LG CNSL 3 - Legal Counsel - Closing date extended

Posting Title
LG CNSL 3 - Legal Counsel - Closing date extended

Position Classification
Legal Counsel Level 3

Union
CC

Work Options
Hybrid

Location
Victoria, BC V9B 6X2 CA (Primary)

Salary Range
$195,190.49 - $224,147.27 annually

Close Date
1/17/2025

Job Type
Regular Full Time

Temporary End Date

Ministry/Organization
BC Public Service -> Attorney General

Ministry Branch / Division
Legal Services Branch / Central Services Group

Job Summary

The Team
The Central Services Group within the Legal Services Branch (LSB) of the Ministry of Attorney General is recruiting one full-time permanent Legal Counsel Level 3 (twelve or more years of call) with trade law expertise.
The Ministry of Attorney General, as represented by the Attorney General, is the legal advisor to the government of British Columbia. It must ensure the administration of public affairs is carried out in accordance with the law. Legal Services Branch (LSB) supports the Attorney General in fulfilling this mandate by serving as legal advisor to government in civil law matters. LSB provides legal advice to the government and ensures that legal risks associated with government operations are reduced. LSB assists all ministries of the government, Cabinet and certain public bodies.

The Role
The successful applicant will engage in dynamic and varied opportunities to provide trade related legal advice and support our clients that include all province of British Columbia ministries. Trade related legal advice includes:

• Advice on trade implications of a variety of legislative and regulatory initiatives for provincial government ministries. This includes advising on non-discrimination obligations in domestic and international agreements, investment obligations of international trade agreements (e.g. expropriation, minimum standard of treatment), as well the risks under WTO and US countervailing duty rules.
• Advice on international free trade agreement negotiating texts and strategy.
• Advice on trade implications of procurement initiatives for provincial government ministries, including, for example, whether a particular purchasing initiative is covered by applicable trade agreements and potential availability of limited tendering.
• Advice on labour mobility obligations of CFTA and NWPTA for a variety of provincial government ministries. Initiatives include advising on obligations of regulatory bodies to certify workers of other provinces under the CFTA and NWPTA and advising on the labour mobility implications of legislative and regulatory initiatives. Client ministries include BC's Labour Mobility Coordinator under the CFTA, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training.
• Assessing the consistency of measures from other trading partners with the same obligations.
• Work with litigation counsel on trade disputes, including US countervailing duty actions involving BC products. This includes the Canada-US Softwood Lumber dispute and other countervail actions against BC products.
• Advice on negotiations and protocols of amendment under the CFTA and NWPTA, including working with external counsel.
• Advice to Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation on a variety of trade initiatives, including multilateral trade negotiation initiatives, Carbon Border Adjustment Measures, and U.S. regulatory changes affecting BC exports (including associated work with counsel external to LSB).
• Work with litigation counsel on trade and investment disputes, including applications for judicial review, and procurement disputes under the Bid Protest Mechanism.
• Work with litigation counsel on initiatives regarding imposition of duties under Canada's Special Import Measures Act.
• Manage retainers with trade law counsel external to LSB.

This position will provide the successful applicant with a unique opportunity to continue to maintain and build a strong foundation in government trade related matters as detailed generally above.

Qualifications:
Education and Experience Requirements

• Must be a member of the Law Society of British Columbia in good standing OR immediately eligible for call to the Law Society of British Columbia
• Solicitor experience corresponding to Legal Counsel Level 3: twelve (12) or more years of call
• Experience rendering trade related legal advice

Preference may be given to applicants with one or more of the following:

• Experience rendering trade-related legal advice to the Canadian government
• Experience rendering trade-related legal advice to Canadian provincial governments
• Experience rendering trade-related legal advice to the province of British Columbia
• Experience providing legal advice to government or public sector entities in Canada
• Experience authoring or contributing to trade-related articles on relevant topics

For questions regarding this position, please contact George.Ingebrand@gov.bc.ca. .

About this Position:
Amendment 12/11/2024: Posting closing date extended to 01/17/2025.
The successful applicant will be required to join the Professional Employees Association. Details about the terms and conditions of employment is available at Collective agreements - Province of British Columbia (gov.bc.ca). When a collective agreement is negotiated between the PEA and the province of British Columbia to include government legal counsel, terms and conditions in that collective agreement will be binding.
This position is based in Victoria, British Columbia.
Flexible work options are available; this position may be able to work from home a few days a week subject to an approved telework agreement.
An eligibility list may be established to fill future temporary and permanent vacancies.
A Criminal Record Check (CRC) will be required.
Employees of the BC Public Service must be located in BC at the time of employment.

Working for the BC Public Service:
The BC Public Service is committed to creating a diverse workplace to represent the population we serve and to better meet the needs of our citizens. Consider joining our team and being part of an innovative, inclusive and rewarding workplace.

We are committed to ensuring that reasonable accommodations are available throughout the hiring process, including the assessment and selection stages. Please email the individual or contact listed on the posting if you require an accommodation to fully participate in the hiring process.

The Indigenous Applicant Advisory Service is available to Canadian Indigenous (First Nations [status or non-status], Métis, or Inuit) applicants. Indigenous applicants can contact this service for personalized guidance on the BC Public Service hiring process including job applications and interviews.

Working for BC Public Service offers a competitive salary, diverse work environment, a healthy work/life balance, and excellent benefits. In addition to the base salary for Professional Employee Association members, there is an allowance to cover professional fees, strong dental and medical plans and much more . Salary listed does not include the additional 7% Overtime Shift Standby (OSS) provision that can be taken as taken as time off or salary on an annual basis which is on top of four (4) weeks annual leave.

How to Apply:
Your application must clearly demonstrate how you meet the job requirements listed above. Applicants who are selected to move forward in the hiring process may be assessed on their knowledge, skills, abilities, competencies and other position related requirements as outlined in the Job Profile at the bottom of the posting.

Cover Letter: NO - Please do not submit a cover letter as it will not be reviewed.

Resume: YES - Ensure your resume includes your educational accomplishments, employment history including start and end dates (month and year) of your employment, and any relevant information that relates to the job to which you are applying.

Questionnaire: YES - You will need to complete a basic questionnaire to demonstrate how you meet the job requirements.

Find more information on the recruitment process, including helpful tips and videos about the application process, visit the Your Job Application page of MyHR. Gain insights into the hiring journey by joining a Career Conversation . Applications will be accepted until 11:00 pm Pacific Time on the closing date of the competition. If you are experiencing technical difficulty applying, visit the Technical Assistance page of MyHR.

Job Category
Court and Judicial Services

Additional Information