Legal Counsel - Litigation, Compliance, Administrative Law

Vacancy Type:

Full-time Temporary (Approximately 13 months)

Salary/Hourly Range:

$142,987.19 - $157,285.91

Work Details (Days/Hours):

Monday – Friday, 36.25 hours per week

Hybrid Eligible

Yes

Affiliation:

Non-Union: Management/Exempt

Division and Department

Legal Services

Number of Vacancies:

1

Existing/New Job:

Existing

Grade:

09

Vacancy Status

Existing Vacancy

Candidate List or Eligibility List:

Candidate List

What we offer
In addition to a competitive salary and a rewarding career where you can truly make a difference, we offer a comprehensive package that meets the various needs of our diverse employees, including:

Ability to participate in inclusive employee-led networks to educate, inspire, amplify voices, build relationships and provide development opportunities;
Minimum four (4) weeks of paid annual vacation days, increasing with years of service;
Four (4) paid personal days;
Defined benefit pension plan with OMERS, includes 100-per-cent employer matching;
Health and dental benefits,
Employee and family assistance program;
Maternity and parental leave top up (93% of base salary);
Training and development programs including tuition reimbursement of $1500 per calendar year;
Fitness membership discount.

Make a difference Are you a litigator who wants sophisticated, challenging work without leaving public purpose at the door? Join our in-house legal team where your advice can make a real difference in the lives of Torontonians.
Reporting to Senior Legal Counsel - Litigation you will deliver high quality, representation in quasi-litigation matters and litigation proceedings before all levels of courts, and administrative tribunals. You will Provide proactive legal advice in various areas of law to mitigate legal risks for the corporation and ensure legislative and regulatory compliance. You will be part of a team that manages complaints received through Toronto Community Housing’s (TCHC’s) Tenant Human Rights Complaint process. You will support compliance activities of the organization.
What you will do

Represent TCHC and its subsidiaries in litigation proceedings before all levels of tribunals and courts:

Conduct all steps in a litigation proceeding including drafting originating processes and defenses/responses, conducting examinations for discovery and other disclosure processes, negotiating settlements with opposing counsel, attending mediation and settlement conferences, representing TCHC at motions and application hearings, pre-trial and trial; conducting hearings, trials and appeals;
Interview and prepare witnesses as part of litigation/hearing proceedings;
Draft correspondence and legal documents including internal and external correspondence and memoranda, examination for discovery reports, pleadings, affidavits, motion/application materials, mediation, pre-trial and trial briefs and appellate pleadings.

Working as part of a team that manages TCHC’s Tenant Human Rights Complaint process:

Receive and review complaints submitted by TCHC tenants alleging a breach of TCHC’s human rights obligations and identify complaints that do and do not raise issues of Human Rights Code compliance;
Investigate complaints identified as raising issues of Human Rights Code compliance and direct complaints that do not raise such issues to others as appropriate;
Make determinations as to whether complaints alleging failure to comply with the Human Rights Code are supported and provide legal advice regarding TCHC’s obligations in relation to those matters;
Communicate with TCHC staff and tenants in relation to investigations;
Provide legal advice generally related to TCHC’s obligations to its tenants pursuant to the Human Rights Code.

Legal research and proactive legal advice and opinions to business units and executives:

Provide strategic legal and business advice, draft legal opinions and memoranda on a wide variety of issues affecting the corporation such as: human rights, TCHC’s legislative and regulatory compliance obligations, administrative law, TCHC’s corporate governance compliance;
Conduct legal research;
Attend meetings and provide proactive legal advice and recommendations to TCHC business division heads and other internal clients to mitigate litigation and business risks;
Draft corporate policies and processes;
Participate on policy review committees to provide strategic legal advice with respect to and/or drafts various corporate policies (in the past, this has included: Tenant Human Rights Complaint Policy, Human Rights Policy, Tenant Transfer Policy, E-Bike Policy, etc.).

Provide work direction to administrative staff and mentor Paralegals, Business Planner – Human Rights:

Provide work direction to Administrative Assistant – Litigation and Litigation Law Clerk;
Provide mentorship on various files and legal questions to Paralegals and Business Planner- Human Rights.

What you will need

License to Practice law in Ontario (L1 license and membership in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario);
Bachelor of Laws, Baccalaureate of Law, or Juris Doctor;
3 or more years with post-call litigation experience in related field;
Excellent oral, written and presentation skills;
Strong interpersonal, problem solving and organizational skills;
Be a motivated self-starter with capability to work productively under pressure and in a fast-paced environment;
Experience conducting all stages of the litigation process independently from drafting pleadings up to and including trials, hearings, judicial review applications and appeals;
Experience with Regulatory/Corporate Compliance work;
Experience with Human Rights Law;
Knowledge of the Ontario Rules of Civil Procedure, Courts of Justice Act, Judicial Review Procedures Act, Provincial Offences Act, Statutory Powers Procedure Act and Human Rights Code;
Post graduate certification in Workplace Investigations, Regulatory/Corporate Compliance, Human Rights Law would be considered an asset;
Knowledge of the Fire Code, Building Code, Housing Services Act, Residential Tenancies Act, and other relevant legislation and regulations applicable to TCHC as a social housing provider would be considered an asset.

What’s next
Once you apply, we’ll review your resume and cover letter and contact you if we believe your skills and experience may make you successful in the role. If you are selected to move forward, the process will include one or more interviews and/or assessments and reference checks.