Senior Legal Counsel

Company Description

The Canadian Council of Muslim Women (CCMW) is a national, charitable organization dedicated to the equality, equity, and empowerment of Muslim women in Canada. Since 1982, CCMW has been promoting the identity of Muslim women in the Canadian context through advocacy, education, and research.

CCMW LAW (Legal Advocacy for Women) which includes the Muslim Women’s Legal and Community Support Clinic is CCMW’s initiative to improve access to justice for Muslim women. This program offers direct legal advice and representation in family law matters, legal workshops, and accessible educational resources tailored to the unique needs of Muslim women. Reporting to the Executive Director, the Senior Legal Counsel will provide legal services to Muslim women, particularly in relation to family law matters and Muslim victims and survivors of gender-based violence and play a critical role in improving legal literacy and access to justice for vulnerable communities.

Join CCMW’s legal team to provide expert legal advice and representation as Senior Legal Counsel in our Muslim Women’s Legal and Community Support Clinic, the first clinic of its kind in Canada.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Main duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Providing culturally safe legal advice and representation in family law cases.
• Expertly advising on matters including, but not limited to:
  • Spousal support
  • Child support
  • Equalization/matrimonial property
  • Child relocation
  • Domestic violence, harassment, and assault
  • Gender-based Islamophobia and anti-Muslim hate
• Assisting clients in navigating between Muslim family laws and Canadian legal systems.
• Supervising legal clinic team members as required.
• Establishing and overseeing policies and procedures to ensure compliance with the Law Society of Ontario’s requirements for a Civil Society Organization.
• Coordinating wraparound services with counsellors, interpreters, and case managers.
• Conducting legal literacy workshops on family law and gender-based violence from a trauma and violence-informed and cultural safety framework• Training community leaders and volunteers to sustain community-led legal education efforts.
• Advocating for legal reform and providing submissions on policies impacting Muslim women’s equality rights.
• Maintaining accurate client records and collecting data for reporting purposes.
• Contributing to program evaluation by tracking outcomes and identifying areas for improvement.

QUALIFICATIONS

• LL.B./J.D. from an accredited law school and membership in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario.
• Over seven years of experience in family law, with a preference for work involving vulnerable or marginalized groups, particularly victims and survivors of gender-based violence.
• Experience working with Muslim women and familiarity with diverse Muslim communities.
• Experience handling family law matters involving interjurisdictional issues, including foreign divorces and the interaction between international and Ontario law.
• Knowledge of Muslim family laws and their interaction with Canadian legal systems.
• In addition to English, proficiency in French and Arabic, Urdu, Farsi, Bangla, Somali and/or Pashto would be an asset.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills to engage with clients sensitively.
• Strong legal research and writing skills.
• Ability to work with and lead diverse team.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Salary range: $120,000-$128,000/year, commensurate with senior legal counsel positions in non-legal aid clinics.

The Canadian Council of Muslim Women (CCMW) is an equal opportunity employer that welcomes candidates from equity-seeking groups and is committed to providing accommodations for people with disabilities. Please let us know if you require accommodation due to a disability during any aspect of the recruitment process, and we will work with you to address your needs.

Please submit your CV and cover letter to info@ccmw.com by 5:00pm ET, May 22, 2026.