Careers@LAO
Legal Aid Ontario is committed to promoting access to justice throughout Ontario for low-income individuals by providing consistently high quality legal aid services.
Application Assessment Officer
Assignment: Permanent Full Time
Location: Thunder Bay District Office
Area of Search: Open
LAO & Clinic employees and external applicants may apply
Current Status of the Job: The position is vacant.
Reports to: District Administrator
Primary Function:
The primary function is to screen and/or interview applicants that require the services of legal aid and to make entitlement decisions based on legal and financial information obtained from the client.
Main Duties of the Job:
- Triage and assess clients’ needs to determine the appropriate service for the client, and to make client referrals where necessary in the area office, court office and at the detention centres
- Assist with referrals to the Client Service Centre, and/or complete certificate applications, determine legal and financial eligibility and issue legal aid certificates for eligible clients
- Conduct telephone and in person interviews to gather information about cases and assist Duty Counsel with client queries, referrals, requests for information, client or witness interviews etc
- Assisting clients and lawyers on the phone and/or in person
- Providing information to clients relating to legal aid and court proceedings
- Referring applicants to other legal and/or government services and/or to the advice lawyer
- Making entitlement decisions based on LAO’s financial eligibility and policy criteria
- Preparing payment agreements, certificates, forms and general correspondences
- Interview sureties to assist Duty Counsel in preparing for bail hearings
- Liaise with private bar lawyers, police, and LAO court workers and other court staff
- Other related duties as required
Required Skills & Experiences:
- A good understanding of LAO’s structure and the services that LAO provides
- Knowledge of legal aid application policies, processes and procedures including Section 30 process, financial principles and LAO policies and practices
- A good understanding of the Peoplesoft system
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and sound judgement for dealing with applicants and lawyers
- Excellent interpersonal, communication and interview skills, and sound judgment for dealing with clients, lawyers and other agencies
- Solid understanding of criminal court processes, rules and practice directions for all levels of court serviced by the Duty Counsel office
- Knowledge of relevant criminal legislation, including the Criminal Code of Canada, the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Youth Criminal Justice Act
- Knowledge of family court processes, the Family Law Act and other relevant legislation
- Maintain knowledge of Peoplesoft and other computer programs and systems
- Ability to determine legal and financial eligibility based on LAO eligibility criteria
- Fluency in spoken French or another language would be considered an asset
Organizational Competencies Expected
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Classification: S3
Salary Range: $37,050.00 to $55,299.00 per annum
Candidates interested in this opportunity must respond by Friday, March 19, 2010.
Only applications submitted via email will be accepted.
Please forward your resume to job.competitions@lao.on.ca. Be sure to quote the following competition number in the subject line: LAO-036-10
Only those candidates selected for an interview will be notified.
Legal Aid Ontario is an equal opportunity employer.
Legal Aid Ontario values integrity, respect, responsiveness, excellence, independence, accountability, openness and consistency.