Staff Legal Caseworker (Lawyer or Licensed Paralegal)

Job Posting: Staff Legal Caseworker (Lawyer or Licensed Paralegal)

Position Title: Staff Legal Caseworker (Staff Lawyer or Licensed Paralegal)

Position Type: Full-time, Permanent

Location: Greater Toronto Area (GTA), ON – (Downtown Toronto) (Hybrid Eligible)

Salary Range: $75,000 – $90,962 annually (Commensurate with experience and qualifications)

Expected Start Date: July 2026

About CSALC:

The Chinese and Southeast Asian Legal Clinic (CSALC) is a community legal clinic funded by Legal Aid Ontario (LAO). We provide legal advice and representation to low-income East and Southeast Asians across Ontario, including, but not limited to, clients from the Chinese, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Laotian, Burmese, and Filipino communities. Areas of law practiced include Immigration, Employment, Tenancy, Income Maintenance (Ontario Works, Ontario Disability Support Program, Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security, and Employment Insurance), and Power of Attorneys and Wills.

About the Role

We are seeking a passionate, community-minded Staff Lawyer or Licensed Paralegal to join our legal team on a permanent, full-time basis. This role focuses on clinic law advocacy, specifically targeting Housing Law, Social Benefits, Employment Law, Immigration and Human Rights Law. The successful candidate will provide summary advice, carry an active caseload, and champion access to justice for our diverse client base.

Work Structure & Benefits:

Hybrid Work Model: Eligible for a flexible hybrid schedule (combination of remote and in-office work) upon the successful completion of a 3-month probationary period.

Health & Dental: Full comprehensive health, extended vision, and dental care benefits package active after successful 3-month probation.

Retirement Savings: An employer RRSP contribution of 6% of gross salary will commence after successful 3-month probation.

Vacation: 3 weeks paid annual vacation plus winter clinic closures.

Key Responsibilities

Client Representation:

Act as primary representative for clients before administrative tribunals, including the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB), Social Benefits Tribunal (SBT), Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (HRTO), Ministry of Labour, and the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB).

Casework Management:

Manage legal files from initial intake and triage through to full merit assessment, pleading drafting, and hearing resolution.

Practice Areas:

Provide summary advice and direct representation focused on tenant rights, Ontario Works/ODSP appeals, wrongful dismissal/wage claims, provincial human rights violations, and immigration tribunal matters (including Refugee claims, Detention Reviews, and Admissibility hearings).

Community Engagement:

Design and deliver public legal education (PLE) initiatives and contribute to systemic law reform or community development strategies.

Required Qualifications

Professional Credentials: Must be a licensee in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario (LSO).

Experience Level:

• If applying as a Lawyer: Minimum of two (2) years of call to the Ontario Bar.
• If applying as a Paralegal: Minimum of two (2) years of active, post-licensing experience in advocacy.

Language Skills (Strong Asset): Fluency in one or more of the following languages is a major asset to serve our community demographic: Cantonese, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Khmer, Tagalog, Thai, Burmese, or any other regional languages of Myanmar.

Clinic System Familiarity: Demonstrated knowledge or experience working within the Ontario community legal aid clinic system is a strong asset.

Core Competencies: Exceptional written and oral advocacy skills, strong trauma-informed client management, and comfort with digital database software.

How to Apply

Please submit your application via email to Christine.dang@csalc.clcj.ca with the subject line "Application: Staff Legal Caseworker – [Your Name]".

Application Deadline: July 14, 2026

Please note applications will be reviewed, and interviews conducted, on a rolling basis.

Our clinic is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion. We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.