Staff Lawyer (Advance Planning Clinic and/or Elder Law Clinic)

Staff Lawyer (Elder Law Clinic and/or Advance Planning Clinic)

Established in 1994, Seniors First BC Society (SFBC) is a charitable, non-profit society that provides information, legal advocacy, and support to older adults across BC who are dealing with issues affecting their well-being.

SFBC provides free help to older adults through the Seniors Abuse Information Line, Victim Services a Public Education and Outreach Program, and three legal programs: the Elder Law Clinic, the Advance Planning Clinic and the Legal Advocacy Program.

We require two or three lawyers to work in SFBC's Elder Law Clinic and Advance Planning Clinic.

Lawyers could work part-time or full-time exclusively for the Elder Law Clinic, the Advance Planning Clinic, or both programs. These programs' scopes are defined at the end.

Start Date:

As soon as possible, no later than early 2027

Rate of Pay:

$60-75h/for Elder Law Clinic work,

$50-60/h for Advance planning Clinic work (requiring some travel),

Which corresponds to the following annual compensation range:

• $36,400- $54,600 for 2 days or 14/h/week
• $54,600- $81,900 for 3 days or 21h/week
• $72,800 - $109,200/year for 4 days or 28h/week
• $91,100- $136,500/year for 5 days or 35h/week.

Compensation is based on immediately useful skills and experience.

Additional perks and benefits:

After completion of three months, employees working at least 21h/month will be granted personal days and extended group health benefits. Seniors First BC also offers paid time off during the winter break.

SFBC covers CBABC membership fees (pro-rated if appropriate) and some professional development courses. The Law Foundation provides access to many online CLEBC resources.

Hours: 7 hours per worked day between 8 am and 6 pm.

Work Location:

The successful applicant(s) will be expected to work out of our downtown Vancouver office for at least two days/week during their first three months.

A move is planned in early to mid-2027 into a new, accessible office located steps from the Oakridge Skytrain station and mall, with a few reserved parking stalls.

Reports to: Executive Director

Qualifications:

• Current member in good standing of the Law Society of British Columbia
• Experience in wills and estates (for both programs)
• Experience in civil litigation and in a few Elder Law Clinic matters, if applicable.
• Ability to drive and travel with minimal support (though client meetings, trips, hotels and rental cars are booked by SFBC) for the Advance Planning Clinic.
• Experience working with seniors generally, Indigenous Elders, and/or clients with multiple barriers and disabilities.
• Cultural sensitivity and high emotional intelligence.

To Apply:

Please submit a resume and cover letter highlighting your experience, qualifications, preferred hours, and programs of interest to mncampbell@seniorsfirstbc.ca

Please include the text “SFBC staff lawyer posting” in the subject line of your email.

We thank all applicants for taking interest and applying for this position. Only those offered an interview will be contacted.

ELC Scope of Services - (which could vary based on lawyers' expertise)

1. Advance Planning
   • Will, Powers of Attorney, Representation Agreements, Nomination of Committee, revocation of advance planning instruments. Trusts only for minors and beneficiaries with disabilities (Henson trusts).
2. Creditor/Debtor Law
   • Matters related to recovery/retention of property and payment/recovery of money that do not fall within the jurisdiction of the Civil Resolution Tribunal.
   • Summary advice when a person has been served with a notice of a proceeding (for example: NoCC, NOC, Petition, Application).
3. Elder Law
   • Issues arising while in assisted living or long-term care
   • Statutory guardianship (Adult Guardianship Act)
   • Committee applications/reviews (Patients Property Act)
   • Negotiating with the Public Guardian and Trustee of BC and Health Authorities (Designated Agencies) on terms of guardianship or trusteeship.
4. Estates
   • General advice on administration.
   • Unbundled and full representation in applications for estate grants.
   • Assisting executors/administrators in estate administration, with or without an estate grant being in place or sought (eg financial institutions discretion to pay fund based upon an indemnity agreement, specific ICBC rules permitting transfer of registration/sale of vehicles without the necessity of an estate grant using MV 1476, etc)
   • Litigation services in applications under WESA including: validity of a purported Will, removing executor/administrator, s.58 application, wills variation (plaintiff or defendant).
   • Wills and estates issues under local First Nations or bands' laws or under the Indian Act (lawyers with this expertise only)
5. Housing
   • Urgent stay applications (the Legal Advocacy Program assists with evictions under the RTA).
6. Human Rights
   • Discrimination based on age only.
7. Real Estate Law
   • Generally, outside the scope of service except when legal help is needed regarding whether the severance of a joint tenancy might be appropriate, Partition of Property Act proceedings- initiating or responding, filing CPL in appropriate circumstances
8. Tort
   • Generally outside the scope of service but summary advice should be provided on limitation dates and the venue for legal proceedings.
   • If the party seeking assistance is a defendant in a proceeding or potential proceeding, summary/unbundled/full representation assistance may be appropriate
9. Trusts
   • Basic testamentary trusts.
   • Compelling an accounting by a Trustee is within ELC’s scope of service.

Advance Planning Clinic

Lawyers in this program focus on offering wills, powers of attorney, and representation agreements (s.7 and s.9).

Travel required to two or more of the following locations: Langley, Chilliwack, Kelowna, Nanaimo, Sidney, shíshálh and Sechelt, Bella Coola, Bella Bella, Anahim Lake, Haida Gwaii, Williams Lake and Prince George.

Note: Certain clinics are held on Indigenous lands and reserves where local laws or the Indian Act may apply. If needed, training may be provided to lawyers interested in this work once they are fully comfortable with wills and estates matters under WESA.

Travel costs and mileage (based on CRA rates) will be covered by SFBC.

Travel may include trips by car, plane and boat, stays at hotels and on-reserve housing. Most of the travel to the mid-Coast and Northern BC happens during the warmer months (March-October).

We are committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion and encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, Black and racialized persons, women, gender-diverse people, persons with disabilities, members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and individuals with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences.