MINJobs posting: Assistant Town Solicitor
March 29, 2024
Municipal Information Network

Assistant Town Solicitor

Organization:
Town of Caledon
Region:
Ontario
Application deadline:
May 10, 2017
  This job posting has expired
Type:
Full Time
Category:
Corporate administration
Description
Reporting directly to the Town Solicitor, this role is responsible for providing legal advice to Town staff and members of Council regarding planning and development applications and appeals and representation before various boards and tribunals, such as the Ontario Municipal Board, Enviroment and Land Tribunals and Building Code Commission. The Assistant Solicitor will also supervise in-house and contracted staff assigned with a focus on developing engaged, innovative, accountable and mutually respectful teams.

KEY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Specific Duties:

 

  1. Provide legal advice and prepare and/or review legal documents as follows:

 

  • Provide legal advice and direction to members of Council and Town staff in regards to administrative, municipal, land use planning and development,  real estate and corporate / commercial law matters
  • Prepare reports for Town Council and attend Council meetings as needed, to present reports and provide advice or obtain any required instructions
  • Prepare, amend and/or review municipal by-laws,
  • Draft, amend and/or review municipal agreements, including leases and licenses
  • Develop, amend and/or review Corporate policies and procedures
  • Draft or review external correspondence on legal matters
  • Review and/or provide legal advice on Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act requests
  • Review staff reports involving legal issues and advise accordingly

 

  1. Prepare, review and/or revise the documents required for the transfer, registration or discharge of any interest in lands to or from  the Town, including:

 

  • Prepare reports, draft by-laws and review or prepare documents to be registered in related interests in land
  • Expropriate lands on behalf of the Town. Prepare relevant documentation, reports etc.
  • Process road closings and the sale of closed roads, including the preparation of reports, bylaws and the registration of related documents
  • Prepare, review and revise agreements related to the acquisition or disposition of property
  • Provide advice and guidance to Town departments and Council on various issues related to real estate including possible disposition of Town-owned lands
  • Conduct title searches, prepare and register documents in Teraview

 

  1. Prepare, review and revise documents and legal instruments related to planning and development, in accordance with applicable legislation (the Planning Act, the Ontario Building Code and the Ontario Heritage Act), including:

 

  • Perform legal analysis and provide comments to Town staff in respect to planning and development matters as follows:
    • draft plans of subdivision
    • draft plans of condominium
    • official plan amendments and/or conformity
    • zoning by-law amendments and/or conformity
    • site plan control
    • Ontario Heritage Act by-laws and/or heritage easements
    • part lot control by-laws
    • miscellaneous agreements
    • development charges
    • title searches, review and/or prepare title search memoranda and prepare electronic documents in Teraview resulting from planning and development applications

 

  • Prepare reports and by-laws for Town Council and attend Council meetings as needed, to present reports and provide advice or obtain any required instructions

oProvide legal advice and direction to members of Council and department staff in regards to planning and development matters

 

  1. Represent the municipality at tribunals and in court for various proceedings in respect of planning and development related matters arising out of the Planning Act, the Ontario Building Code, the Niagara Escarpment Planning and Development Act and the Ontario Heritage Act, including:
    • Preparing legal opinions and briefing notes for Council  and Town staff
    • Drafting relevant documents, including pleadings, issues lists, motions, mediation briefs, witness statements, procedural orders, minutes of settlement, etc.
    • Preparing witnesses and working with witnesses on expert reports
    • Coordinating with case managers of various tribunals and opposing counsel to schedule hearings and settlement conferences
    • Conducting legal research

 

  1. Manage and provide direction to external counsel regarding complex litigation planning and development matters, including reviewing proposed litigation budgets on a matter-by-matter basis and ensuring budgetary discipline is maintained.

 

General Duties:

 

  1. Supervise in-house and contracted staff assigned to perform work related to the Assistant Solicitor’s specific duties with a focus on developing engaged, innovative, accountable and mutually respectful teams
  2. Develop, maintain and work to continuously improve job related standard operating procedures to improve efficiency and processing times and consistent, high quality results
  3. Assist the Town Solicitor in developing new approaches to task management and tracking and developing performance based metrics for all categories of matters under
  4. Work with HR on hiring, performance evaluation discipline etc. as required. Provide input to the career development of assigned staff, including technical direction, training recommendations, coaching and mentoring
  5. Perform additional duties and undertake special projects as assigned
  6. Participate in all mandatory training requirements
  7. Be responsible to work in compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations, the Town of Caledon Policies and Procedures, as well as established industry guidelines

                      

 

Requirements

SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS

  • Training and knowledge in the above, acquired from a  in Law (LLB, JD or the equivalent)
  • Licence in good standing with the Law Society of Upper Canada
  • Minimum 2 years related experience in planning and development, and hearing experience litigating before the Ontario Municipal Board and other planning and development related tribunals
  • Experience before Ontario Courts with respect to administrative law appeals, judicial reviews and/or zoning by-law enforcement would be an asset
  • Demonstrated understanding of relevant legislation
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to
  • Organizational skills with  and ability to meet deadlines
  • Superior interpersonal skills including the ability to work effectively in a team environment
  • Demonstrated ability to make decisions involving
  • Demonstrated ability to work independently
  • Demonstrated ability to exercise significant discretion and sensitivity involving
  • Proven ability to  
  • Demonstrated analytical and problem solving skills involving
  • Demonstrated capability to 
  • Computer proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook) and advanced working knowledge of Quicklaw, Westlaw and CanLii  
  • Satisfactory passing of a criminal record check

WORKING CONDITIONS

  • General environment consists of 
  • Physical activity involves ; lifting up to
  •  travel to various town sites and external meetings
  • Regular exposure to stressful situations. May be exposed to some conflict, and emotionally charged situations
  • Must be able to work after hours or when deemed necessary to meet deadlines and deal with urgent situations
Salary & Benefits

Grade 10: $91,923.81 - $113,517.64

Contact
Town of Caledon
6311 Old Church Road
Caledon Ontario
Canada L7C 1J6
Other relevant information
Please apply @ www.caledon.ca