STAFF LAWYER POSITION - PERMANENT

Housing Team

SCLS is a non-profit community based legal clinic funded by Legal Aid Ontario.  We provide clinic law services to low income individuals in a culturally diverse community.  Our work includes individual case work, public legal education, law reform, and community development activities mainly in the areas of residential tenancy law, income maintenance law, immigration law, and workers’ rights. We are looking for an enthusiastic lawyer to provide legal services to low income individuals and groups in all areas of housing law.

Duties and Responsibilities

Casework

• Provide summary advice, brief services, and casework in all aspects of housing law matters
• Conduct legal research for the purpose of collaborating with our legal team
• Undertake court appeal, judicial review, and other complex legal actions in all aspects of housing matters as approved by the Executive Director
• Provide summary advice, brief services, and casework in other areas of law practiced by the Clinic as might be required. Experience in immigration law is an asset.
• If sufficiently experienced, support the Executive Director in the supervision of the legal work of legal team members

Law Reform, Community Organizing

• Identify and carry out law reform and community organizing initiatives in collaboration with the legal team
• Represent the Clinic to community groups by providing resources and expertise on poverty law issues
• Monitor policy changes, government initiatives, research studies, reports etc. on matters that have an impact on, and implications for, our client community

Public Legal Education

• Speak to community agencies and community members on poverty law issues, clinic services, and other topics within expertise
• Write, edit, and review clinic produced PLE materials 

Qualifications and Experience

• You must be a lawyer in good standing of the Law Society of Ontario, with one to five years of relevant legal experience.
• You must have sound knowledge of relevant legislation including the Residential Tenancies Act, Housing Services Act and the Human Rights Code.
• You have strong advocacy skills and the ability to evaluate legal issues and exercise sound judgment.
• You have a demonstrated commitment to social justice and working for positive social change on issues that affect low income individuals and groups. 
• You have the strong communication and interpersonal skills that are needed to address the needs of clients from a variety of social and cultural backgrounds.
• You have a collaborative work approach and the ability to work well in a team based environment.
• Experience litigating matters before administrative tribunals or courts is an asset.
• Knowledge in other areas of clinic law and the ability to speak a second language are assets.

Terms of Employment

This is a unionized, permanent full-time position that is part of the OPSEU bargaining unit and subject to the Collective Agreement.

We have a Remote Work Policy that permits a hybrid work arrangement for this position after completion of a six-month probationary period.

The compensation package includes a comprehensive health and dental benefits package and membership in DBPlus CAAT pension plan.

Salary Range:  Staff Lawyer with 1 – 5 years of experience: $78,500- $86,000

How to Apply

All applicants are asked to submit the following, in PDF format, through the FactorialHR web portal at https://scls.factorial.com/job_posting/331045

• Cover letter,
• Resume; and,
• Contact information for two professional references

Your cover letter should outline any experience you have working with low income and diverse communities, relevant employment and lived experiences.

The deadline for applications is November 18, 2026

SCLS welcomes applications from diverse individuals who self-identify on the basis of any of the protected grounds under the Human Rights Code. Lived experience and intersectional identities are merit factors for hiring for this position.

We are committed to full compliance with the Human Rights Code, the Accessibility For Ontarians With Disabilities Act, the Occupational Health and Safety Act, and all other applicable legislation. We will provide accommodation during the hiring process upon request. Information received relating to accommodation measures will be addressed confidentially.

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