Job Description

Job Description

About CUPE

The Canadian Union of Public Employees is Canada’s largest union, with 750,000 members across the country. CUPE represents workers in health care, emergency services, education, early learning and childcare, municipalities, social services, libraries, utilities, transportation, airlines and more. We have 68 offices across the country, in every province. CUPE advocates for workers who deliver the public services people depend on. Our members work in hospitals, schools, municipalities, and many other public spaces. We help our members provide the highest level of service by ensuring they are safe and healthy at work, and that they get fair pay and benefits for the services they provide. We also advocate for better public services, like improvements to public health care and to the Canada Pension Plan, which would improve our communities and the lives all Canadians.

Position Description

Working with the National Legal Director and under the supervision of lawyers at our National Office, the Articling Student will conduct research, write legal memos and draft submissions. The Articling Student will also have the opportunity to support litigation and attend hearings, mediations and meetings with the in-house lawyers in CUPE’s Ontario Region, and, if possible, will prepare and present a case at labour arbitration or other tribunal. Work will substantially deal with the laws and practices applicable to the practice of law in Ontario, and may also deal with federal jurisdiction and other provincial jurisdictions. Areas of work will include labour, human rights and other areas of administrative law, as well as some exposure to workers’ compensation law and general counsel work, including CUPE’s internal trial procedure.

Qualifications

• Common law degree from a university in Canada approved by the Law Society of Ontario, or Certificate of Qualification issued by the National Committee on Accreditation.

• Ability to work in English is required. Ability to work in French is an asset.

• Demonstrated commitment to social justice is required. Knowledge of labour law, understanding of trade union principles and/or prior involvement in a trade union is an asset.

Location

This position is located in Ottawa, Ontario, and requires some in-person attendance for meetings. The Articling Student is provided with office space at our National Office, but is permitted to work from home when in-person attendance is not required.

Start Date

Articles can begin between June and August. The usual start date is the last Monday in July.

Salary and Benefits

• $1,266.30 / week

• Law Society of Ontario Lawyer Licensing Process fees.

• Comprehensive staff benefit package including extended health, dental and employee assistance plan.

• Monthly transportation allowance of $130.50 available upon request (if not using employer-provided parking).

• Student membership in Canadian Association of Labour Lawyers and Canadian Bar Association.

Application Process

The application package should include cover letter, resume, transcripts, writing sample, list of upper year courses and list of references. Please submit your document to the attention of Danielle Lightford at legal@cupe.ca .

CUPE is committed to fostering a representative workplace and a culture grounded in respect, diversity and inclusiveness at all levels of our organization to ensure that our workforce reflects the diverse CUPE membership and the diverse communities in which we live and serve. CUPE encourages applications from qualified members of equity-deserving groups, including women, Black and racialized people, Indigenous people, persons with disabilities, and 2SLGBTQI+ people. We will provide reasonable accommodations for candidates on any protected human rights grounds at any stage of the selection or recruitment process.

Please indicate in your cover letter if you identify as, and wish to be considered, a member of an equity-deserving group.

CUPE thanks all applicants for their interest, however only those selected for an interview will be notified.

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