by Web Master | 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.
by Web Master | 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
by Web Master | 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
by J Metcalfe | Dec 9, 2021 | Aboriginal Prisoners, News, Submissions
Today, Prisoners’ Legal Services wrote to Premier Horgan calling on BC to fund initiatives for Indigenous-run alternatives to prison. Click here to see the letter.
by Web Master | Sep 29, 2021 | News, News Releases, Uncategorized
BURNABY, BC – September 29, 2021
Today, Prisoners’ Legal Services released a paper documenting government reports that confirm Canada’s treatment of Indigenous people held in its prisons constitutes a continuation of genocide and crimes against humanity.
Indigenous people in prison are more likely to be held in maximum security and solitary confinement. They are more likely to have violence used against them by correctional officers. Indigenous people in prison have high rates of death by homicide, suicide attempts and self-harm.
The Canadian government spends more than half-a-billion dollars each year imprisoning Indigenous people, while it denies funding to Indigenous communities to provide healing services and significantly under-funds Indigenous-run healing lodges.
On the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Prisoners’ Legal Services calls on Canada to end the genocidal practice of incarcerating Indigenous people in prisons, and calls on Canada to ensure Indigenous communities have the resources to provide healing alternatives to imprisonment.
Leading up to the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Prisoners’ Legal Services has received reports from Indigenous people that correctional officers have been making racist remarks, including that the reports of unmarked graves identified at the sites of former residential schools are “fake news” and “propaganda” and that Indigenous people should “let it go”.
These remarks were made to people who are experiencing the very real pain and intergenerational trauma of genocide, in an environment where every aspect of their lives is controlled by the state.
“There is hypocrisy in creating a national holiday in the spirit of truth and reconciliation with Indigenous people while Canada actively engages in the mass-incarceration of Indigenous people. We can’t have truth until Canada acknowledges these ongoing atrocities, and we can’t have reconciliation until we stop denying Indigenous nations and communities the ability to heal,” said Jennifer Metcalfe, executive director of Prisoners’ Legal Services.
Media contact:
Jennifer Metcalfe
604-636-0470
jmetcalfe@pls-bc.ca
by Web Master | Sep 10, 2021 | News, Submissions, Uncategorized
On September 2, 2021, Prisoners’ Legal Services presented to the BC Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services. You can read our written submission here.
