This recruitment process will abide by the following timeline:
STEP 1:
Submit your application BY EMAIL to and . Your application should include:
• Your resumé
• Your most recent official law school transcript, and
• A cover letter that outlines that you are legally entitled to work in Canada, and why you want to complete your articling placement with the Public Prosecution Service of Canada. It is also your chance to showcase any relevant work or volunteer experience, school or community involvement, or academic, professional or personal accomplishments.
STEP 2:
Should your application be retained, you will be contacted for an interview between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm MT, Tuesday, May 28, 2024.
STEP 3:
Interviews to be scheduled between 9:00 am MT, Monday, June 3, 2024 and 5:00 pm MT, Friday, June 7, 2024.
STEP 4:
Employment offers to be solicited no earlier than 8:00 am MT, Tuesday, June 11, 2024.
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion:
The Federal Public Service is stronger and most effective when we reflect the diversity of the Canadian population we serve. The Public Prosecution Service of Canada (PPSC) is dedicated to building a diverse workforce and an equitable, inclusive and accessible workplace culture. We are committed to being representative of Canadian society and ensuring that our workforce feels they belong. All candidates in the area of selection who believe they are qualified are encouraged to apply, especially equity groups like members of a racialized group, persons living with a disability, Indigenous Peoples, and the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Bringing your whole self to work each day is important to us. We are genuinely interested in understanding who you are and what your identity factors are.
Accessibility:
Set yourself up for success! As the objective of this process is to assess qualifications needed for the position(s) to be staffed, it is important to us that you feel included and that you can participate without barriers. We are committed to improving accessibility in all areas of our organization and adopting a “Yes, by default” approach when necessary requirements are requested. You are encouraged to communicate your unique needs for accessibility and/or accommodation. For example, you may contact us if you need assistance in completing and submitting your application. Should you proceed to a future assessment stage, such as an exam or interview, we will send you an e-mail with additional information and you can determine if you may require an accommodation at that time (such as, but not limited to, a different test format, an adaptive technology, additional time, a new date, etc.). Assessment accommodations are designed to remove the obstacles without altering the criteria being assessed so that candidates can fully demonstrate their abilities.
Please use the Contact information below to request accommodation during any phase of this assessment process. This information will be kept confidential and your right to privacy will be protected.
Role of the Prosecutor:
Prosecutors play a key role in the Canadian criminal justice system. This role is quasi-judicial in nature, imposing on prosecutors the duty to be objective, independent, and to maintain public confidence in the administration of justice. Prosecutors must handle cases with competence, diligence, and fairness. Prosecutors have a duty to act with integrity and exercise the considerable discretion bestowed upon them fairly, in good faith, and impartially. While prosecutors must be advocates, their role is not to seek convictions at any cost, but to put before the court all available, relevant, and admissible evidence necessary to enable the court to determine the guilt or innocence of the accused.
During your articles, you will foster skills to practice criminal law, particularly as a prosecutor. You will have the opportunity to manage your own files; make court appearances, including docket, bail hearings, preliminary hearings, trials, sentencing. You will observe and support Counsel in the Court of King’s Bench and the Court of Appeal; conduct research for complex legal issues; and develop oral and written advocacy skills. You will also engage with law enforcement agencies and other criminal justice stakeholders.
The Department:
The Public Prosecution Service of Canada (PPSC) is a national organization that prosecutes federal offences. We offer career opportunities for prosecutors, paralegals, legal assistants, and a wide range of business professionals. Our organization consists of approximately 1000 employees in regional offices across the country.
In 2023, we updated our Mission and Values to reflect our commitment to Truth and Reconciliation as well as Equity and Inclusion. The PPSC acknowledges the realities faced by individuals subjected to systemic discrimination and the significant over-representation of racialized and Indigenous persons in the criminal justice system. The PPSC’s mission is to serve the public interest and help make Canada a safe and just society by conducting prosecutions in a manner that is equitable, objective and independent, while protecting the rights of every individual; and contributing to the change necessary to support a criminal justice system that is fair to all.
