triage and intake
• Assist clients with drafting and service of family law documents under the supervision of duty counsel/staff lawyer
• Assist duty counsel/staff lawyer by triaging/screening clients and provide clients with public legal information including procedural legal information
• Attend family court to support and assist duty counsel clients
•Assist clients/duty counsel with routine administrative matters in court (i.e. adjournments)
•Refer clients to appropriate resources and service providers

Client Management and Administration
• Provide general information, including procedural legal information on the status of legal aid applications, reviews, and referrals
• Perform intake by interviewing clients (in-person, phone, video) to gather necessary information (case history) required for decision-making
• Make entitlement decisions (including ongoing eligibility) based on LAO’s financial and legal eligibility policies and guidelines. This could include complex client and legal/financial matters
• Assisting with the training and mentoring of new staff and supporting the implementation of new LAO initiatives
• Perform administrative tasks such as data input, ordering supplies, maintaining files, scheduling per diem duty counsel, approving accounts, collecting/compiling information for statistics/performance measures and other tasks as assigned

Communications and Outreach
• Communicate with and respond to clients, lawyers, and other legal system partners in-person, by phone, video, and through written correspondence
• Perform outreach with stakeholders including clinics and other community agencies to promote and expand service co-ordination opportunities
• Liaise with private bar lawyers, duty counsel, mental health workers, and other court workers and administrative staff
• Identify and elevate issues/service trends and seek guidance from management when necessary

Required skills & experience

• Ability to draft legal documents and correspondence without need for review is required
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for dealing with clients, lawyers and other agencies with the proven ability to exercise judgement when encountering stressful situations including the early identification of vulnerable clients so that the appropriate service and referrals can be made
• Ability to learn and maintain detailed functional and theoretical knowledge of legal aid application processing rules and procedures, financial principles and LAO policies and practices
• Ability to learn and apply legal and financial eligibility based on LAO eligibility criteria and to generate certificates in accordance with office procedures
• Proven ability to learn and adapt to new or modified policies and procedures
• Demonstrated commitment to client service and relationship building skills
• Demonstrated ability to use latest communication technologies including smartphones, tablets, and videoconference systems
• Must have intermediate knowledge of the following Microsoft programs: Outlook, Word, Excel
• General knowledge and familiarity with family court and criminal court procedures is an asset.
• Ability to communicate in French is an asset


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

To apply, submit a cover letter & résumé.
Only those candidates selected for an interview will be notified by email.

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 a 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.