Workers' Adviser - Non-Lawyer

About Us

The Workers’ Advisers Program is a public agency established in 1996 under Part III of Nova Scotia’s Workers’ Compensation Act to provide free and independent legal assistance, advice and representation to eligible injured workers and their dependants as clients seeking workers’ compensation benefits. The Program is a division in Nova Scotia’s Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration. The Chief Worker Adviser supervises the Program’s staff and operations.

The Workers’ Advisers Program has approximately 20 employees located in its Halifax and Sydney offices. Workers’ Advisers (lawyers and non-lawyers) meet with workers and represent them at hearings and in other matters at various locations around Nova Scotia. The Program provides representation on behalf of clients at all levels of decision-making in the workers’ compensation system, including in Court if appropriate.

The Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration works to provide fairness, safety, and prosperity for all Nova Scotians by helping them live, learn, and work to their highest potential.

About Our Opportunity

The Workers’ Compensation Act allows a Workers’ Adviser to be a lawyer, or a person qualified by other formal education or professional experience to prepare and present claims for workers’ compensation benefits and to advise injured workers on routine matters of evidence and law.

As a Workers’ Adviser (Non-Lawyer) with the Workers’ Advisers Program, you will work in accordance with the Program’s guidelines to provide legal services in a solicitor-client relationship to eligible injured workers and their dependants seeking benefits under Nova Scotia’s workers’ compensation system, including legal representation before the Workers' Compensation Board and the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Tribunal.

This position reports to the Chief Worker Adviser.

Primary Accountabilities

You will meet with and provide legal assistance and advice to injured workers regarding possible entitlement to workers’ compensation benefits.

You will provide legal representation on behalf of injured workers before the Workers’ Compensation Board and the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Tribunal.

You will prepare and submit necessary correspondence, appeals, written submissions, affidavits and other documents as appropriate.

Qualifications and Experience

To be successful in this position you do not have to be a lawyer, but you must be qualified by other formal education or professional experience to prepare and present claims for workers’ compensation benefits and to advise injured workers on routine matters of evidence and law.

You must have a good knowledge of Nova Scotia’s workers’ compensation law and system and other relevant administrative and general legal principles.  

You must have a good understanding of the Workers’ Advisers Program’s role in Nova Scotia’s workers’ compensation system.

You must have good verbal and writing advocacy skills.

You must have good organizational skills, including the ability to manage a relatively high caseload while meeting all deadlines.

We will assess these qualifications and competencies using one or more of the following tools: written examination, standardized tests, oral presentations, interview(s), and reference checks.

Equivalency

Applicants relying on education and experience equivalencies must demonstrate such equivalencies in their application.

Benefits

Based on the employment status and union agreement, the Government of Nova Scotia offers its employees a wide range of benefits such as a Defined Benefit Pension Plan, Health, Dental, Life Insurance, General illness, Short and Long Term Disability, Vacation and Employee and Family Assistance Programs.  For information on all our Benefit program offerings, click here: Benefits for government employees.

Working Conditions

• Manage a high volume of work.
• Much of the time is spent reviewing information, both on paper and a computer screen while seated, with ample opportunity for movement.
• Lifting and carrying large files and/or boxes of files is sometimes required.
  
  

Additional Information

Applicants must include:

• A cover letter,
• Resume,
• The names of three references.
  
  

What We Offer

• Career development where you have access to career guidance, tools, resources, and ongoing training for every stage of your career
• Engaging workplace: our employees feel valued, respected, connected, and tuned in, we have forward-thinking policies and strategies
• Countless career paths
• A dynamic, client-focused office environment where service excellence and teamwork are our focus.