We’re hiring!

by | Feb 16, 2023 | News, Uncategorized

LEGAL ADVOCATE

Prisoners’ Legal Services, Burnaby, BC  

Prisoners’ Legal Services is looking for a passionate, problem solving, empathetic and dedicated advocate for the rights of people in prison with a focus on prison discipline.

We are a small non-profit society providing legal services to people in federal and provincial prison in the province of British Columbia.

The legal advocate position involves providing advocacy regarding prison legal issues. This work is primarily done by telephone, fax and email.  Advocacy on behalf of people in prison may involve summary advice, informal advocacy, providing written submissions and personal representation at tribunals.

Legal advocates have conduct of client files and are responsible for ensuring day-to-day tasks are scheduled and performed within relevant timeframes. The job involves reviewing and determining the legal merit of cases and determining the level of service to be provided. Legal advocates work under the supervision of a lawyer.

Legal advocates have a great deal of contact with people in prison, prison administrators and parole authorities.

This position may require frequent travel to prisons in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley. Access to a vehicle is essential. A CPIC clearance is required to visit prisons.

Basic Qualifications:

  • Post-secondary education in Law, Criminology, Social Work, Paralegal training or equivalent;
  • Strong verbal, written and interviewing skills; and
  • Experience in a legal environment or advocacy an asset.

Skills and Abilities

  • ability to be a strong advocate for disadvantaged clients, including those with low income, those with mental health disabilities, and those whose first language is not English;
  • ability to work well with others in a team setting;
  • ability to negotiate and find creative solutions to prisoners’ legal problems;
  • ability to exercise excellent judgment in matters of ethics and confidentiality;
  • ability to identify systemic issues and think strategically;
  • must have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, in particular in dealing with people in prison, lawyers, and prison and parole officials;
  • must be familiar with general software applications (e.g. MS Word, Outlook);
  • must be willing and prepared to assist those convicted of various crimes in a non-judgmental way; and
  • second language or demonstrated awareness of the cultural diversity of prisoners an asset.

Annual salary:  $58,615 (three-year term with possibility of renewal)

Closing date:  March 26, 2023

Start date:  ASAP

Interested applicants should submit a covering letter and résumé outlining how their qualifications meet the position requirements to:

Jennifer Metcalfe, Executive Director
Prisoners’ Legal Services/
West Coast Prison Justice Society

Email: jmetcalfe@pls-bc.ca

prisonjustice.org

We are committed to upholding the values of equity, diversity and inclusion and we welcome and encourage applications from members of groups who experience barriers to equity.

News Release: PLS calls for CSC to consider systemic abuse of Indigenous people in prison in its investigation into the death of Kendal Campeau

by | Nov 21, 2022 | News, News Releases

Unceded Coast Salish Territories (Burnaby, BC) – Today, Prisoners’ Legal Services (PLS) made submissions on behalf of the family of Kendal Campeau to the Correctional Service Canada’s (CSC) National Board of Investigations in relation to his death at the age of 31 at Pacific Institution on November 14, 2021 from methadone toxicity.

Mr. Campeau was a member of the Yellow Quill First Nation and grew up in Saskatchewan. His death in the custody of CSC adds to the long list of Indigenous people who have died in colonial prisons in Canada.

In our submissions, we urge CSC to consider Mr. Campeau’s death in prison as part of Canada’s history of forcibly separating Indigenous families and the mass incarceration of Indigenous peoples. Mr. Campeau’s life and death represent many of the systemic issues experienced by Indigenous people in prison, including classification to higher levels of security, having his “Indigenous Social History” used against him, transfer to prisons far away from his family and community, the use of prolonged solitary confinement, and violent assaults and abuse by correctional officers or facilitated by officers.

He was transferred away from his family in Saskatchewan to BC in 2019 after he was violently assaulted in prison. In BC he was violently assaulted again and placed in a Structured Intervention Unit before being transferred to Pacific Institution. On November 14, 2021 he was found unresponsive in his cell. He was taken to outside hospital and then returned to the prison, where he died later the same day.

Mr. Campeau had a long history of being harmed by colonial systems. Although he came from a loving family and did not experience any abuse in his home, he was removed from his family and placed in foster care at the age of 10. His mother unsuccessfully attempted to regain custody. He spent time in group homes, where he was abused, including by being forcibly held down in restraints. At the age of 12 a police dog attacked him and tore his arm.

