We are committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, starting with the hiring process. If you need to be accommodated during any phase of the evaluation process, please use the Contact information below to request specialized accommodation. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR:
We are seeking high-quality candidates who are excited about the practice of law in the government sector and who are committed to public service, including respect for public service values and ethics.
PROCESS STEPS
Step 1: SCREENING - TELL US ABOUT YOU!
For screening, you MUST apply online via GC Jobs. Answer the screening questions and submit your answers by no later than May 27, 2025, 23:59, Pacific Time.
Additionally, in order to be considered for screening, you must provide the following documents by submitting them through Simple Survey at the following link: https://form.simplesurvey.com/f/s.aspx?s=e2b24c8d-7a67-431f-9d28-69b33ca446b4
1. Cover letter* (to the attention of Legal Excellence Program)
2. Résumé
3. Copy of your most recent law school transcript
4. Two (2) signed reference letters (to the attention «To whom it may concern»)
*COVER LETTER INSTRUCTIONS
We are eager to learn more about you! In your cover letter you should introduce yourself, demonstrate your interest in the public law and public service and explain why you would be an ideal candidate for an articling position within the Department of Justice. The recommended length for your cover letter is 500 to 750 words. A minimum font size of 12 points and a font type such as Arial, Verdana or Tahoma are recommended.
The cover letter will serve as a tool to assess the following ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATION: Ability to communicate effectively in writing.
Submissions that do not contain a GC Jobs application and ALL of the above-mentioned documents (five (5) mandatory documents in total) will be considered incomplete. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.
All of the above must be submitted at the latest May 27, 2025 23:59 Pacific Time.
Step 2: INTERVIEW - MEET WITH US!
Candidates selected for interview will receive an invitation between June 4 and June 6, 2025. Interviews will take place between June 9 and June 18, 2025 and will be administered remotely over the Internet, on the Microsoft Teams (MS Teams) videoconferencing platform, or in person according to your pre-identified preference.
At the interview, candidates must bring:
Proof of Canadian Citizenship (passport, birth or citizenship certificate) or Permanent residence.
Due to the number of applicants and the strict deadlines, it may be necessary to impose a limit on the number of applicants selected for the interview.
Top down selection will be made based on a global assessment of the candidates’ ability to communicate effectively in writing, cumulative grade point average in the courses pursued for their law degree in addition to a combination of education, training, internship and any other pertinent experience.
Articling in the Legal Excellence Program will offer you diverse and challenging work assignments throughout three rotations, where you will gain experience in litigation, legal policy development and the provision of both legal advisory services to client departments and specialized legal advice. Students benefit from the experience and expertise of assigned mentors who provide them with professional guidance and support in each of the three rotations. Collegiality, a wide array of legal work and a dynamic work environment are just a few of the benefits offered by the Legal Excellence Program for Articling Students. Throughout your articles, you will develop the essential knowledge, skills and experience for practicing law in the public sector.
Why you should join the Justice team?
The Department of Justice Canada can offer you a rewarding career, where you are part of a team working to ensure that Canada has an accessible, efficient and fair system of justice.
The Department of Justice Canada supports the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada in virtually every area of law, from the development of policy to the drafting of legislation, and from litigation to the provision of legal advice to other federal departments and agencies. The issues Justice lawyers deal with on a daily basis are often on the cutting edge of legal trends and have significant impacts on Canadian society.
The tradition of excellence at the Department of Justice Canada is embodied in its culture, which values inclusiveness, fairness and respect for Canada's legal system.
A career with the Department of Justice Canada offers such benefits as practical courtroom experience, interaction with the legislative process, training and professional development, and access to an extensive network of legal resources. Working in a collegial and supportive setting, Justice lawyers may specialize in a particular area of law or may rotate through a diverse range of legal settings in the course of their careers. More information on our areas of practice is available on our website: http://www.justice.gc.ca/careers
A pool of fully qualified candidates will be created to staff articling positions primarily at the Department of Justice Canada in the National Capital Region (Ottawa).
Appointments resulting from this process will be made under the Justice Canada LP-01 Training and Development Program. This program provides for the progression of participants from LP-00 (articling student) to LP-02 (counsel) over approximately 5 years. As such, it is expected that an initial appointment to this program would ultimately result in an indeterminate non-advertised LP-02 appointment (subject to meeting all program requirements).
