Law Centre Director, 

Faculty of Law, University of Victoria 

Assistant Teaching Professor and Clinical Director, Law Centre  Closing date for applications – March 21, 2023  

The University of Victoria is consistently ranked in the top tier of Canada’s research-intensive  universities. Vital impact drives the UVic sense of purpose. As an internationally renowned  teaching and research hub, we tackle essential issues that matter to people, places and the  planet. Situated in the Pacific Rim, our location breeds a profound passion for exploration.  Defined by its edges, this extraordinary environment inspires us to defy boundaries, discover,  and innovate in exciting ways. It’s different here, naturally and by design. We live, learn, work  and explore on the edge of what’s next—for our planet and its peoples. Our commitment to  research-inspired dynamic learning and vital impact make this Canada’s most extraordinary  environment for discovery and innovation. Experience the edge of possibilities for yourself. 

We acknowledge with respect the Songhees, Esquimalt and WSÁNEĆ peoples on whose  traditional territory the university stands and whose historical relationships with the land  continue to this day. 

The Law Centre  

Since its founding in the mid-1970’s, the Faculty of Law at the University of Victoria has sought  to make a unique contribution to legal education in Canada. Dedicated to providing students  with the skills, knowledge, and judgment they will need to embark on diverse careers, UVic  Law, as part of its curriculum, offers a diversity of experiential education opportunities. The Law  Centre Clinical Program furthers the Law school’s and the University’s strategic commitments to  experiential education, engaged student learning, service to the community, equity and  inclusion, and fostering respect and reconciliation for indigenous persons and communities. 

The Law Centre provides clinical legal education to students enrolled in the Faculty of Law,  while also providing an outreach and service to the community. The Law Centre provides a  range of legal services to low-income clients through a clinic located off campus at the Victoria  Courthouse. Students enroll in the program as a full term, for credit, course within the faculty.  In each of three terms, students spend the first four weeks in the orientation part of the  program delivered at the law school. For the remainder of each term, students attend the clinic  fulfilling the role of articled students, directly interviewing, advising, and representing clients with legal matters, with the supervision, advice, and assistance of lawyers in the office.  

The method of clinical legal education places students in an experiential setting where they  may critically observe aspects of the legal system. Students develop an understanding of their  professional role within that system, and develop knowledge, values, and skills relevant to the  practice of law. Through the clinic’s focus on assisting clients who would otherwise be unable to 

afford a lawyer and who have other challenges, students gain an understanding of the health,  social, and economic contexts in which legal issues arise. While assisting students to become  knowledgeable, skilled, and compassionate legal professionals, the clinic provides an important  contribution to access to justice in the community. 

The University of Victoria Faculty of Law invites applications for a Grant-Tenure-track position  at the rank of Assistant Teaching Professor at the Law Centre. This position will commence on July 1, 2023. 

Duties and Activities in Relation to Teaching LAW 350 The Law Centre Clinical Law Program  (7.5 units) 

• Organizing and ensuring the delivery of the Introductory Component (the Orientation)  three terms per year. This could involve teaching or co-teaching approximately 130 hours per term. 
• Preparing and updating course materials, which includes developing and maintaining an  extensive model computerized precedent system. 
• Organizing seminars throughout the term. 
• Assigning students to cases and staff mentors to students. 
• Supervising students with respect to managing their caseloads and developing legal  skills. 
• Securing principals for each student so they can be temporarily articled. • Mentoring and advising students, including special attention to ethical issues that arise  in their relationships with clients, and to their emotional and health needs that arise  from working in a high-stress environment. 
• Conducting formal file reviews with individual students to provide guidance on how they  should proceed.  
• Reviewing and approving student correspondence and legal documents, and overseeing  student preparation for mediations, hearings and trials.  
• Attending mediations, hearings, and trials with students to provide assistance and  constructive feedback.  
• Modeling excellence in performance of the professional role of the lawyer, maintaining  a progressive approach to legal practice, maintaining currency in the substantive and  procedural areas of law dealt with by the Law Centre, and demonstrating excellent legal  skills and general work habits.  
• Working with the Law Centre social worker to assist clients to address the underlying  problems that lead to their legal issues.  

Duties and Activities in Relation to the Administration and Management of the Law Centre • Supervising and coaching staff and contract lawyers.  

