Counsel

Work environment
The Northern Region of Justice Canada provides advisory and litigation services to departments and agencies operating in Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. The Northern team includes approximately 15 lawyers plus administrative support and managers.Litigation:
Much of the work of the Northern Regional Office is litigation-based. A significant portion of the work requires defending actions involving Crown Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs, the Royal Canadian Mountain Police, and to a lesser extent other federal departments operating north of 60.
As litigation counsel you will represent the Attorney General of Canada in actions and judicial reviews, in the Federal Court and the courts of one or more of the Territories.Advisory:
About one-third of the work of the Northern Region is comprised of a broad range of advisory services. This includes legal advice and support in relation to Aboriginal law, environmental law, torts, contracts, real property practice including conveyancing, statutory interpretation, and administrative law including some tribunal proceedings.

Intent of the process
There is an immediate need to staff one litigation position and two advisory positions.A pool of partially or fully qualified candidates may be established to staff similar positions within the Department of Justice with various tenures, various linguistic requirements, various operational requirements and/or various conditions of employment.★ Please note that if successful and offered a position, you would be required to relocate to the location of the position in either Whitehorse, Yellowknife or Iqaluit

Important messages
When you apply to this selection process, you are not applying for a specific job, but to an inventory for future vacancies. As positions become available, applicants who meet the qualifications may be contacted for further assessment.
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📣 Please note: While the closing date for applications is December 31, 2026, we will pull applications at specified dates as noted below; therefore, earlier application may result in earlier consideration for any available position(s). Applications will be pulled from the system and considered in the following order:
• July 29, 2026
• August 12, 2026
• August 26, 2026
• September 23, 2026Subsequent pulls will be done as needed.
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When submitting an application to this selection process, you will be prompted to answer screening questions concerning the essential and asset experience qualifications. It is your responsibility to provide clear and concrete examples in your responses to each question, including when (from-to), where (occupational title, organization) and how you obtained your education and experience. It is recommended that you describe the experience examples in specific terms, providing sufficient details so that the Assessment Board can clearly understand. The content of your response must be supported by your resume as your responses to these questions will be used as a primary source of information and your resume will only be used to validate this information.----------------------------------------------------------------
Northern Allowances:
In addition to your base salary, you will receive an Isolated Post Allowance:
• Approximately $7,936 to $41,365 per year (rates vary depending on location and personal circumstances)
• Vacation Travel Assistance provided upon request once or twice per year for each eligible member of the household (rates and frequency vary depending on work location)Please note that rates and conditions above are subject to change. Please see the Isolated Posts and Government Housing Directive for more information http://www.njc-cnm.gc.ca/directive/ipgh-pile/index-eng.phpWe also offer:
• Relocation Assistance: Applicants may be eligible for relocation assistance and may wish to review the Relocation Directive: https://www.njc-cnm.gc.ca/directive/d6/en
• Pension & Benefits package: For more information, see: https://www.canada.ca/en/treasury-board-secretariat/topics/pension-plan.html and Public service group insurance benefit plans - Canada.ca
• Training, Development & Education Opportunities: Multi-year career development plans which include opportunities for education assistance funding and training opportunities
• Housing: Federal government housing is available in Iqaluit, NU.

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• Reliability, Secret, or Top Secret security clearance (depending on position or as required).• Remain a member in good standing of the law society of Yukon, Nunavut or Northwest Territories (depending on the position being staffed)• Medical Clearance
*The incumbent and their dependents may be required to obtain Health Canada medical clearance in accordance with the Isolated Posts and Government Housing Directive.

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• Willing and able to work extended hours including weekends.
• Willing and able to travel, as required.

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- Occupational Certification -
• Eligibility for membership in the Bar of one of the provinces or territories of Canada or in the Chambre des notaires du Québec

- Experience -
• Significant* experience providing legal services as counsel.* Significant experience providing legal services as counsel is defined as the depth and breadth of experience normally associated with performance of the duties working on legal and/or legal policy matters as counsel over a period of approximately four (4) years.

- Competencies -
• Demonstrating integrity and respect
• Thinking things through
• Working effectively with others
• Showing initiative and being action-oriented
• Oral communication
• Written communication
• Ability to analyze legal issues and provide strategic advice
• Ability to manage the legal practice, including using digital tools.

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Applied / assessed at a later date

English essential

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- Asset Qualifications -
• Experience working as a litigator in one or more of the following areas of Canadian law or file types: Aboriginal law, administrative law and tribunal practice, civil litigation, constitutional law, Crown law, environmental law, police law, tort law.

• Experience providing legal advice in one or more of the following areas of Canadian law or file types: Aboriginal law, administrative law and tribunal practice, commercial law, constitutional law, Crown law, environmental law, procurement law, real property law, federal real property transactions.

• Experience working on legal issues pertaining to the Territorial North of Canada

- Organizational 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.As well, the following information and instructions on self-declaration must be included: 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.htmlIf 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.

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Preference will be given to veterans first, followed by Canadian citizens and permanent residents, with the exception of jobs located in Nunavut or Yukon. For positions located in Nunavut, qualified Inuit enrolled under the Nunavut Agreement will be appointed first. For positions located in Yukon, qualified Yukon First Nations will be appointed first, followed by qualified Indigenous persons.

Learn more about preference to veterans.

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