Legal Counsel

We care for people. Together Alberta Health Services (AHS), the largest health care provider in Canada, is an organization focused on providing safe, high quality, patient-and-family centred care. The AHS Litigation Team has an exciting inhouse litigation opportunity to join a small, but mighty team within the Legal & Privacy Department. AHS offers a challenging work environment that provides opportunities for personal achievement and career growth. Eligible employees enjoy a full range of benefits including life insurance, short term disability, long term disability, Local Authority Pension Plan, accidental death & dismemberment insurance, as well as medical, dental, and extended health care benefits. The Legal Counsel, Litigation reports to the Associate General Counsel, Litigation (AGC Litigation) and in the position you will have carriage of litigation files and will be expected to deliver quality legal services for designated clients of AHS, its subsidiaries and Recovery Alberta. Consulting with other professionals within AHS, its subsidiaries and Recovery Alberta, as required, you will interpret and anticipate client needs and identify solutions to complex, time-sensitive and standard issues and requests. There are positions available in both Edmonton and Calgary, with travel required throughout Alberta. A hybrid work arrangement is available.

As Legal Counsel, Litigation you will represent AHS, its subsidiaries and Recovery Alberta before various levels of Court, administrative panels, arbitration panels, and quasi-judicial tribunals throughout the province, as required. You will be accountable for assigned files, matters or issues with little supervision and work closely with clients in resolution of disputes. The position requires that you provide accurate, concise, and practical advice to clients to address specific facts and legal issues. You will handle inquiries from clients independently and escalate to the AGC Litigation as appropriate. A key function of this role is the ability to formulate legal solutions and balance business requirements against legal risk. You will provide legal opinions and memoranda in an independent manner for clients, the AGC Litigation, the General Counsel and other senior management, as requested. You will also educate clients, formally and informally, on developments in legal jurisprudence. In this role it will be important to foster and maintain positive relationships with a variety of AHS internal and external stakeholders and there is opportunity to lead or participate in projects when legal advice is required.

You must be a member in good standing with the Law Society of Alberta with at least five years of experience as a litigator, including experience appearing at all levels of Court in Alberta and appearing before administrative and/or quasi-judicial tribunals. Experience with administrative hearings, judicial review, injunctions, judgment enforcement and debt collection, arbitration and commercial litigation are definite assets. You will need a strong knowledge of administrative law, the Rules of Court and rules of evidence to succeed in this role.

You will have excellent advocacy, communication, and organization skills with a motivation to learn new areas of the law and be flexible to address competing priorities with short timelines. You will be an independent, self-starter but also have a strong commitment to operating within a team environment and the ability to work with others to achieve common goals. There is some travel required throughout the province, occasionally on short notice. In order to excel in this position, you will need the ability to: a) perform well in complex matters, prioritize and deal with multiple assignments, all under significant time and other pressures; b) work in collaboration with other legal teams in the Legal & Privacy Department as well as senior management; c) establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders; and d) communicate effectively with a variety of stakeholders.

Previous experience in the public sector or with a large organization is an asset.