Legal Services Technician in Sydney

The Nova Scotia Public Prosecution Service (PPS) was established in 1990 as the first statutorily based independent prosecution service in Canada. The Public Prosecution Service is responsible for all prosecutions and appeals within the jurisdiction of the Attorney General.

With the guiding mission of providing fair and equal treatment in the prosecution of offences, the PPS prosecutes charges laid under the Criminal Code and under Nova Scotia statutes such as the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

The core functions of the Nova Scotia Public Prosecution Service are to:

• Represent the Crown in the conduct of criminal trials and quasi criminal appeals before all levels of courts.
• Participate in the development of criminal law and criminal prosecutions policy.
• Provide advice to police in respect of prosecutions generally or in respect of specific investigations.

As the Legal Services Technician 1-2, you will work in a team environment providing legal assistance, case management, file management and secretarial/administrative support for Crown Attorneys of the Public Prosecution Service. Your knowledge of legal terminology and specialized criminal law procedures will be put to the test as you use your understanding of the prosecution process and court proceedings to support the Public Prosecution Office.

Primary Accountabilities:

• Create, track and manage all Public Prosecution Service criminal and administrative files.
• Prepare legal documents including affidavits, subpoenas and orders, briefs, factums and memoranda, while ensuring that the highest PPS and Court standards of accuracy and completeness are met in a highly confidential office setting.
• Respond to requests from all levels of government, private law firms and the public for information and assistance and act as a referral source for victims of crime to Victim Services agencies.

Qualifications and Experience:

• A certificate or diploma from a Paralegal program or Legal Assistant program.
• Demonstrated experience in an automated environment using Microsoft Word, Outlook or similar transferrable programs.
• Proficient and accurate transcription skills (handwritten or dicta methods), as well as strong typing skills.
• Strong attention to detail, prioritization and organizational skills with the ability to combine speed and accuracy while under pressure to meet deadlines.
• Ability to deal effectively in a multifaceted and sometimes stressful environment while ensuring confidentiality.
• Excellent verbal and written skills, a high degree of initiative, problem solving, independent work habits, and readily accept responsibility.

The following are considered assets in this position:

• Exposure to the justice system and government services.
• Experience with JEIN and PICS.
• Working knowledge of the STAR/STOR central file management system or other filing systems.
• Demonstrated understanding of the prosecutions process, experience working with legal documents and forms, understanding of court proceedings and legal terminology.
• Legal research and retrieval of relevant case law using electronic tools (e.g., Quicklaw, Westlaw, CanLII and/or legal libraries).

All successful candidates must be able to pass appropriate background checks.

Benefits:

Based on the employment status and union agreement, the Government of Nova Scotia offers its employees a wide range of benefits such as a Defined Benefit Pension Plan, Health, Dental, Life Insurance, General illness, Short and Long Term Disability, Vacation and Employee and Family Assistance Programs.

Working Conditions:

• Normal work week is 35 hours/week, 7 hours/day (8:30 AM to 4:30 PM).
• May be required to work overtime on occasion.
• Mental Pressures Include: balancing multiple priorities, high demand for accuracy and attention to detail, tight deadlines.
• Physical Pressures Include: sitting at a desk and keyboarding for extensive lengths of time, lift/move/carry heavy file boxes.
• Nature of the work environment may bring staff into contact with individuals who are verbally abusive and physically threatening.
• You will be exposed to graphic and disturbing material of a nature which would not be encountered in ordinary workplaces.
• You will be working with highly distraught victims of crime which can create a stressful and emotionally draining work environment.

This is a permanent full-time employment opportunity, located in Sydney, NS.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.