Law Clerk (One Year Contract)

Who is OMVIC:

OMVIC (Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council) is Ontario’s vehicle sales regulator. OMVIC enforces the Motor Vehicle Dealers Act and other consumer protection statutes for the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery. OMVIC’s mandate and role is to maintain a fair and informed marketplace by protecting the rights of consumers, enhancing industry professionalism, and ensuring fair, honest, and open competition for registered motor vehicle dealers. This is achieved by maintaining strict dealer/salesperson registration requirements; inspecting all Ontario dealers (new and used); providing free complaint handling to consumers; developing/delivering consumer and dealer education/awareness programs; and investigating and prosecuting industry non-compliance and illegal sales (curbsiding).

What we offer:

OMVIC is made up of dedicated and hard-working individuals who take pride in the work they do each day to ensure that our mandate is being met. It is this great group of people that create a team atmosphere that is comfortable, friendly, and open which works to foster the team spirit.

Position Summary:

The Law Clerk is responsible for a wide variety of legal and administrative duties within the Legal Services Department.  This includes the preparation of legal documents and correspondence, responding to inquiries, performing file research, interacting with internal and external stakeholders and interacting with others in the legal department and those involved in our administrative actions.  Broad and thorough knowledge of basic legal concepts and principles is essential for this role.

Responsibilities

• Prepare legal documents based on written instruction, verbal direction, taped court proceedings, and precedents.
• Draft, issue, file and serve legal documents and correspondence with respect to litigation matters.
• Proofread and edit all documentation for grammar, spelling, and content accuracy.
• Ability to obtain and follow direction or instructions from lawyers and prosecutors.
• Assist with general practice office management, including filing, scheduling meetings via various virtual platforms, booking internal meeting rooms, and making travel arrangements.
• Conduct legal research as directed by lawyers and prosecutors, including research on statutes, ordinances, rules of practice, court decisions, opinions, and articles.
• Assemble and prepare legal documents based on research, such as summaries, resolutions, disclosures/briefs, and pleadings.
• Perform case preparation, review case records, and update case progress into internal database.
• Interview clients or witnesses in person or over the telephone regarding complaints, depositions, and statements under the direction and supervision of a lawyer or prosecutor
• Prepare presentations.
• Participation in internal projects or internal committees are voluntary but are encouraged for career development and enhancement of knowledge relating to organizational initiatives and mandates
• Reviewing emails, and other general correspondence received by the legal department and ensuring correspondence is addressed and allocated to the appropriate place.
• Liaising with outside organizations, Ministries, other regulators (including other Delegated Administrative Authorities), courts, hearing offices and police agencies.
• Ensuring the internal database is up-to-date and accurately reflects any administrative action taken as well as relevant file notes.
• Maintaining and keeping up to date the departmental tickler/tracking system for hearings, appeals, meetings and return/due dates.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or college diploma required, with Law Clerk designation, Paralegal license in good standing with LSO, but will also consider applications where paralegal or law clerk is in the process of obtaining designation/certification, or an acceptable combination of education and experience.
• At least 1-3 years of proven legal experience.
• Good knowledge of basic legal concepts, principles, and terminology.
• Practical knowledge of the Motor Vehicle Dealers Act, 2002 and related regulations Canada Evidence Act, Provincial Offences Act, Highway Traffic Act and related regulations, Consumer Protection Act, 2002 and related regulation, Sale of Goods Act, Statutory Powers Procedure Act, and Safety and Consumer Statutes Administration Act and other related statutes as they apply to the activities of OMVIC
• Practical knowledge of the Licence Appeal Tribunal rules and practice directions and familiarity with the template forms
• Good understanding of legal reference materials, procedures, and legal filing systems.
• Critical thinking, analysis, and research skills are essential.
• Ability to read, interpret and apply legal documentation, laws or legislation.
• Strong sense of ethics and the ability to handle sensitive or private information with tact and discretion; knowledge of data privacy laws.
• Superior interpersonal skills to interact with employees, lawyers or prosecutors, witnesses, other departments within OMVIC, and external agencies.
• Good research skills on the internet and traditional sources of information. i.e., basic knowledge of Quicklaw, CanLii
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft 365 applications including Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and OneDrive/SharePoint.
• Strong knowledge of Adobe (Pro) and its functions
• Good writing skills, including letter writing, drafting, proper spelling, grammar, and punctuation for complex documentation.
• Good time and file management skills with the ability to prioritize tasks with minimal supervision.
• High level of sound and independent judgment, reasoning, and diplomacy.
• Resourceful, flexible, and able to communicate effectively in various formats.

We respectfully thank all applicants for their interest in working at OMVIC. However, we will only contact those meeting the qualifications for an interview.

OMVIC fosters an environment that respects people’s dignity, ideas and beliefs, thereby working to ensure diversity, equality and inclusion and has been committed to and will continue advocating for an environment where all persons are treated with fairness, dignity, and respect. OMVIC is committed to providing accessible employment practices that are in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), ensuring that all individuals are treated with dignity and respect. Should you require accommodation for disability during any stage of the recruitment process, please notify the Human Resources department.