Law Clerk / Legal Assistant
Note: This is a permanent, full-time, remote position. Candidates must be able to work during Toronto-based hours. Candidates may be asked to attend occasional meetings/events virtually or in-person (if local), approximately once per month (if required).
Lawler Advocacy is a boutique law firm, specializing in lawyers' professional liability (errors and omissions), wills and estates litigation, and mediations. The firm acts as preferred counsel for LawPro, representing insured lawyers in professional liability lawsuits and regulatory matters.
We are seeking a detail-oriented and highly organized Law Clerk / Legal Assistant to support our lawyers by providing advanced litigation support in accordance with the Ontario Rules of Civil Procedure, applicable Practice Directions, and Ontario court protocols. The role combines substantive law clerk responsibilities, including drafting, court filings, and procedural compliance, with senior-level administrative and file management duties. This role requires independent judgement, strong organizational skills, detailed knowledge of Ontario civil litigation processes, and the ability to manage files with minimal supervision in a fast-paced legal environment.
This role exercises procedural judgment in litigation file management but does not provide legal advice to clients. All substantive legal decisions remain under the supervision of a licensed lawyer.
Key Responsibilities:
Litigation Law Clerk Responsibilities
- Prepare, draft, and format a wide range of litigation documents in accordance with the Ontario Rules of Civil Procedure, including pleadings, motion and application records, factums, affidavits, trial records, and compendium materials.
- Support counsel in all stages of litigation such as motions, conferences, mediations, hearings, and trial preparation.
- Manage electronic filings through CaseLines, the Justice Services Online (JSO) Portal, and other court e-filing systems, ensuring compliance with Ontario Court Practice Directions and regional requirements.
- Monitor deadlines, limitation periods, and procedural timelines.
- Coordinate proper service of documents, conduct quality and procedural reviews for accuracy and compliance and stay current with evolving court rules, procedures, and filing systems.
Litigation Legal Assistant Responsibilities
- Serve as a liaison between clients, opposing counsel, court staff, and external service providers.
- Maintain and organize electronic and physical client files to ensure accuracy and compliance.
- Manage lawyers’ calendars, including diarizing deadlines, court appearances, and filing dates.
- Coordinate meetings, mediations, discoveries, and virtual hearings via platforms such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams.
- Prepare correspondence to clients, counsel, and court offices.
- Assist with monthly billing and vendor management (using Actionstep, where applicable).
- Oversee document production and electronic file organization.
- Maintain shared drives (e.g., SharePoint, OneDrive) with proper version control.
- Prepare expense reports while coordinating payment of court-related fees.
Firm Administration
- Perform general office administration, including records management, supply ordering, and vendor coordination.
- Plan and execute firm events such as client functions and professional development seminars.
- Maintain and monitor the firm’s administrative compliance calendar (e.g., regulatory filings, HST remittances, Law Society fees, insurance renewals, and continuing professional development requirements).
- Proactively track deadlines and issue reminders.
- Liaise with external bookkeepers or accountants to coordinate financial documentation, trust records, and reconciliation support.
- Assist with audit and compliance materials.
- Support the implementation and upkeep of administrative systems and procedures to enhance efficiency.
- Handle additional duties and special projects as assigned.
Qualifications & Experience
- Law Clerk diploma or equivalent experience as a legal assistant/law clerk.
- 5-7+ years of experience as a litigation law clerk or hybrid legal assistant role.
- Experience with Ontario court system including CaseLines, JSO Portal, and electronic court filing systems.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Outlook, Excel, SharePoint, Teams, OneDrive), Adobe Acrobat (PDF bookmarking, redactions, compilations), and virtual meeting platforms.
- Familiarity with Actionstep Accounting System (preferred not required).
- Strong organizational and file management skills.
- Exceptional attention to detail with both written and verbal communication.
- Ability to manage multiple deadlines in a fast-paced environment while maintaining your sense of humour.
What We Offer
- Fully remote work with an opportunity to be part of a focused litigation practice where high-quality advocacy is central to the firm’s work.
- Meaningful involvement in a broad range of litigation matters and procedural stages, allowing you to deepen your expertise in Ontario civil practice.
- Collaborative and entrepreneurial team environment.
If you are a proactive and detail-oriented litigation law clerk/legal assistant looking to work in a specialized and engaging practice area, we welcome your application.
Please submit your resume and a brief cover letter to Elisabeth Folk at elisabeth@lawlerad.com outlining your experience and why you would be a good fit for the firm.
No agencies or recruiters please.