Supervising Lawyer (Prison Law), Downtown Legal Services - TERM

Supervising Lawyer (Prison Law), Downtown Legal Services - TERM

Date Posted: 11/13/2025
Req ID: 46009
Faculty/Division: Faculty of Law
Department: Faculty of Law
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)

About Us:

The Henry N.R. Jackman Faculty of Law is one of the oldest professional faculties at the University of Toronto. Today, it is one of the world's great law schools. Jackman Law's rich academic programs are complemented by its many legal clinics and public interest programs. Jackman Law is housed in the elegant, state-of-the-art Jackman Law Building, alongside two historic buildings, Flavelle House and Falconer Hall, on the St. George Campus in downtown Toronto.

Description:

Working under the supervision of the Executive Director, the Supervising Lawyer (Prison Law) is responsible for the delivery of legal services in the area of prison law at Downtown Legal Services (DLS), the student legal aid service society (SLASS) clinic at the University of Toronto's Henry N.R. Jackman Faculty of Law. Together with the Executive Director (ED), the Supervising Lawyer (SL) is responsible for the supervision, management and evaluation of law students working in the clinic as volunteers, for academic credit, and as summer employees. The SL is responsible for providing ongoing clinic education to students working within the area of prison law on relevant substantive law and procedural law. The SL contributes to the clinic's related training on advocacy skills, file management, legal research, professional responsibility and legal ethics, client counseling, etc. The SL supports the work of the clinic in community outreach, advocacy projects and public legal education initiatives related to prison law. The SL is also expected to contribute to and provide input on clinic operations, administrative matters and policies, and to provide information, as required, on the scope of clinic activities within the SL's areas of responsibility.

Minimum Qualifications:

EDUCATION: Undergraduate degree and law degree (LL.B or J.D. Degree). LL.M or a graduate degree in a related area of study is a strong asset. Membership in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario. Training in anti-racism and anti-oppression practices.

EXPERIENCE: Minimum 5 years of experience practicing prison law, corrections law, or criminal justice litigation. Experience with training and/or supervising, or mentoring law students or junior lawyers. Significant prior experience working with highly vulnerable communities. Demonstrated experience working with incarcerated and vulnerable populations. Experience working in social justice and/or a public interest setting, and engaging in community outreach activities. Prior supervisory and/or management experience is an asset.

SKILLS: Demonstrated legal expertise; superior written and oral communication and advocacy skills; exceptional interpersonal skills; highly effective problem solving skills; sound reasoning and decision-making skills; effective project management skills; exceptional analytical, organizational and time management skills; and good computer proficiency (i.e., MS Office and legal research software, and email).

OTHER: Ability to appreciate and balance DLS's dual mandate of client service and student education; familiarity with clinical legal education pedagogy and practice; ability to work under stress and meet deadlines; ability to manage conflicting priorities and deadlines; ability to handle sensitive and confidential matters with discretion and professionalism; and demonstrated adaptability and creativity.

Closing Date:

Closing Date: 12/01/2025, 11:59PM ET
Employee Group: Salaried
Personnel Subarea: PM
Appointment Type: Budget - Term
Schedule: Full-Time
Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone: PM 3 Hiring Zone: $93,592 - $109,190 Broadband Salary Range: $93,592 - $155,985
Job Category: Legal

Note:

This posting is for a two-year term beginning January 2026

Diversity Statement

The University of Toronto embraces Diversity and is building a culture of belonging that increases our capacity to effectively address and serve the interests of our global community. We strongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, Black and racialized persons, women, persons with disabilities, and people of diverse sexual and gender identities. We value applicants who have demonstrated a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and recognize that diverse perspectives, experiences, and expertise are essential to strengthening our academic mission.
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Accessibility Statement

The University strives to be an equitable and inclusive community, and proactively seeks to increase diversity among its community members. Our values regarding equity and diversity are linked with our unwavering commitment to excellence in the pursuit of our academic mission.
The University is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). As such, we strive to make our recruitment, assessment and selection processes as accessible as possible and provide accommodations as required for applicants with disabilities.
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