In adult custody, Mr. Campeau suffered extensive abuse by correctional officers. His sister, Ashley Fontaine, wrote about her brother’s reporting of one incident when he was sexually assaulted by correctional officers:

“Kendal said that the guards ‘pissed in a mop bucket’ and told him to mop his cell with the urine in the pail. He refused and began swearing at the guards. He then became overwhelmed with emotions and you can hear it in his voice. Kendal said, ‘I fought back Doll. I wasn’t going to mop my cell with pissy water, fuck that shit. I pissed one of the guards off, so he kicked over the mop water, spilling all over in my cell’. Kendal then went on to say that what the guard did by spilling the pail in the cell, had angered him and then started ‘swinging punches’. Kendal said that at this point the guards rushed him, tackled him down and beat ‘the shit out of me’. Kendal started crying on the phone with me as he mentioned what they did to him next. He said they pulled his pants down and shoved the mop stick ‘up his ass’. He was raped by the guards wielding the stick. Kendal told me he couldn’t ‘shit or sit for weeks[‘] while he was down in the hole [segregation] due to the damage from the rape.”

Ashely notes that Mr. Campeau spoke about this incident in a voicemail he left for her approximately one week before he died.

Mr. Campeau’s records indicate that he attempted suicide while being held in segregation in 2019. Medical staff believed he had been sexually assaulted, and his records note he was found crying in the shower, having slashed his arm and thigh severely enough to require treatment at outside hospital. Prior to this incident, CSC health providers had repeatedly signed off on Mr. Campeau’s continued isolation.

Mr. Campeau also reported to his sister that a correctional officer gave him a razor blade and “tormented him into thinking that he was a waste of life and encouraged him to end his life,” and that guards would stand there and watch as he cut his arms and legs.

PLS has received several reports from incarcerated people about CSC correctional officers encouraging them to kill themselves and sometimes giving them razor blades.

Mr. Campeau submitted grievances about his mistreatment but CSC’s responses were cursory.

PLS encourages CSC to thoroughly investigate Mr. Campeau’s treatment in its custody as part of its investigation into his death.

Media contact:

Jennifer Metcalfe, Executive Director
jmetcalfe@pls-bc.ca * 604-636-0470

We are hiring a 2023 articling student!

by | Sep 26, 2022 | News

2023 ARTICLING STUDENT JOB POSTING

This position is for a two year term (articles and first year staff lawyer) to start in May or June, 2023.

Burnaby, BC

About the organization

Prisoners’ Legal Services is a legal clinic serving people in federal and provincial prisons in British Columbia. We assist people in prison with issues related to their liberty rights under s. 7 of the Charter, health care and human rights.

Duties and responsibilities

  • Providing general legal aid services to prisoners, including interviewing clients, managing client files, conducting legal research and writing submissions with a focus on liberty rights, human rights and health care;
  • Representing clients at institutional disciplinary and Parole Board of Canada hearings; and
  • Assisting legal counsel in the preparation of research and submissions in the areas of human rights and health care.

Skills and experience

Strong research and writing skills and an interest in oral advocacy are essential. Familiarity with administrative or human rights law is an asset. The successful candidate should have the ability and desire to work with people in prison in a respectful and non-judgmental manner. Interested students should have a car to travel to prisons in the Fraser Valley, public health permitting.

Salary and hours of work

The salary for this position is $50,000 in the first year and $60,000 in the second year. The position is for 35 hours of work per week. Professional Legal Training Course (PLTC) and Law Society fees and insurance will be covered.

To apply

Applications should include a résumé, cover letter, writing sample and transcripts. The cover letter should be addressed to Jennifer Metcalfe, Executive Director, Prisoners’ Legal Services and should include an explanation of why you are interested in this position.

Submit applications via email to jmetcalfe[at]pls-bc.ca. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.

We strongly encourage applications from members of communities that experience structural discrimination and marginalization.

This position is funded by the Law Foundation of BC.

We are hiring a receptionist/administrative assistant!

by | Jun 6, 2022 | News, Uncategorized

Prisoners’ Legal Services is looking for a receptionist/administrative assistant who wants to use their skills to support the rights of people in prison.

