City of Surrey

Paralegal

The City of Surrey is a place of innovative transformation and accelerated growth—where the future is limitless and possibilities are endless. If you are excited about helping to build the city of tomorrow—and you share our values of integrity, service, teamwork, innovation and community—join us, today.

SCOPE 
The City of Surrey is seeking a Paralegal to join a professional and collegial team consisting of solicitors, paralegals and legal assistants to perform a wide array of paralegal functions related to litigation matters, with a focus on bylaw enforcement proceedings, including civil injunctions, prosecutions, and hearings before City Council. The position will have an initial focus on bylaw enforcement but may offer opportunities to work on a broader range of legal matters as the City continues to grow and the Legal Services Division develops.

EMPLOYMENT STATUS
Exempt - Regular Full-Time

RESPONSIBILITIES 
Reporting to the City Solicitor in the Legal Services Division of the Corporate Services Department, the Paralegal is responsible for the following:

• Drafts petition and application materials, affidavits, pleadings, orders, bills of costs, discovery requests, responses and trial preparation documents.
• Schedules meetings, trials, discoveries, hearings, etc. and prepares relevant documentation.
• Reviews, gathers and manages documents to be used in proceedings.
• Assists in interviews and investigations.
• Drafts and prepares correspondence with both opposing parties and client departments.
• Prepares and manages the filing and service of court materials.
• Exercises a high level of confidentiality and tact.
• Exercises independent judgment when working with precedents.
• Researches and analyzes a variety of sources such as statues, regulations, court decisions, legal documents and articles for use in preparing materials related to litigation under the supervision of an Assistant City Solicitor.
• Photocopying and filing.
• General office duties as required.
• Other duties as assigned, including handling subpoenas, tax sales, bankruptcy proceedings, on an as needed basis.

QUALIFICATIONS 

• Completion of Grade 12 or equivalent, supplemented by a paralegal certificate or diploma by an accredited program.
• Minimum of 3 years of paralegal experience in litigation.
• Membership in the British Columbia Paralegal Association is considered an asset.
• Thorough understanding of litigation, including knowledge of rules and practices relating to the BC Supreme Court.
• Experience with other levels of court or administrative tribunals is an asset.
• Experience with municipal law is an asset.
• Experience working in a municipal or government environment would be an asset, as would experience with supporting the prosecution or defense of regulatory proceedings.
• Experienced in preparing and organizing correspondence and a variety of legal documents ensuring compliance with court.
• Proven research and legal analysis skills.
• Strong critical thinking skills, a high level of initiative, and a proactive approach to problem solving.
• Detail oriented with an excellent ability to multi-task, prioritize, and organize within strict timelines.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and ability to both work collaboratively in a team environment and independently.
• Organized and meticulous.
• A high level of proficiency with MS Word, Excel, Adobe Acrobat, PowerPoint, and various document management systems.
• Ability to work under pressure in a busy environment to meet deadlines.
• Eagerness to assist with the needs of the office as they arise.

Additional Info

• This position requires the completion of a Police Information Check.
• Successful applicants must provide proof of qualifications.
• This job will be posted until the position is filled.

APPLY
The City of Surrey has engaged Swim Recruiting to assist in this competition. Interested candidates are asked to apply directly with Swim Recruiting by emailing their resume to [email protected]. Cover letter is optional.

Closing Date: December 22, 2023

Organization: City of Surrey

Region: Lower Mainland

Posted: September 22, 2023, 1:40 pm

Expires: December 22, 2023, 4:30 pm

Employment Type: Full Time
Employment Length: Permanent
Education Requirement: College, CEGEP or other non-university certificate or diploma from a program of 1 year to 2 years
Job Experience: 3 years to less than 5 years