To learn more about the PPSC’s guiding mission and values, visit: https://www.ppsc-sppc.gc.ca/eng/bas/mis-mis.html.
Every PPSC employee has a role to play in creating a work environment where every person can bring their whole self to work and feel valued and empowered to contribute. Being informed and influenced by our diverse employees helps change the heart and conscience of the PPSC. As part of the larger PPSC Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (EDIA) governance structure, you can join one of five National Councils for Employees: Persons living with Disabilities, Racialized Persons, Black Persons, Indigenous Peoples, and 2SLGBTQIA+.
The PPSC also updated the Decision to Prosecute test, which provides clear guidance to prosecutors on how to be more proactive and conscious about recognizing bias, discrimination, and other factors contributing to over-representation. Prosecutors now have a framework to consider background and systemic factors. These factors are considered not only as they relate to the accused, but also to the victim and affected communities, particularly Indigenous women and girls. It also seeks to clarify situations where the public interest may not require a prosecution.
The Team:
The Alberta Regional Office employs over 120 people between our two offices in Edmonton and Calgary. The Alberta Regional Office prosecutes offences under federal jurisdiction throughout the province. The PPSC is responsible for prosecuting offences under more than 50 federal statutes and for providing prosecution-related legal advice to law enforcement agencies. Cases prosecuted by the PPSC in Alberta include those involving drugs, organized crime, terrorism, tax law, money laundering and proceeds of crime, and a large number of federal regulatory offences, such as environmental and immigration offences.
Roles and Responsibilities:
- Prosecutes charges with respect to offences created by federal law and statutes.
- Provides legal advice and assistance to law enforcement.
The intent of this process is to staff one (1) position in Edmonton and one (1) position in Calgary for a one (1) year period starting in June 2025.
Positions to be filled: 2
Your résumé.
A covering letter "Why us? Why you? Please tell us why you want to complete your articling placement with the Public Prosecution Service of Canada. It is your chance to showcase any relevant work or volunteer experience, school or community involvement, or academic, professional or personal accomplishments." You must send your most recent official law school transcript by email to: and . If we do not receive your transcript by the deadline, your application will be considered incomplete and will not be considered."
Occupational Certification:
- At the time of appointment, Bachelor of Law Degree or equivalent.
English essential
Information on language requirements
Knowledge:
- General knowledge of the law.
Competencies:
- Specialized Skills and Knowledge (such as understanding one’s role, legal skills and legal knowledge)
- Professionalism (such as professional conduct, professional fortitude, service orientation and self assessment)
- Judgement (such as decision making, critical thinking, and adaptability)
- Practice Management (such as file management)
- Communicating effectively (such as verbally, in writing and by listening attentively)
- Interpersonal Relationships (such as building relationships and emotion management)
- Leadership (such as coaching and mentoring, influencing others and teamwork)
Organizational Need:
The PPSC is committed to establishing and maintaining a representative workforce. We encourage candidates belonging to one or more of the following equity groups to self-declare: Indigenous peoples, persons living with a disability, members of a visible minority group, and women. Applications from those who self-declare as belonging to one of these groups could be considered first. They could also be given preference at the hiring stage.
Operational Requirements:
- Requirement to travel which may include assignments on short notice and for extended periods.
- Ability and willingness to work outside normal working hours which may include working evenings, nights and weekends based on operational needs.
The Public Service of Canada is committed to building a skilled and diverse workforce that reflects the Canadians we serve. We promote employment equity and encourage you to indicate if you belong to one of the designated groups when you apply.
Information on employment equity
Preference will be given to veterans first and then to Canadian citizens and permanent residents, with the exception of a job located in Nunavut, where Nunavut Inuit will be appointed first.
Information on the preference to veterans
We thank all those who apply. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.