JOB POSTING: Staff Lawyer: 1-Year Contract
1-year contract starting June 26, 2023
(exact start date can be flexible)
Our Mission
For 45 years, Disability Alliance BC (DABC) has been a provincial, cross-disability voice in British Columbia. Our mission is to support people with all disabilities to live with dignity, independence, and as equal and full participants in the community. We champion issues impacting the lives of people with disabilities through our direct services, community partnerships, advocacy, research, and publications. We are a member organization of the Council of Canadians with Disabilities and the BC Poverty Reduction Coalition.
In 2020, DABC opened the Disability Law Clinic (DLC). Funded by the Law Foundation of BC, the DLC is the first non-profit legal clinic in BC that works exclusively in the area of disability rights. The DLC provides free legal advice and assistance to low-income people with disabilities throughout BC, in certain disability-related areas of law, including:
- Human rights and discrimination, including disability-related complaints to the BC Human Rights Tribunal (BCHRT) and federal human rights agencies.
- Disputes about income support for people with disabilities, especially disability assistance from BC’s Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction. The DLC works with DABC’s Advocacy Access program on appeals of Ministry decisions, at the Employment and Assistance Appeal Tribunal (EAAT). The DLC also represents clients in applications for judicial review of EAAT decisions.
- Questions or disputes related to decision-making rights, especially in cases where BC’s Public Guardian and Trustee or a court-appointed committee make decisions on behalf of a person.
- Questions about private long-term disability insurance benefits.
The DLC currently consists of two lawyers, one articling student, a full-time legal assistant/advocate, and a part-time intake worker/legal assistant. This position is a temporary position while one of our lawyers is on leave.
You can find more information about our services on our website, at https://disabilityalliancebc.org/program/disability-law-clinic/
Duties and Responsibilities
- Interviewing clients, conducting legal research, preparing pleadings, and representing clients in disability-related human rights complaints to the BC Human Rights Tribunal (BCHRT) and federal human rights agencies.
- Representing clients in appeals to BC’s Employment and Assistance Appeal Tribunal (EAAT), in cases involving disputes about provincial government disability benefits.
- Providing summary advice and representation services to the DLC’s clients
- Delivering public legal education sessions and workshops, for people with disabilities and disability-related organizations.
- Supporting administrative staff and helping to manage client intake process.
- Preparing and providing training for advocates in DABC’s Advocacy Access program
- Supervising law students and volunteers
- Supporting DABC’s systemic advocacy on behalf of people with disabilities, including organising advocacy campaigns and preparing written submissions to policy-makers. A particular focus will be the development of accessibility standards pursuant to the Accessible BC Act.
Required
- Membership in the Law Society of BC, or eligibility for immediate transfer
- At least 3 years experience as a practising lawyer
- Familiarity with human rights laws or other relevant areas of law
- Outstanding organizational skills
- Demonstrated success in working effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds (e.g. cultural, religious, age, sexual orientation, etc.)
- Demonstrated understanding of ableism, colonialism, and other structures of oppression
Assets
- Experience working from an anti-ableist perspective
- Experience organising public advocacy campaigns, particularly on law reform, and/or preparing formal submissions to policy-makers.
- Experience working with people with disabilities and other marginalized communities.
- Experience working with people in crisis and familiarity with trauma-informed practice.
- Understanding of legal issues affecting people with disabilities, and strong research and communication skills.
We encourage applications from members of communities that experience structural discrimination and marginalization, especially people with disabilities.
The position is located in Vancouver, on the Unceded Territories of the Musqueam, TsleilWaututh, and Squamish Nations.
DABC currently uses a hybrid work model, and the staff lawyer will work in person at DABC’s office at least two days per week, and remotely the rest of the time. Occasional travel to other parts of BC may be required.
Compensation: Salary will be between $80,000 and $95,000 per year, depending on experience. Compensation also includes extended health and dental benefits and 3 weeks of annual vacation plus 2 weeks of paid time off during DABC’s annual holiday office closure.
