Law Centre articling student position

Date Posted: December 8th, 2023.
Posted until: February 1st, 2024

POSITION: The Law Centre, a service of the University of Victoria Faculty of Law, is inviting applications for an Articled Student position for the 2024/25 year.

JOB DESCRIPTION: The Law Centre operates a legal clinic located in the Justice Access Centre adjacent the Victoria Courthouse. The program provides clinical legal education for law students enrolled in the Faculty of Law, and is an access to justice initiative and service outreach of the University. The Law Foundation of British Columbia provides funding for an articled student position in a public interest setting. The Articled Student will contribute to the work of the Law Centre by providing legal services to financially eligible clients in the areas of law that the clinic deals with, including criminal law, administrative law, family law, civil litigation, social welfare law, human rights law, corrections law, Indigenous client issues, creditors, remedies and wills and estates. The position allows the clinic in some cases to assign more complex matters to the Articled Student thereby increasing the level of service we can provide to the public. The Articled Student also contributes to coverage during periods of time between terms when students enrolled in the clinical program are not in session. The position will benefit from participating in a holistic approach to the resolution of clients’ legal problems by working with the Law Centre social worker to secure services to address the underlying issues that lead to the clients’ legal problems. The Articled Student will also have opportunity to provide guidance and support to students enrolled in the clinical program.

ATTRIBUTES AND SKILLS REQUIRED: The position requires an interest in articling in a public interest setting, empathy and willingness to work with clients many of whom are disadvantaged or marginalized, well developed legal skills having regard to being early in practice, with capacity to develop excellent legal skills in client interviewing and advising, legal analysis and problem-solving, legal research, legal correspondence and document drafting, negotiation, mediation, and trial advocacy, and an ability to work both collaboratively and independently as part of a dedicated team. Previous experience in a clinical law setting is an asset. The position is subject to qualification to enroll in the Bar Admission Program of the Law Society of British Columbia, and compliance with Law Society professional ethical and regulatory requirements.

TERMS/CONDITIONS

● Term will commence on or about September 1, 2024, and run for the duration of the articling year.

● Annual salary of $53,000, plus 4% vacation pay, with the ability to participate in the extended health plan available to externally/grant funded employees. (This position is made possible through funding from the BC Law Foundation.)

APPLICATIONS: Application consisting of a cover letter and curriculum vitae should be submitted electronically to the Law Centre Articled Student Search Committee at director@thelawcentre.ca by February 1st, 2024, at 4:00 p.m.