Current Career Opportunity

Location: 220-4211 Kingsway, Burnaby, BC V5H 1Z6

ABOUT HERON LAW OFFICES:

Heron Law Offices is a forward-looking and full-service Canadian immigration law firm with physical premises in Burnaby, British Columbia, but with national and international reach that extends within and beyond Canada’s constructed borders. Our Firm is in a growth phase and is being asked by key stakeholders in the field (Bar Association, Federal Court, Government Agencies, and Academia) to be a leading voice that brings together practice, research, and advocacy. Heron Law Offices has been recognized as one of the Best Law Firms in 2025, earning national and regional Tier 1 rankings in Canadian immigration.

ROLE SUMMARY:

Heron Law Offices is looking to add a full-time, contractor, Canadian immigration and refugee lawyer who wants (read: really, really wants) to be extraordinary and a change-maker in the fields of Canadian immigration, refugee, citizenship, public, and administrative law. This role includes preparing and submitting immigration applications, drafting legal submissions and applications, attending and representing clients in court, and liaising with government departments, courts and tribunals.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The lawyer will primarily handle files and applications in the following areas:

• Temporary Resident and Permanent Resident;
• Economic and Business Immigration;
• Enforcement (including inadmissibility, detention reviews, stays of removal, and out-of-status applicants, e.g. H&Cs, TRPs, PFLs, and rehabilitation);
• Immigration Litigation (Appeals and Judicial Review); and
• Strategic Litigation and Advocacy (around issues such as AI in Canadian immigration, class actions security screening, etc.)

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Called to the Bar in a Province within Canada and are able to be an authorized representative under the IRPA as a lawyer;
• a minimum of 2 years of legal experience in Canadian immigration law or a combined years of experience including being an articling student and a lawyer;
• Experience in preparing and submitting immigration applications;
• Experience working with applications involving inadmissibility, enforcement, and out-of-status applications (e.g. H&Cs, TRPs, PFLs, rehabilitation, risk assessments);
• Experience in preparing for and attending hearings in Federal Court;
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills;
• Strong attention to detail, organization, and time management skills;

PREFERRED, BUT NOT REQUIRED:

• You are or were a Clerk of the Federal Court of Canada;
• You are interested in the intersection between AI and immigration;
• You have some background in civil or criminal litigation;
• You have experience working on the front lines with vulnerable applicants;
• You have experience filing LMIAs and other business immigration-related applications; and
• You are bilingual or multilingual.

REMUNERATION:

• Fee-split model commensurate with experience;
• The estimated/historical take-home contractor fee split is expected to range between CDN $120,000 and CDN $200,000 per year, depending on the lawyer’s level of experience;
• Coverage of Law Society Practice Insurance Fees;
• CPD and Travel Budget (as necessary);
• Eligible to participate in Group Health Benefits;
• Additional assistance for the first few months of practice available (while establishing client base).

ARE YOU READY TO TAKE YOUR LEGAL CAREER TO NEW HEIGHTS?

You are best suited to our team if you are eager to engage in a high volume of client work, dynamic consultations, and committed to growing your research and advocacy skills. You thrive on analyzing case law, navigating ATIP requests, and diving deep into data to enhance your exceptional written and oral advocacy.

In this role, you will have the opportunity to write compelling blog posts, provide engaging media interviews, draft insightful policy opinions, record impactful podcasts, and spearhead community projects that will shape the practice of Canadian immigration and administrative law. Your contributions will influence leading decision-makers and drive innovation in the field.

BEYOND THE ROLE:

You value liberation in your work—seeking autonomy to set your own schedule as a contractor, define your billing targets, and work from wherever you are most productive. At the same time, you are drawn to a collaborative environment with access to mentorship, shared resources, and the dynamic energy of a supportive team.

You are a self-starter with exceptional self-discipline. Entrepreneurial by nature, you embrace challenges and aren’t afraid to test uncharted waters.

OUR TEAM CULTURE:

You are joining a team that works both independently with clients and cooperatively on client files.

We spend copious time laughing with (and at) each other on MS Teams, having pizza party lunch and learns, designing ridiculous T-shirts, and representing our Firm at events and conferences.

Our team of lawyers and support staff are very active in cultural communities. We volunteer our time to help others outside of our working hours. Above all, we emphasize ‘family first’ and focus on your well-being, safety, and security while practicing with us.

As they say – birds of the same feather, flock together.

HOW TO APPLY:

We ask prospective candidates to email lawyers@heronlaw.ca a brief cover letter (12-point font, Times New Roman, 1.5 spacing, max. 2 pages including a description of why you think you are a good fit for the position), a current resume, two references, and a short writing sample.

Interviews will take place on a rolling basis, so you are encouraged to apply early.