Staff Lawyer (Banking/Pension/Insurance)

AT A GLANCE

• Hours: 35 weekly (flexible, work-life balance)
• Reports to: Climate Program Director
• Closing Date: This posting will remain open until filled
• Physical Location: Remote (Toronto-based) with the opportunity to work a hybrid model when restrictions allow

About Us

At Ecojustice, we build a case for a better earth every day! We fight, and win, for our planet in court. Our Mission is why people join Ecojustice. People who choose to join us recognize that this planet is our most treasured inheritance, and it is our imperative to be good stewards for the generations who follow us. We use the power of the courts to defend what we value most. We believe in protecting the environment while having enough time off to enjoy it. If you are courageous, collaborative and dedicated to the fight for a healthier environment, you will find your people here.

Ecojustice’s Climate Program specifically seeks to ensure that Canada meets its obligations under the Paris Agreement to limit global warming through reductions of GHG emissions. However, in Canada, finance continues to flow towards fossil fuel investments that are contributing to the climate crisis. To address this, Ecojustice is developing a strategy to hold corporations and financial institutions accountable for making risky investment and operational decisions inconsistent with a low-carbon future through litigation and by working with governments to develop strong, transparent legislation for climate finance in Canada – and that’s where you come in. The creation of this new role will help us achieve our accountability strategy.

About The Role

As a Staff Lawyer, Finance & Climate, you will be at the cutting edge of environmental law: working with Ecojustice lawyers from across Canada in bringing strategic, game-changing public interest lawsuits and reforming Canada’s laws to deliver lasting solutions to our most urgent environmental problems. Working as part of Ecojustice’s program team, you will develop, and conduct litigation related to climate finance on behalf of a broad range of clients. Duties also include a range of related tasks that contribute to our organizational effectiveness and are essential to ensuring our legal work has the maximum impact.

In this role you will:

• As an experienced commercial litigator, you will apply your litigation skills and knowledge of the financial sector to developing and implementing Ecojustice’s climate finance strategy.
• Working with other Ecojustice lawyers, the climate program director, external counsel and NGO partners, you will identify opportunities for strategic litigation that will clarify key legal concepts in Canadian law so that Canada’s financial institutions and corporations contribute to the transition to a low carbon economy.
• You will work closely with our growing law reform team to develop complementary proposals for legislative reform and strategies to ensure their adoption by the federal and provincial governments.
• Keep up-to-date on new developments in relevant areas of finance law, undertake reasonable training to maximize expertise, and assisting peers in training and maintaining the highest practice standards.
• Guide, collaborate with, and support communications staff to develop communication opportunities that support program goals and Ecojustice’s mission, and participating as a spokesperson on behalf of Ecojustice and its clients.
• Support philanthropy in fundraising goals by cultivating relationships with current and future donors, attending fundraising events, and providing information and updates.

ROLE SUCCESS

Typically, we find that people who succeed in this role bring:

• Bachelor’s degree, law degree and a member in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario (or a member of another law society and able to become a member of the Law Society of Ontario within six months).
• A minimum of 2 years’ experience as a commercial litigator, (3-5 years preferred) with experience in one or more of the following areas: securities, corporate, banking, pensions, or insurance litigation.
• Understanding of climate change law and policy, particularly in the context of corporate governance, fiduciary duties, and climate-related financial risk.
• Ability to explain legal and scientific information and concepts to the general public.
• Excellent technical/legal writing and communication skills.

OUR COMMITMENT TO WORKPLACE ACCESSIBILITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

Ecojustice is committed to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment. We encourage applications from people with relevant technical skills and who come from communities which have been structurally marginalized based on race, religion, nationality, social or ethnic origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression. Members belonging to communities that experience marginalization have the opportunity to self-identify during the application process.

Ecojustice strives to ensure that our online application system and recruitment process is accessible to individuals with different abilities, and we have various accommodations available if you need one. If at any point during the application and/or recruitment process you require an accommodation, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at [email protected]

GREAT REASONS TO JOIN US

• Recognized as one of Canada’s Top 100 charities (2019, 2020) by Charity Intelligence.
• Accredited under Imagine Canada’s national Standards Program since 2014.
• A hybrid work environment and flexible work schedule that best suits you and how you work.
• 5% of your salary as non-mandatory RRSP contribution.
• Abundant paid time off options that recognizes 13 public holidays, starts with 3 weeks of vacation, 1 week of winter holidays, 2 float days and more.
• Additional flexible leave policies that accommodate physical and mental health leave, caregiving responsibilities, volunteering and other life events.
• A focus on supporting your health and well-being through extended health benefits package, employee and family assistance program and a wellness spending of $500 per year.