About the position
Work environmentAs Canada’s Legal Team, both the Tax Law Services Portfolio and the National Litigation Section (NLS) are a national network of Justice and Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) employees – including counsel, paralegals, and administrative and legal support staff working at headquarters and in regional offices.
Canada’s Legal Team also includes the Central Agencies Portfolio – Finance Legal Services Unit (FIN-LSU) who delivers strategic advice to all sectors of the Department of Finance and works closely with departmental officials to ensure that policies, programs, and legislative initiatives—particularly in areas such as fiscal planning, taxation, financial sector regulation, federal transfers, and international financial engagement—are legally sound, aligned with government priorities, and consistent with applicable laws and authorities.
► Tax Law Services Portfolio:
The Department of Justice Tax Law Services Portfolio has developed in-depth expertise in tax law and related areas and built a national practice that is unparalleled in Canada. The portfolio provides legal support, including legal advice and litigation on matters such as the goods and services tax, income tax, collections, employment insurance, administrative law, corporate governance and civil litigation. Our in-depth expertise in law and related areas allows us to mobilize resources best suited to respond to the evolving legal needs of the CRA.
► Advisory positions in the Tax Law Services Portfolio - CRA-LSU:
The CRA-LSU is both an office of the Tax Law Services Portfolio and the CRA which coordinates and ensures the delivery of legal services and strategic advice to all sectors of the Agency. As part of the Tax Team, you will provide legal advice and support to the CRA on legal matters arising under the Income Tax Act, the Excise Tax Act and other tax legislation. As part of the Collection Team, you will provide legal advice on how to apply and interpret the collection provisions in the CRA program legislation.
► Litigation positions in the Tax Law Services Portfolio – Tax Litigation Section and NLS Regional Offices:
Tax litigation counsel represents the CRA in litigation matters before all levels of court, including tax appeals, collection matters, and certain civil lawsuits. In addition, counsel provide advice to the CRA for early resolution and avoidance of disputes, and on litigation strategies for ongoing cases, as well as potential litigation. This advice can include litigation management, dispute prevention and resolution, coordination of national issues, and management of legal risk.
► Advisory positions in the FIN-LSU:
The FIN-LSU is both an office of the Central Agencies Portfolio of the Department of Justice and a branch of the Department of Finance which coordinates and ensures the delivery of legal services and strategic advice to all sectors of the Department. As part of the Tax Team, you will provide legal advice to the Tax Policy Branch to assist in the development of tax policy and legislative implementation. You will provide legal advice and support to the Department of Finance on legal matters arising under the Income Tax Act, the Excise Tax Act and other tax legislation.
Intent of the process
This inventory is limited to Tax Law positions at the LP-01 and LP-02 levels. Candidates should be aware that all appointments from this inventory will be to Tax Law specific roles.
A pool of qualified candidates may be established from this inventory which may be used to staff similar positions (term or indeterminate) within the Department of Justice. Candidates may be required to meet asset qualifications, organizational needs or other qualifications specific to the position being staffed that may or may not be listed in this job advertisement.
The immediate needs are to staff 10 LP-01 positions in the NLS - Ontario Regional Office and multiple positions in the Tax Law Services Portfolio.
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.
We encourage you to apply as soon as possible. The first extraction may take place as early as two weeks. All extractions will take place on an "as and when needed" basis.
► INSTRUCTIONS TO FOLLOW
A complete application must be submitted, consisting of a résumé and responses to screening questions. The responses must clearly demonstrate, with the use of concrete examples, how you meet the occupational certification and experience factors listed under the essential qualifications, as well as any of the asset experience qualifications that may apply.
The following information is required for each experience criterion:
1. Name of the department or organization where the experience was acquired (WHERE);
2. Title of the position occupied and duration (including dates) for which you exercised the functions (WHEN);
3. Specific examples and details of tasks, projects, or accomplishments demonstrating how the experience was acquired (HOW).
