Job Opportunities in Canada

Legal Counsel

The University of Saskatchewan's (USask) main campus is located in the vibrant city of Saskatoon on Treaty 6 territory and the traditional homeland of the Métis. USask is one of the top research-intensive, medical doctoral universities in Canada, and is home to world-leading research in areas of global importance, such as water and food security and infectious diseases.

USask’s Legal Office is a community of professionals that oversees the provision of internal and external legal services to the institution and provides strategic legal consultation and support on a comprehensive range of legal issues, policies and procedures. The Legal Office is housed in the Office of the President and offers legal services to all academic, research and support units across campus. The Legal Office supports the entire campus. This includes working with the Office of the Vice President Research (OVPR) to support the high-quality research and mobilizing the results of that research for external impact.

Primary Purpose: Legal Counsel’s role is to provide timely and comprehensive legal advice and services in order to manage legal risks, support, and enhance the University of Saskatchewan’s mission.

Nature of Work: Reporting to General Counsel, Legal Counsel will provide a full range of legal services and strategic legal guidance to senior leaders, faculties, schools, and administrative units across the institution. The Legal Office is a collaborative and team-oriented space where legal counsel will be expected to provide cross portfolio advice and consult in multiple areas of law, including research legal issues and contracts, real estate matters, labour and employment law and intellectual property.

The work is highly-detailed and deadline driven, requiring the ability to coordinate meeting internal and external deadlines. Drawing upon expert communication and organizational skills, the position ensures that proactive, user-oriented services are delivered to a diverse constituency. Issues are often complex with the potential for significant legal, financial, and/or reputational risk.

Accountabilities:

• Protects the University’s legal interests
• Provides legal advice on commercial issues, including contract negotiation, drafting, and

review; support for real estate transactions; and advice on corporate law matters

• Provides legal advice to researchers and OVPR staff on research-related matters, including clinical trial agreements and other research agreements involving USask.
• Provides legal advice on administrative law principles related to internal administrative decision-
• making and processes, including internal tribunals.
• Offers consultation and advice on intellectual property law to a variety of academic and administrative stakeholders, including advice regarding non-disclosure agreements, licensing
• agreements, and information technology, and trademark and copyright issues.
• In consultation with the Access and Privacy Officer, provides legal advice on privacy-related matters
• Provides legal advice and opinions on all manner of labour and employment matters at the University, including workplace accommodation, occupational health and safety, employment contracts, collective agreement interpretation, discipline, and overall employee and labour relations (including collective bargaining).

Qualifications

Education: The Legal Counsel must hold a qualified law degree (JD, LL.B.), and be a member in good standing of the Law Society of Saskatchewan.

Experience: This role requires a minimum of three years’ experience in private practice or in-house practice, along with proven negotiation skills and experience in arranging and concluding complex legal arrangement among multiple parties. Experience in the research and/or clinical trial areas is an asset.

Skills: The successful candidate must be a multi-tasker who understands priorities and has proven problem-solving abilities; is creative, personable and versatile; demonstrates an aptitude for working in a team-oriented atmosphere; possesses strong verbal and written communication skills, exemplary interpersonal skills, and exhibits strong attention to detail; possesses exceptional relationship building skills; is able to work independently and possesses a high standard of professional integrity in handling sensitive information.

Inquiries regarding this position can be directed to Erin Kornaga at erin.kornaga@usask.ca .

Department: Legal Office
Status: Permanent
Employment Group: ASPA
Shift: Mon-Fri 8:00 to 4:30
Full Time Equivalent (FTE): 1.0
Salary: The salary range, based on 1.0 FTE, is $85,555.00 - 142,503.00 per annum. The starting salary will be commensurate with education and experience.
Salary Family (if applicable): Specialist Professional
Salary Phase/Band: Salary Band 3
Posted Date: 10/11/2024
Closing Date: 10/25/2024 at 6:00 pm CST
Number of Openings: 1
Work Location: May be eligible for hybrid work under the terms of USask's Alternative Workspace Guidelines

The University is committed to employment equity, diversity, and inclusion, and are proud to support career opportunities for Indigenous peoples to reflect the community we serve. We are dedicated to recruiting individuals who will enrich our work and learning environments. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, in accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority. We are committed to providing accommodations to those with a disability or medical necessity. If you require an accommodation to participate in the recruitment process, please notify us and we will work together on the accommodation request. We continue to grow our partnerships with Indigenous communities across the province, nationally, and internationally and value the unique perspective that Indigenous employees provide to strengthen these relationships. Verification of Indigenous Membership/Citizenship at the University of Saskatchewan is led and determined by the deybwewin | taapwaywin | tapwewin: Indigenous Truth policy and Standing Committee in accordance with the processes developed to enact the policy. Successful candidates that assert Indigenous membership/citizenship will be asked to complete the verification process of Indigenous membership/citizenship with documentation. The University of Saskatchewan’s main campus is situated on Treaty 6 Territory and the Homeland of the Métis. We pay our respects to the First Nations and Métis ancestors of this place and reaffirm our relationship with one another. Together, we are uplifting Indigenization to a place of prominence at the University of Saskatchewan.