Current Career Opportunity

ASSOCIATE LAWYER (FULL-TIME CONTRACTOR)

COMPANY DESCRIPTION:

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.

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.

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.)

You are eager to engage in a high volume of client work, exciting consultations, and grow your research and advocacy skills. You love pouring over case law, ATIP requests, and data to drive your excellent written and oral advocacy skills. You will write blog pieces, provide media interviews, draft policy opinions, record podcasts, and curate community projects that will change the practice of Canadian immigration and administrative law and be considered by leading decision-makers in the field.

Importantly, you are also seeking liberation in your work. You want to choose your own schedule as a contractor, set your own billing targets, and work from home (wherever this may be) but are drawn to access to the mentorship, shared resources, and energy of a young team that supports each other.  You are a self-starter with self-discipline. You are entrepreneurial. You are not afraid to test uncertain waters.

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 (ideally as either an articling student, RCIC, RISIA, or [preferably] as a Canadian immigration and refugee lawyer);
• Experience in preparing and submitting immigration applications;
• Experience working with applications involving inadmissibility, enforcement, and out-of-status applications (eg 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;
• You have a home office set-up and are able to contribute to our Firm on a full-time (37.5 – 40 hours a week) basis;

PREFERRED, BUT NOT REQUIRED:

• You are able to travel to our Burnaby, British Columbia office on a regular basis;
• 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;
• Coverage of Law Society Practice Insurance Fees;
• CPD and Travel Budget (as necessary);
• Additional assistance for the first few months of practice available (while establishing client base).

OUR TEAM CULTURE:

You are joining a team that works both independently with clients and co-dependently on client files. We spend copious time laughing with (and at) each other on MS Teams. We love a great potluck, restaurant meal, not-so-surprise birthday parties, and great conversations about our favorite books and movies.

We are a team of lawyers and support staff that is active the local community. We volunteer our time – for example to support name reclamation for Indigenous folks or to help youth cancer patients. 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. We can see you looking for a nest.

We are also encouraging folks who may have litigation experience in other fields (specifically criminal or civil) to consider joining our Firm.

HOW TO APPLY:

We ask prospective candidates to email lawyers@heronlaw.ca with their cover letter, resume, two references, and a writing (or presentation) sample.

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

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK WITH HERON LAW OFFICES

Please send an email with your pitch to us at lawyers@heronlaw.ca.

Many of our best team members have come from folks who have emailed us and pitched to us their interest in joining Heron Law Offices.

We’re always eager to hear from new, talented folks looking for fresh starts and new opportunities.