Once initial appointments are made, the pool of qualified candidates could be made available for articling positions with other federal government organizations, departments, agencies, Crown corporations, Military Police Complaints Commission of Canada and various tribunals under the umbrella of the Administrative Tribunals Support Service of Canada, etc.
Positions to be filled: 18
ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATION (Mandatory) - Education
CERTIFICATION AND EDUCATION
Articling students (not yet eligible for membership in the Bar of one of the provinces or territories of Canada or in the Order of Notaries in the Province of Quebec) must hold a Bachelor of Law degree (i.e. Bachelor of Law (LL.B), Juris Doctor (J.D.), LL.L, or equivalent) at the time of appointment.
Note: If you obtained your law degree from outside of Canada, you must apply to the National Committee on Accreditation (NCA) or the Barreau du Quebec to have your legal education credentials evaluated. It is your responsibility to arrange for completion of the NCA or Barreau du Quebec’s requirements in time to commence your articles.
Various language requirements
English or French Essential or Bilingual Imperative, depending on the position to be staffed.
Information on language requirements
ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS (Mandatory) - Abilities and Core Competencies
ABILITIES:
Ability to analyze legal problems
Ability to communicate effectively orally
Ability to communicate effectively in writing
CORE COMPETENCIES:
Demonstrating integrity and respect
Thinking things through
Working effectively with others
Showing initiative and being action-oriented
ASSET QUALIFICATION (Optional) -
EXPERIENCE:
Experience working in a legal environment at Justice Canada or in one of the departmental legal services units.
KNOWLEDGE:
Knowledge of the Department of Justice Canada and its mandate.
ORGANISATIONAL NEEDS
The Department of Justice is committed to a representative workforce that represents the Canadian population it serves. If you are a woman, an Indigenous person, a person with a disability, a member of a racialized group* or a member of the 2SLGBTQIA+**/ Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) communities, we encourage you to self-declare in this staffing process. Self-declaration information can be factored into the screening, assessment, or selection decision. This information will only be used in connection with this selection process.
* Please note that this group is currently designated as members of visible minorities in the Employment Equity Act.
**2SLGBTQIA+: Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and people who identify as being part of sexual and gender diverse communities.
HOW TO SELF-DECLARE
If you are a woman, an Indigenous person, a person with a disability, or a member of a racialized group, self-declaration information will be collected via your job application profile, under the Employment Equity section.
Please note that the Affirmation of Indigenous Identity Form will be used later in the process to affirm your self-declaration as an Indigenous person (First Nations, Inuit or Métis). For more information on this requirement, please consult the Questions and Answers page: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-service-commission/services/appointment-framework/guides-tools-appointment-framework/affirmation-indigenous-identity-form.html.
If you are a member of the 2SLGBTQIA+/ Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) communities, self-declaration information will be collected via a non-screening question in your job application.
OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENT
Candidates may be required to travel occasionally depending on the position to be staffed.
Secret security clearance - At the time of appointment, candidates must meet this condition of employment and maintain this condition throughout their employment.
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
EMAIL – IMPORTANT NOTE:
For this selection process, email is the most effective way to communicate with you and for you to be invited for evaluations. It is the responsibility of the candidate to ensure accurate contact information is provided and updated as required. Candidates who apply to selection processes should include an email address that accepts email from unknown users (some email systems block these types of email). Therefore, it is your responsibility to verify your email and/or GC Jobs account on a regular basis for new communication regarding this selection process.
Acknowledgment of receipt of applications will not be sent; we will contact the selected candidates once the screening is completed.
ASSESSMENT INFORMATION:
Any information obtained throughout the selection process, from the time of application to close of process, may be used to evaluate the candidates and make selection decisions.
Candidates may be required to meet the asset qualifications or the organizational needs, depending on the requirements of the specific position being staffed.
Other qualifications may be applied at the selection decision stage.
Persons are entitled to participate in the appointment process in the official language of their choice.
The Department of Justice Canada encourages persons with priority entitlements to self-refer to our selection process in circumstances where they believe to meet the essential qualifications of the advertised position.
By applying to this process, you consent to your application and assessment-related information being shared with other federal organizations in the event that they should ask for it, in order to consider your application to staff a similar position within their organization.
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.