Ministry of Attorney General
Victoria (Hybrid)
Flexible work options are available; this position may be able to work from home a few days a week subject to an approved telework agreement.
Legal Counsel
$195,190.49 - $224,147.27 annually
The Ministry of Attorney General, as represented by the Attorney General, is the legal advisor to the government of British Columbia. It must ensure the administration of public affairs is carried out in accordance with the law. Legal Services Branch (LSB) supports the Attorney General in fulfilling this mandate by serving as a legal advisor to the government in civil law matters. LSB provides legal advice to the government and ensures that legal risks associated with government operations are reduced. LSB assists all ministries of the government, Cabinet and certain public bodies.
The successful applicant will engage in dynamic and varied opportunities to provide trade-related legal advice and support our clients including all province of British Columbia ministries. Trade-related legal advice includes:
- Advice on trade implications of a variety of legislative and regulatory initiatives for provincial government ministries. This includes advising on non-discrimination obligations in domestic and international agreements, investment obligations of international trade agreements (e.g. expropriation, minimum standard of treatment), as well the risks under WTO and US countervailing duty rules.
- Advice on international free trade agreement negotiating texts and strategy.
- Advice on trade implications of procurement initiatives for provincial government ministries, including, for example, whether a particular purchasing initiative is covered by applicable trade agreements and the potential availability of limited tendering.
- Advice on labour mobility obligations of CFTA and NWPTA for a variety of provincial government ministries. Initiatives include advising on the obligations of regulatory bodies to certify workers of other provinces under the CFTA and NWPTA and advising on the labour mobility implications of legislative and regulatory initiatives. Client ministries include BC’s Labour Mobility Coordinator under the CFTA, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training.
- Assessing the consistency of measures from other trading partners with the same obligations.
- Work with litigation counsel on trade disputes, including US countervailing duty actions involving BC products. This includes the Canada-US Softwood Lumber dispute and other countervail actions against BC products.
- Advice on negotiations and protocols of amendment under the CFTA and NWPTA, including working with external counsel.
- Advice to the Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation on a variety of trade initiatives, including multilateral trade negotiation initiatives, Carbon Border Adjustment Measures, and U.S. regulatory changes affecting BC exports (including associated work with counsel external to LSB).
- Work with litigation counsel on trade and investment disputes, including applications for judicial review, and procurement disputes under the Bid Protest Mechanism.
- Work with litigation counsel on initiatives regarding imposition of duties under Canada’s Special Import Measures Act.
- Manage retainers with trade law counsel external to LSB.
This position will provide the successful applicant with a unique opportunity to continue to maintain and build a strong foundation in government trade-related matters as detailed generally above.
Qualifications for this role include:
- Must be a member of the Law Society of British Columbia in good standing OR immediately eligible for call to the Law Society of British Columbia
- Solicitor experience corresponding to Legal Counsel Level 3: twelve (12) or more years of call
- Experience rendering trade related legal advice
For more information and to apply online by January 17, 2025, please visit our website.