The screening questions will be used as the primary tool in the screening process and the résumé will be used to substantiate the information provided. Applications that do not clearly demonstrate how the screening criteria are met will be eliminated from consideration.
***Your ability to communicate in writing may be assessed throughout your application. Please answer the screening questions with complete sentences.***
► Persons are entitled to participate in the appointment process in the official language of their choice. Please indicate your preferred official language(s) in your application.
► Communication for this process will be sent via e-mail. It is your responsibility to ensure that a current and valid e-mail address is provided and updated accordingly and that it accepts messages from unknown senders. We encourage you to provide a second e-mail address in their application.
► All communication relating to this process, including email correspondence and telephone conversations, may be used in the assessment of qualifications.
► Candidates will be asked to indicate their preferred work location(s) as part of the application process. If selected for appointment at one of their chosen locations, candidates who do not currently live there will be required to relocate to that location.
You need (essential for the job)
Your application must clearly explain how you meet the following
Occupational Certification:
OC1: Eligibility for membership in the Bar of one of the provinces or territories of Canada or in the Chambre des notaires du Québec.
Applied / assessed at a later date
Experience:
EX1: Stream 1 (LP-01): Experience providing legal services as counsel or through the completion of experiential training recognized and required by the law society to be called to the bar (for example: articling, clerking, Integrated Practice Curriculum (IPC), Law Practice Program (LPP), etc.).
EX2: Stream 2 (LP-02): Significant experience providing legal services or conducting litigation as counsel. *
*Significant experience providing legal services or conducting litigation as counsel is defined as the depth and breadth of experience normally associated with the performance of duties involving work on legal and/or legal policy matters as counsel, or on litigation files as counsel over a period of approximately four (4) years
Knowledge:
K1: Stream 1 (LP-01): Knowledge of relevant case law (i.e. recent changes and prominent cases) related to the position(s) being staffed.
Competencies:
CO1: Demonstrating integrity and respect
CO2: Thinking things through
CO3: Working effectively with others
CO4: Showing initiative and being action-oriented
CO5: Oral communication
CO6: Written communication
Abilities:
A1: Stream 1 (LP-01): Ability to identify legal issues and recommend solutions.
A2: Stream 1 (LP-01): Ability to demonstrate judgment in seeking guidance on more complex issues.
A3: Stream 2 (LP-02): Ability to analyze legal issues and provide strategic advice.
A4: Stream 2 (LP-02): Ability to manage the legal practice, including using digital tools.
You may need (asset qualifications)
May be applied / assessed at a later date
AED1: Completion of a Master of Law program (LLM) or equivalent with a specialization in tax law or completion of the Chartered Professional Accountants Canada In-Depth Tax Program.
Learn more about degree equivalency.
AEX1: Experience in bankruptcy, insolvency, or restructuration.
AEX2: Experience in litigation.
AEX3: Experience providing legal services in tax matters.
AEX4: Experience providing legal services in administrative law, civil law or in matters of civil or tax collection.
AEX5: Experience in legislative drafting.
Organizational Needs:
The Department of Justice believes that to be able to effectively serve the public, its workforce needs to reflect the diversity of the Canadian population. Diversity is a great source of strength in driving Canada’s Legal Team in ensuring that Canada’s justice system is as fair, accessible and efficient as possible. The Department is committed to a representative workforce that represents the Canadian public we serve. 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) community, we encourage you to self-declare in this staffing 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.
INFORMATION ON SELF-DECLARATION
Self-declaration information can be factored into the screening, assessment, or selection decision to address our commitment to eliminate gaps and increase representation for these groups. This information will only be used in connection with this selection process.
HOW TO SELF-DECLARE
If you are an Indigenous person, a woman, a member of a racialized group, or a person with a disability, self-declaration information will be collected via your job application profile, under the Employment Equity section.
• Please note that your self-declaration as a member of First Nations, Inuit or Métis will be verified via the Affirmation of Indigenous Identity Form to be provided later in the staffing process. 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.