To apply, please submit a resume and cover letter to Andrew Robb, Managing Lawyer, Disability Law Clinic, by email: andrew@disabilityalliancebc.org
Closing date: April 28, 2023
*This position is funded by the Law Foundation of BC*
Job Posting: Office Manager for DABC
Who We Are
Since 1977, Disability Alliance BC (DABC) has been a provincial, cross-disability voice in British Columbia. We champion issues impacting the lives of people with disabilities through our direct services, community partnerships, advocacy, research and publications.
We work to support people with all disabilities to live with dignity, independence and as equal and full participants in the community.
Job Description
DABC is seeking a full-time Office Manager to join our team. Reporting to the Executive Director (ED), the Office Manager will provide oversight on the organization’s operations, including facilities management, HR, finance compliance and administrative processes. As the organization’s mission and mandate is greatly rooted in justice, equity, diversity and inclusion, the ideal candidate will also demonstrate passion and leadership in advancing these principles within the organization.
The Office Manager plays a critical role in ensuring that DABC’s administrative operations being handled accurately and respectfully in the organization, and alongside this, supports the ED on ensuring that financial and operational aspects of administration are running smoothly. The Office Manager also plays a key role as a member of DABC’s leadership committee, contributing to the direction and leadership of the organization as a whole.
Responsibilities:
Administrative Management
- In liaison with other admin staff, coordinates and maintains a record of all supplier, insurance and lease contracts
- In liaison with other admin staff, ensure the smooth day to day running of office systems
- Liaise with technical support on issues related to IT systems
- Oversee compliance and due diligence obligations
HR
- Neatly organized record of all personnel files and manage HR correspondence
- Work with the EDI committee and ED on drafting and/or revising HR policies and practices
- Coordinate extended health insurance
- Oversee systems and quality assurance of recording absences and entitlements
- Work with senior staff to oversee recruitment, training and performance assessment of all staff
- Liaise and support on staff and volunteer recognition activities
- Collaborate on any professional development opportunities for staff
Financial Management
- Support ED and senior staff on budget allocation, cheque requisition and invoicing
- Support the Finance Manager and ED with annual audit
- Work with the Finance Manager to ensure the organization is up to date on their filings as a registered charity and provincial society
- Coordinate weekly cheque signing
- Work with the ED and Grants and Fundraising Manager to monitor all sources of funding
Working hours:
This is a full-time, permanent, salaried position at $60,000 per year.
This position offers the following benefits after a three-month probationary period:
- 3 weeks of paid vacation annually plus 2 weeks of paid time off during DABC’s annual holiday office closure in December.
- 18 days of paid sick leave annually
- 100% of the cost of extended health and dental care benefits
Requirements:
- Minimum 5 years applicable work experience
- Experience in the non-profit sector
- Demonstrate leadership and commitment to anti-oppression principles
- Knowledge of BC laws of which a non profit organization should be in compliance with
- Excellent organizational skills and record keeping
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to address conflict with empathy and kindness
- Experience with Microsoft Office, Zoom, and other online sharing platforms
- Be able to take initiative by identifying and addressing rooms for improvement in the organization
The following are strong assets for this position:
- Lived experience with a disability
- Lived experience as a member of an equity-deserving group
- Training in trauma-informed practice
- Experience in advancing the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion
- Understanding and demonstrated experience in change management strategies
The position is located in Vancouver, on the Unceded Territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
This position offers a flexible hybrid work opportunity; the successful candidate may wish to work at the office (located in downtown Vancouver) a few days a week and at home the rest of the time.
Importantly, we are looking for people who want to make a long term commitment to our organization and have a strong desire to assist people with disabilities as well as further the impact of our organization.
DABC is an open and diverse organization that promotes inclusive hiring practices. We encourage applications from qualified applicants who identify as visible minorities, Indigenous persons, and of all sexual orientations, gender expressions and identities. People with disabilities are especially encouraged to apply.
To Apply:
Please submit a resume and brief covering letter addressed to Helaine Boyd, Executive Director at helaine@disabilityalliancebc.org No phone calls or faxes please.
Applications are due no later than midnight on January 29, 2023. DABC welcomes all applications, however, only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for an interview. Interviews will be conducted in February and the position start date will be as soon as possible.