Legislative Counsel

Role Responsibilities

The Legislative Counsel Office is seeking an accomplished legislative drafter and legal advisor to join its team as a senior Legislative Counsel.

This position is intended for a recognized legal expert with extensive experience providing strategic legal advice and legislative drafting services on matters of significant complexity, visibility and importance to government. You will play a leadership role within the Legislative Counsel Office while supporting the Government of Alberta in achieving its legislative objectives through expert legislative drafting services, strategic legal advice and mentorship of other legislative counsel.

Reporting to the Deputy Chief Legislative Counsel and Registrar of Regulations, the senior Legislative Counsel supports the Government of Alberta in achieving its legislative objectives through the provision of expert legislative drafting services, strategic legal advice and leadership within the Legislative Counsel Office.

As a legal expert, you will work independently on complex legislative matters in challenging circumstances and provide advice and recommendations on initiatives that may have significant legal, operational, policy or reputational implications for government.

You will serve as a senior resource to legislative counsel across the office and are expected to contribute to the development of the long-term capability of the Legislative Counsel Office through leadership, mentoring and knowledge sharing. 

In this role, you will ensure client ministries' legislative objectives are achieved by:

• Providing expert legal and legislative advice on complex and strategically significant legislative proposals;
• Leading and supporting high-profile legislative projects involving substantial legal, policy, operational or political considerations;
• Assessing legal and implementation risks associated with legislative proposals and recommending practical, solution-focused strategies to mitigate those risks;
• Assisting client ministries with legislative aspects of policy development and the structural framework for legislation;
• Providing strategic advice regarding legislative options, legislative process requirements and the advancement of legislative initiatives through government decision-making processes;
• Advising ministries on legislative problem areas and transitional, compliance and enforcement issues;
• Drafting complex bills, regulations and Orders in Council in accordance with Legislative Counsel Office standards, conventions and principles of statutory interpretation;
• Mentoring and coaching legislative counsel and contributing to the development of drafting expertise within the office;
• Serving as a senior resource on legislative drafting, legislative process, statutory interpretation and legislative policy development;
• Collaborating with colleagues across the Legal Services Division and government to resolve novel, sensitive or cross-ministry legislative issues;
• Building effective working relationships with senior government officials and stakeholders while managing competing priorities and sensitive matters;
• Contributing to the development of drafting resources, business improvements and office priorities in support of divisional and government objectives; and
• Responding to ministries' inquiries regarding the drafting, enactment and implementation of legislation.

Our successful candidate will demonstrate recognized expertise in legislative drafting and legal analysis, extensive experience managing complex and sensitive legislative matters, exceptional judgment, and a proven ability to provide strategic, solution-focused legal advice.

Our ideal candidate will have experience leading significant legislative initiatives, identifying and mitigating legal and operational risks, building strong relationships with senior government officials and stakeholders, and mentoring the development of other legislative counsel.

The Job Description is provided for further details on this position. 

APS Competencies

Competencies are behaviors that are essential to reach our goals in serving Albertans. We encourage you to have an in depth understanding of the competencies that are required for this opportunity and to be prepared to demonstrate them during the recruitment process.

Below is the list of critical competencies required for this role:

• Agility- Must be able to anticipate, assess, and readily adapt to changing priorities, maintain resilience, and work effectively in changing environments.
• Drive for Results- Sets goals and prioritizes work to accomplish them. Follows through on duties and tasks and reports on progress.
• Develop Networks- Proactively builds networks, foster connections, and establishes trust in relationships with diverse stakeholders.
• Systems Thinking- Understands how work contributes to the achievement of departmental goals. Anticipates changes in own area based on activities in other areas.
• Creative Problem Solving- Have the ability to assess options and implications in new ways to achieve outcomes and solutions.
• Build Collaborative Environment- Leads and contributes to the conditions and environments that allow people to work collaboratively and productively to achieve outcomes.
• Develop Self and Others- A commitment to lifelong learning and the desire to invest in the development of the long-term capability of yourself and others.

Qualifications

Requirements

• A Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) or Juris Doctor (JD) is required.
• You must be an active member of, or immediately eligible for full membership with, the Law Society of Alberta.
• Civil Crown Counsel 5: A minimum of 11 years of legal experience is required.
• A Cover Letter is required along with your application. In your cover letter, please briefly summarize:
  • Legal experience and expertise,
  • Relevant strengths and skills, and
  • Reasons for interest in the position.

Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.

Preference will be given to the applicants who possess:

• A minimum of 11 years of progressively responsible legal experience drafting government legislation, providing strategic legal advice on legislative and regulatory initiatives and working collaboratively with Legislative.
• Counsel, including at least 8 years of experience as a legislative drafter in a Government Legislative Counsel Office.
• Demonstrated expertise in drafting highly complex, high-profile and politically sensitive legislation and providing strategic advice on matters of significant legal, operational or political importance, including elections, government transitions, Cabinet and Executive Council initiatives, and other major government priorities;
• Demonstrated experience leading significant legislative projects and managing competing priorities in demanding environments;
• Demonstrated experience assessing legal risk and developing practical solutions to complex legislative issues;
• Demonstrated experience mentoring, coaching and developing legislative counsel;
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain effective relationships with senior government officials, stakeholders, legislative and legal counsel; and
• Demonstrated success managing multiple complex legislative files with competing deadlines and priorities.

Assets

• A graduate diploma or professional certificate in Legislative Drafting.

Minimum recruitment standards outline the minimum education and experience required for appointment to a job classification.

Notes

Hours of work: Monday - Friday, 8:15 am - 4:30 pm (36.25/week)

Positions Currently Available: 2 temporary salaried positions are available for 2 years, with the possibility of extension. This job posting might be used to fill similar opportunities in the future as well.

Location: These opportunities are located at Bowker Building, 9833 - 109 Street, Edmonton.

Final candidates will be asked to undergo a security screening. Any costs associated with obtaining the required documents/checks as noted or interview travel expenses, will be the responsibility of the candidate. Out-of-province applicants can obtain the required documents/checks from the province they currently reside in.

Links and information on what we have to offer:

• Working for the Alberta Public Service.
• Management Employee Pension Plan (MEPP).
• Alberta Public Service Benefit Information.
• Professional learning and development.
• Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool.
• Positive workplace culture and work-life balance.