counsel

senior counsel

lawyer

family lawyer

bilingual customer service associate

Legal Aid Ontario

Legal aid Ontario is a government agency, so employees are provincial employees. At the time of my interview, I didn’t realize that it was a work-from-home position. Legal aid operated with most staff working from home long before COVID. 
As a single parent, the structure of this job along with the working hours and the fact that I can just  “clock out” when I’m done my shift was a huge and positive change for me, since the previous 10+ years were spent running my own independent business. They are understanding and accommodating as family life and personal emergencies. The culture is as friendly and positive as it can be with all interactions with colleagues happening by email or on conference calls/teams meetings. I do feel something is lost with no in-person element. What is gained by this set-up might be almost immeasurable, however. I gain as much as two hours of time with no commute. I save a lot of money by not paying for all of that fuel or monthly transit passes. There is also in general less temptation to get takeout when you can do some meal prep on your lunch break and less need to spend on work clothes and other expenditures related to in-person jobs. This is hard to quantify, but I notice a big difference. 
The main drawbacks would be some boredom from working alone, but the calls are pretty interesting compared to the calls you would take working for another government body. Another drawback is the lack of real opportunities for advancement in the client services branch of the organization. What advancement is actually available within your first year or two does not translate to any attractive pay increase. 
If you’re good at measuring benefits beyond just financial terms, this is a great work-from-home client services  job. 

A typical day at work is busy with meetings, agenda preparations, Meeting minute distribution, Sponsor updates, team meetings etc.

I have learned a lot at my present company as I am working here for the past 15 years and grown a lot in my career and gained valuable experience.

Management is excellent but frequesnt changes occurs due to promotions and exits.

My co-workers are superb resources with excellent technogy expertise. They simply make everything possible and make my job so easy to manage.

I have not seen much of the hardest part yet but I face some resource contention on some projects which creates some slight acceptable delays.

My colleagues and also the challenges I face while I deliver successful projects.

Customer service agents are overworked, constantly trained on new guidelines and are constantly criticized no matter how much you are doing a good job at helping customers and completing your job appropriately. It is never good enough for them and the management are all friends and judge you according to whatever one is saying about you. It is a very negative and horrible environment. It is the worst department of Legal Aid and there is such a high turnover because you are never appreciated. They want you to be a robot with no feelings!!!!

What is the best part of working at the company?
I enjoyed working there - the people are nice and helpful 
and you are recognized for your contribution

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
i had none - the employees were cooperative and helpful

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
work environment was nice, helpful and co operative in all areas
the culture was very good

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
work to be completed and interacting

Admin and management staff are treated well. Like most jobs in the civil service, however, there is little incentive to perform above the average. 

All lawyers have been unionized and receive the same pay based on year of call regardless of whether they do trials or not and regardless of their results in court. There is no point to learn how to do trials and most duty counsel have never done a trial and yet tell people whether they should plead guilty or not.

There is a reason why LAO is constantly hiring! The calls are constant, It is so busy that the lines have to be shut down at least three times a day. Not only is the call volume exhausting but you also have to content contend with unrealistic call standards. My manager was constantly threatening to fire me  if I did not meet call standards, which is very difficult given the nature of the calls. I can’t recommend LAO to anyone….

What is the best part of working at the company?
I had an amazing manager, he was always there to help and support  ❤️ all of us

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Dealing with domestic issues, such as abuse from either partner, or custody of children to abusive people 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Wonderful people, great spirit and kindness

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
No typical ever, everyday was it's own

Legal Aid Ontario has improved pay and benefits over the years and is quite competitive with the market.  However, the focus is on poverty law which is complex and emotionally demanding. Like most of the justice sector, the use of technology is still at a very basic level and a culture of continuous improvement is just starting to take hold.  The organization's commitment to justice for indigenous and racialized communities is commendable. 

Management's unchecked harassment and bullying is severe and pervasive enough that any reasonable person would consider LAO's culture and workplace environment to be intimidating and hostile, with abuse of power going unchecked if not being sought after and welcomed. Harassment and bullying go hand in hand and are seen as top traits for leadership roles and advancement, while HR only pays lip service to those mistreated.

Be warned that legal clinics are Not the same as Legal Aid Ontario. The community legal clinic of York region has a terrible terrible retention rate. The working environment is toxic. The director is never around. The office is run by incompetent lawyers who consider themselves to be all mighty professionals. The fact is these people are not governed by anyone but themselves. Don't get suck into this black hole. Luckily my contract ended. Stay away.

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Counsel 36 salaries reported	$122,009 per year
Senior counsel 14 salaries reported	$93,263 per year
Lawyer 12 salaries reported	$108,406 per year
Family lawyer 11 salaries reported	$122,152 per year
Bilingual customer service associate 1 salary reported	$72,607 per year

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