Lawyer Manager, PCMO

Primary function
The Provincial Case Management Office (PCMO) is part of the Lawyer Services and Payments (LSP) department and is responsible for administering the Big Case Management (BCM) program which sets budgets for complex cases expected to cost in excess of $20,000.00, merit assessments for appeals. The Protocol Case Unit (PCU) is also part of PCMO, and is responsible for administering payments on behalf of the Ministry of the Attorney General/Department of Justice for state-funded counsel appointed by the court.

Reporting to the Director, LSP, the PCMO Lawyer Manager leads a team responsible for the day-to-day operation of the BCM program and the Protocol Case Unit (PCU) and assists the Director in the development of strategic initiatives for these programs.

Home location: Toronto - Provincial Office
Secondary location: N/A

Reporting to: Director, Lawyer Services and Payments

Key accountabilities
• Analyze and report on trends and developments within the criminal justice sector
• Develop and implement new departmental strategies, processes and initiatives in consultation with internal stakeholders
• Track, assess and report on key metrics to ensure the programs are effective, efficient and high quality
• Assessment of the efficacy of the organization’s current strategies and initiatives
• Training, mentoring and managing the performance of eight direct reports, including case managers/ staff lawyers and the PCMO Operations Manager
• Assisting the Director and Business Manager in developing and monitoring the department budget
• Assessing and responding to complaints from clients and stakeholders
• Assessing and responding to Freedom of Information (FOI) requests
• Liaising with General Counsel Office and other departments including Investigations and Roster Management
• Supporting Directors General with roster management including identification of billing problems, correcting behavior and supporting the roster removal process
• Chairing the Exceptions Committee in addressing requests which exceed $75,000.00
• Chairing the External Advice Meetings in addressing merit assessments for appeals
• Managing active budgets, including the analysis of defense strategies in criminal law cases, negotiate, determine and/or recommend budgets for high-risk, high-cost criminal cases to LAO’s Executive Management and oversee the approval process
• Delivering training and information regarding PCMO programs to roster members and other justice stakeholders.
• Other duties as assigned

Required skills & experience
• Lawyer in good standing of the Law Society of Ontario with significant criminal law trial experience, including jury trials
• Sound knowledge and experience applying the Legal Aid Services Act 2020 and its regulations, the Legal Aid Service
Rules, the Tariff and Billing Handbook, Disbursements Handbook, BCM program policies and procedures, PCU policies and procedures and other related LAO policies and procedures, including the Delegation of Authority Policy
• Superior written and verbal communication skills
• Demonstrated management and leadership skills to lead, motivate and mentor staff
• Excellent interpersonal skills for dealing with staff, clients, lawyers and external stakeholders with the proven ability to exercise sound judgement
• Superior demonstrated collaborative, analytic and strategic skills
• Able to manage uncertainty, to identify and prioritize information and to make fast judgement calls
• Able to balance competing stakeholder interests and demands within financial constraints
• Adaptable, able to respond to shifting deadlines and competing priorities
• Peoplesoft and Legal Aid Online proficiency
• Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint proficiency

Preferred Skills and Experience:
• Experience managing financial and administrative functions with experience in financial analysis
• Criminal law appellate experience
• Understanding of LAO’s roster management processes
• District Area Office knowledge or experience
• Centralized Services Office knowledge or experience
• Experience communicating with governmental and agency stakeholders
• French proficiency is considered an asset