Job Description

Requisition ID: 21850 
Department: Legal Services 
Service: Legal Ops & Support Srvc Branch 
Employment Type: 2 Temporary Full Time Positions - Up to 1 year 
Work Hours: 35 hours per week
Affiliation: MPE 
Salary Information: $50,596.00 - $62,433.28  annually (2026 rates of pay)
Location: City Hall,110 Laurier Avenue West  
City: Ottawa, ON
Job Category: Legal Services 
Application Close: 26/05/2026

ABOUT US

Legal Services provides clients with high quality legal services, both preventative and remedial, in a professional and timely manner.

The organizational design of the legal services function includes twenty-seven Lawyers, an Office Manager, two Articling Law Students, Team Leads, Labour Relations staff, Prosecutors, Claims Investigators and various support staff including Law Clerks, Insurance Services Officer, Information Management Officer, Legal Conveyancer and Legal Assistants.

We provide legal services to a broad range of clients, encompassing all Departments and Branches of the City, the City Council, and various local boards (including the Ottawa Police Services Board and the Ottawa Public Library Board).

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Application Prerequisite: Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) or Juris Doctor (J.D.) Degree (or have a Certification of Qualification from the NCA)

The ideal candidate should also:

• Have a demonstrated background or interest in municipal government;
• Have strong research, writing and communication skills;
• Be reliable, well-organized and able to work independently;
• Be proficient with MS Office and Westlaw;

The City of Ottawa is an equal opportunity organization and is committed to diversity and inclusiveness in its practices.

Bilingualism is an asset.

OF RESPONSIBILITIES

The City of Ottawa’s Legal Services Articling Program is open to students who have completed their law degree studies and are preparing for admission to the Bar. The program provides Articling Law Students with an opportunity to work within a broad range of practice areas and instructs students in the professional responsibilities of being a lawyer.
Articling Law Students usually have complete carriage of litigation files within the Small Claims Court jurisdiction. Students have responsibility for other files as assigned and can expect to participate in the preparation for, and attendance at, various tribunals, such as labour relation arbitrations, the Ontario Municipal Board, the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, etc. Students are also involved in conducting research, preparing opinions, attending Committees and drafting legislative proposals, and are also required to regularly attend sessions at the Provincial Offences Act (POA) Court.
Our practice areas and services include:

• Governance/legislative
• Administrative Law
• Contract and Procurement Law
• Employment and Labour Law
• Environmental Law
• Litigation and Prosecutions
• Police Law
• Planning and Development Law
• Real Estate and Conveyancing

The City’s Articling placements support the candidate’s fulfillment of the experiential training competencies required by the Law Society of Ontario.

SALARY/BENEFITS

• Salary for 2027 – 2028 is approximately $62,433.28 (based on 12 months and 2026 rates).
• At commencement of articling term, Articling Law Students are entitled to dental and extended health benefits, as well as life insurance.
• Articling Law Students are entitled to three weeks of paid vacation.
• The Department provides $2,200 towards the Bar Admission Course fee.

We are committed to the Continuing Professional Development of all Legal Services staff. Therefore, we encourage our Articling Law Students to attend programs, activities or seminars offered by the Law Society of Upper Canada, the Canadian Bar Association, the County of Carleton Law Association (CCLA) and/or other continuing legal education providers.

Articling Law Students will benefit from regular reviews that take place between the Students and their Principals to ensure a successful and rewarding articling term.

APPLICATION MUST INCLUDE

• Resume
• Cover letter
• Undergraduate transcripts (photocopy of official)
• Law school transcripts (photocopy of official)
• Reference letters (one or two)

Application Process:
Applications will only be accepted via the City of Ottawa’s online careers portal.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

• Language Requirement: English oral, reading, writing required.
• Please save a copy of the job poster. Once the closing date has passed, it will no longer be available.

We wish to thank all applicants for their interest and effort in applying for this position. Only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.

The City of Ottawa promotes the principles of diversity and inclusion and adheres to the tenets of the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Ontario Human Rights Code. We encourage applications from members of Indigenous, Black and other racialized communities, persons with disabilities, women and non-binary persons, persons of all ethnic origins, religions, sexual orientations, classes, gender identities and expressions.
Candidates are encouraged to self-identify as a member of one or more designated employment equity groups in the self-identification questionnaire.

The City of Ottawa provides accommodation to applicants during all parts of the hiring process, upon request. If contacted to proceed to the selection process, please advise us if you require any accommodation.

Accessible formats and communication supports are available upon request. Please contact the Employee Service Centre at 613-580-2424 extension 12211 or via email at esc-cse@ottawa.ca