We are a small non-profit society providing legal services to people in federal and provincial prisons in the province of British Columbia.

The receptionist/administrative assistant reports to the executive director. The position involves providing reception/intake, office and clerical services to support lawyers and advocates.

Duties include:

  • Answering calls from clients, entering information into our database, determining their legal issues, directing calls to the appropriate staff member and taking messages as appropriate;
  • Providing clients with referrals to other agencies, sending public legal education material and providing limited legal information in specific identified areas;
  • Answering other calls, taking messages, arranging couriers, sending and delivering faxes and mail;
  • Maintaining accurate database and filing system;
  • Drafting letters;
  • Track access to information requests and responses;
  • Arranging legal aid lawyers to represent clients at hearings;
  • providing advocacy and litigation support for advocates and lawyers;
  • may assist with IT and website; and
  • keeping the office organized and tidy, vacuuming and taking out recycling and garbage every other week.

Basic Qualifications:

  • grade 12 education and training in administrative assistance;
  • knowledge of computer systems; and
  • adequate typing speed.

Skills and Abilities:

  • able to be discreet and  to exercise excellent judgment in matters of ethics and confidentiality;
  • ability to work well with others in a team setting;
  • must have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, in particular in dealing with people in prison, lawyers, prison and parole officials;
  • must be efficient;
  • must have ability to deal with distressed clients in a calm and respectful manner; and
  • must have a desire to assist those convicted of various crimes in a non-judgmental way, including those with mental health disabilities, those with low income, or those whose first language is not English.

Salary:  $43,166 (benefits after 6 months)

Closing date:  June 17, 2022

Starting date:  ASAP

Interested applicants should submit a covering letter together with a résumé outlining how their qualifications meet the position requirements to:

Jennifer Metcalfe, Executive Director
Prisoners’ Legal Services
Email: jmetcalfe[at]pls-bc.ca
prisonjustice.org

PLS is hiring an Intake Worker/Administrative Assistant

by | Apr 13, 2022 | News

Intake worker/Administrative Assistant

Prisoners’ Legal Services, Burnaby, BC

Prisoners’ Legal Services is looking for a compassionate intake worker/administrative assistant who wants to use their skills to support the rights of people in prison.

We are a small non-profit society providing legal services to federal and provincial prisoners in the province of British Columbia.

The intake worker/administrative assistant reports to the executive director. The position involves providing reception/intake, office and clerical services to support lawyers and advocates.

Duties include:

  • Answering calls from clients, entering information into our database, determining their legal issues, directing calls to the appropriate staff member and taking messages as appropriate;
  • Providing clients with referrals to other agencies, sending public legal education material and providing limited legal information in specific identified areas;
  • Answering other calls, taking messages, arranging couriers, sending and delivering faxes and mail;
  • Maintaining accurate database and filing system;
  • Drafting letters;
  • Track access to information requests and responses;
  • Arranging legal aid lawyers to represent clients at hearings;
  • providing advocacy and litigation support for advocates and lawyers;
  • may assist with IT and website; and
  • keeping the office organized and tidy, vacuuming and taking out recycling and garbage every other week.

 

Basic Qualifications:

  • grade 12 education and training in administrative assistance;
  • knowledge of computer systems; and
  • adequate typing speed.

 

Skills and Abilities:

  • able to be discreet and to exercise excellent judgment in matters of ethics and confidentiality;
  • ability to work well with others in a team setting;
  • must have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, in particular in dealing with people in prison, lawyers, prison and parole officials;
  • must have ability to deal with distressed clients in a calm and respectful manner; and
  • must have a desire to assist those convicted of various crimes in a non-judgmental way, including those with mental health disabilities, those with low income, or those whose first language is not English.

 

Salary:  $41,490 (benefits after 6 months)

Closing date:  April 25, 2022

Starting date:  May 2022

Interested applicants should submit a covering letter describing why they would like to work in a social justice oriented organization that serves people in prison, together with a résumé outlining how their qualifications meet the position requirements to:

Jennifer Metcalfe, Executive Director
Prisoners’ Legal Services
Tel: (604) 853-3114
Fax:  (604) 853-1038
Email: jmetcalfe@pls-bc.ca