• Collaborating with the Dean and Law Faculty staff to ensure continued financial support  for the Law Centre. Collaborative activities may include the following: preparing grant  applications, producing reports for funding agencies and other agencies, liaising with 

grant administrators, developing evaluation plans for various Law Centre programs, and  retaining evaluators. 

• Supporting Law Faculty research projects as appropriate. 
• Managing the Law Centre budget in collaboration with Law Faculty staff. • Managing the Law Centre Programs (Human Rights Clinic, First Nations Outreach, Shut in and Hospital Legal Services, Inmate Legal Services). 
• Developing office procedures, managing facilities and supplies. 
• Managing the office space, which may include securing office space, conducting lease  negotiations, reviewing lease documents and planning renovations as needed. • Promoting, implementing, and managing the use of case management technology to  meet the goals of the clinic, regulatory requirements and the Clinic’s public interest  mandate. 

Professional Activities, Outreach and Public Legal Education 

• Acting as counsel for clients of the Law Centre, including representation before courts  and tribunals. 
• Liaising and maintaining good relations with the judiciary, the Law Society, the Ministry  of Attorney General, the Law Foundation, the Legal Services Society, the Federal  Department of Justice, the BC Human Rights Tribunal, members of the Victoria Bar  Association, numerous government agencies, and community groups in order to secure  support for and promote Law Centre activities. 
• Promoting awareness of Law Centre activities amongst members of the legal profession  and the public. 
• Creating Public Legal Educations materials. 
• Contributing to communications on behalf of the Law Centre including website content  and articles. 

Qualifications 

• A J.D. or LL.B. degree and membership or eligibility for membership in the Law Society  of British Columbia. A further advanced degree in law or a related field would be an  asset. 
• A minimum of 8 years call to the Bar in British Columbia or equivalent experience in  another Canadian jurisdiction.  
• Teaching experience, preferably in a legal academic or experiential learning setting. • Leadership experience, preferably in a clinical setting, supervising students and  providing summary advice.  
• Experience and interest in providing Access to Justice including through Public Legal  Education.  

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 

• Significant knowledge of:  

o the theory and practice of legal skills; 

o criminal and civil procedure including advocacy before Provincial Court and  administrative tribunals;  

o family law, including the preparation of documents for Supreme Court and  Provincial Court applications;  

o corrections law;  

o social welfare law;  

o human rights law; and  

o Indigenous client issues.  

• Experience supervising staff, students and paralegals.  
• Knowledge of collaborative processes used to resolve legal disputes.  • Experience and interest in Access to Justice including Public Legal Education.  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (oral and written).  
• Demonstrated ability to develop resourceful solutions to legal problems of clients.  • Ability to work with, negotiate, discuss and resolve matters with opposing parties,  lawyers, and witnesses as appropriate.  
• Must have awareness and sensitivity to cultural influences in the community.  • Demonstrated ability to work with Indigenous people.  
• Demonstrated ability to work with people facing marginalization due to income,  disability, literacy, language of origin, gender identity or otherwise facing historical  disadvantage.  
• Demonstrated knowledge of practice management including use of technology for file  management.  

Remuneration will be commensurate with educational background and experience.  

Applications consisting of a 1-2 page cover letter outlining your suitability for the position, a  curriculum vitae, and the names of (and contact information for) three referees should be  addressed to the Faculty of Law Appointments Committee and sent by March 21, 2023 to  [email protected].  

For enquires about the position, please contact Acting Dean Val Napoleon at [email protected].  

Please note that reference and background checks, including credential and degree verification,  may be undertaken as part of this recruitment process.  

UVic is committed to upholding the values of equity, diversity, and inclusion in our living,  learning and work environments. In pursuit of our values, we seek members who will work  respectfully and constructively with differences and across levels of power. We actively  encourage applications from members of groups experiencing barriers to equity. Read our full  equity statement here: www.uvic.ca/equitystatement

The University acknowledges the potential impact that career interruptions can have on a  candidate’s record of research achievement. We encourage applicants to explain in their  application the impact that career interruptions have had on their record.  

Persons with disabilities, who anticipate needing accommodation for any part of the application  and hiring process, may contact Faculty Relations and Academic Administration in the Office of  the VP Academic and Provost at [email protected]. Any personal information provided will be  maintained in confidence.  

Faculty and Librarians at the University of Victoria are governed by the provisions of the  Collective Agreement. Members are represented by the University of Victoria Faculty  Association (www.uvicfa.ca). 

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; in accordance with Canadian Immigration  requirements, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. Please indicate in your  application package if you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.