Description
COMPANY OVERVIEW
Calgary Legal Guidance (CLG) plays an important role in Alberta’s Justice Sector and increases access to justice through free legal advice services and specialized legal support to thousands of people every year. Our clients are some of Calgary’s most vulnerable and marginalized people, and they are particularly susceptible to experiencing the most significant barriers to access to justice. As a non-profit organization, CLG offers a wide range of legal support services that address gaps not covered by Legal Aid Alberta including Short Term Legal Advice Services; Poverty Law Services; Homeless Outreach; Elder Law; Social Benefits Advocacy; Immigration Law; Indigenous access to justice; Family Law, and; Sexual Violence Survivor Legal Support.
THE ROLE
The Family Law Program (FLP) is one of several specialized programs at CLG. The FLP is dedicated to providing culturally responsive, trauma-informed, client-centered and strengths-based legal services in the area of family law. This is a full-time junior position reporting to the program’s Managing Counsel, and responsible for providing short-term legal services in a full range of family law matters. Clients may be referred to the program through community partners such as CPS, emergency shelters or family programs as well as self-referrals through our general intake and summary advice legal clinic programs. Many clients face barriers to accessing justice and have compounding needs such as experiencing family violence, difficulty meeting basic needs or a history of trauma. For this reason, you will work collaboratively with internal and external resources to address their specific needs and reduce barriers for positive legal outcomes.
PRIMARY FUNCTIONS AND ACCOUNTABILITIES
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Responsible for managing an appropriate case load of clients to meet program targets and objectives.
- Provide legal information, advice, and limited scope services related to family law, including advice related to court processes and procedures, parenting orders, child support, property division, protection orders, and other legal topics as may arise.
- Conduct legal research, and prepare documents such as pleadings, briefs, memorandums, and affidavits.
- Review legal advice and information provided through CLG’s summary legal advice clinic, and provide follow up services as required in collaboration with the FLP team.
- Maintain client documentation including case notes and documents as per CLG practice guidelines.
- Apply trauma-informed, culturally-responsive, and intersectional frameworks when communicating and problem solving with program clients.
- Remain current in family law.
- Remain current on relevant research and information regarding issues specific to vulnerable populations, including family violence/IPV/gender and sexual violence.
- Demonstrate a commitment to Truth and Reconciliation and ability to collaborate with Indigenous program staff to support the unique needs of Indigenous clients accessing the FLP.
- Assist with internal and external training, speaking opportunities, and events as required.
- Work in close collaboration with the Managing Counsel, Program Coordinator, and Legal Assistant to provide high quality legal support to clients.
- Work with all CLG programs and staff where appropriate, to assist clients with intersecting legal issues and connection to appropriate resources related to co-occurring legal and social issues including immigration, sexual assault, bylaw, and others.
- Maintain contact and interact with administrative staff, other employees, and various external partner organizations.
THE CANDIDATE
The successful candidate must possess the following skills, experience and qualifications:
- A law degree from an accredited post-secondary institution.
- Membership or eligible for membership as a lawyer in good standing with the Law Society of Alberta.
- Completed articles with some exposure to family law and called to the bar in Alberta.
- An equivalent combination of training and experience may be considered.
- Ability to communicate and problem-solve with clients from various backgrounds, identities and experiences, including those challenged by mental health and the effects of trauma.
- A collaborative approach to case work with a focus on the client experience and reducing barriers to service delivery.
- Experience in working with people who have experienced trauma including intergenerational, systemic and/or family and gender violence.
- Ability to exercise excellent judgment, discretion, and confidentiality with sensitive maters.
- Commitment to recognizing client agency, and to meet clients where they are, without judgment.
- Must possess strong interpersonal and conflict management skills, and an ability to have open and productive communication with team members, other staff, clients, opposing counsel, external client advocates and community partners.
- Ability to express ideas clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing.
- The FLP operates advice clinics on-site, off-site, or remotely as appropriate, and follow-up clients are given the choice to attend remotely or in-person. Capacity and willingness to provide hybrid legal services is imperative.
- Excellent organizational / Time management skills.
- Proficiency in windows-based software and other standard office technology.
- Able to successfully engage in paperless file management.
- Proficiency in Windows-based software and client management technology.
WHAT WE OFFER
Salary to commensurate with experience and a comprehensive benefits package is provided.
Calgary Legal Guidance (CLG) is proud of our fun, diverse, professional, and energetic workplace culture. We offer a healthy and positive career-life balance that values the contribution of all staff. We invite all qualified candidates to apply.
Please forward your resume and cover leter as a single PDF document to the atention of the Hiring Team via email at careers@clg.ab.ca no later than Friday, July 21st, 2025.
We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those being considered for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls please.
