LEGAL ADVOCATE – Indigenous Prisoners’ Voices Project
Prisoners’ Legal Services, Burnaby, BC
Prisoners’ Legal Services is looking for a passionate, problem solving, empathetic and dedicated advocate for prisoners’ rights for a 12 month contract position.
The legal advocate will focus on identifying the needs of Indigenous people in custody, and providing legal aid services in the area of liberty and health care issues.
We are a small non-profit society providing legal aid to federal and provincial prisoners in the province of British Columbia regarding prison legal issues.
The legal advocate work is primarily done by telephone, fax and email. Advocacy on behalf of prisoners may involve summary advice, informal advocacy and providing written submissions.
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 prisoners, prison administrators and parole authorities.
This position may require 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 a relevant field;
- 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 who have experienced trauma, poverty or colonialism, those with mental health disabilities, or 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;
- must have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, in particular in dealing with prisoners, 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
- demonstrated awareness of the cultural diversity of prisoners an asset.
Salary: $52,848 (35 hours/week)
Closing date: July 25, 2021
Start 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/
West Coast Prison Justice Society
Tel: (604) 636-0470
Fax: (604) 636-0480
Email: jmetcalfe@pls-bc.ca
prisonjustice.org
We welcome and encourage applications from people who identify as Indigenous.