Atkinson LLP is a diverse, dynamic, and successful award-winning commercial litigation law firm located in the heart of the financial district in downtown Toronto. We provide our clients with cost-effective legal solutions to various litigation disputes including employment, contract, construction and real property disputes.
What We Are Looking for:
Our dedicated and professional team is looking to add an experienced litigation lawyer, who is interested in working with an elected Bencher of the Law Society of Ontario and certified specialist in civil litigation. This candidate will be provided with the ability to supplement their own files, administrative support, and the infrastructure to grow their practice. The ideal candidate has strong client relationship skills, is passionate about developing their practice, and possesses strong business acumen. We are flexible with the start date but preferably this candidate would start in mid to late January 2023.
Atkinson LLP upholds a strict confidentiality policy to protect the privacy of all candidates so you can ensure a stress-free recruitment process.
What We Can Offer to You:
• Atkinson LLP has developed a strong reputation among its competition, peers, and clients for being respectful and conscientious with practicing law.
• We offer competitive compensation packages with vacation and benefits after completing the probationary period.
• For candidates that have an established client base, renumeration will also be based on receivables from that client base.
• Lawyers have the ability to work from home and are offered flexible start and finish times.
• The candidate will have the opportunity to focus on a chosen practice area and develop his or her own practice group with the firm.
• After a year’s time, the candidate will undergo an assessment which may lead to partnership with the firm.
• Discretionary bonus pay based on performance and apportion of client receivables.
Key Responsibilities:
• Providing high quality legal services to clients;
• Representing clients at various proceedings including motions, applications, pre-trials, and trials;
• Conducting mediations and examinations for discovery/cross examinations;
• Ensure that clients are updated and aligned with legal strategy;
• Develop and maintain excellent client relationships, while gaining confidence and earning trust from clients’ and other professionals;
• Providing legal advice to current and deciding on the most appropriate strategy going forward;
• Offering advice on the law, legal procedures and a wide range of associated issues;
• Ensuring that docket entries are recorded or assigned to client files as per practice standards;
• Ensuring that professional conduct complies to Atkinson LLP values and customer service principles;
• Draft motion/application records, affidavits, factum, mediation and pre-trial conference memorandums;
• Research and case history to ensure accuracy of advice and procedures;
• Represent clients in tribunals and in Courts where required;
• Overseeing and mentoring other team members such as paralegals, junior associates, and law clerks.
Skills and Experience:
• Ability to identify the most effective file strategy and manage multiple complex client files with minimal supervision;
• Ability to comprehend complex matters and identify the laws that are applicable to them;
• Ability to use initiative and exercise judgment in identifying issues needing immediate attention;
• Must possess a thorough knowledge of the legal procedures and committed to keeping updated with the current developments;
• Proficient in use of legal and productivity technology and must be able to maintain, update and modify documents needed for court presentations
• A desire to participate in business development opportunities through attending and/or joining appropriate networking events/memberships, participating in webinars and writing blogs;
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy, ability to work under pressure to meet tight deadlines and draft correspondence and legal documents;
• Strong administrative, organizational, interpersonal and communication skills (oral and written), solid typing skills;
• Flexibility with respect to work hours on an as-needed basis.
• Candidate must be entrepreneurial and have their own files.
• Candidates must have a minimum of five years’ experience working in a civil litigation firm or the equivalent to five years’ experience.
• Candidates must be licenced and in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario.
• Candidates must possess a desire for excellence, passion for advocacy, and superior customer service skills.
• Deep appreciation and practical knowledge of the Rules of Professional Conduct, the Rules of Civil Procedure, and the Courts of Justice Act.
• G Drivers Licence is an asset.
• Past experience working at a reputable litigation law firm is an asset.
Preference will be given to candidates who provide copies of any public endorsements from court appearances. Interested candidates please submit your resume with your law school transcripts, a cover letter explaining why you believe that you are suitable for this position, and any relevant documents to [email protected].
Atkinson LLP is a diverse, dynamic, and successful award-winning civil litigation law firm located in the heart of the financial district in downtown Toronto. We provide our clients with cost-effective legal solutions to their employment, contract, construction and real property disputes.
At Atkinson LLP, you will have an opportunity to work on files, gain hands-on experience, and interact with clients, while receiving coaching and supervision. Our focus is to ensure that our law students receive a comprehensive, well-rounded and rewarding learning experience while at Atkinson LLP. We are committed to training students to become exceptional lawyers.
Client service is at the core of Atkinson LLP’s philosophy. Students who excel here tend not only be passionate about the law, but also about helping others.
Atkinson LLP typically hires one to two articling students per year. The qualities that we require without exception are a desire for excellence, a passion for advocacy, strong writing and analytical skills, an entrepreneurial spirit and excellent interpersonal skills. We value team members who are independent, confident, and committed to continued professional and self-development. You must be open to feedback and thrive in a fast- paced environment. Our articling program is focused on active student participation. As such, students are given a great deal of responsibility early on in their careers. Students
can expect to:
• draft pleadings and facta;
• prepare motion materials;
• appear in court on unopposed matters;
• conduct legal research;
• participate in client meetings; and
• have carriage of small claims court matters.
We provide compensation that is competitive with small to mid-sized law firms in Toronto. Articling students who choose to join the firm after being licensed will receive reimbursement for their Bar Admission Course. Interviews will be conducted by
videoconference.
For applications, please follow the recruitment guidelines prescribed by the Law Society of Ontario, and submit your resume, cover letter, and copies of your law school transcripts via email to:
[email protected]
Attention: Lesley Atkinson
Atkinson LLP Professional Corporation
110 Wright Ave
Toronto, ON M5C 2V9
In addition to the articling students who join our firm as associates, Atkinson LLP recruits promising young lawyers who have begun their careers at other firms or organizations and wish to have the litigation experience that Atkinson LLP provides. We offer the opportunity to work alongside and learn highly regarded litigators. Like everyone at our firm, new associates sharpen their advocacy skills by getting as much experience as possible in the courtroom representing a diverse array of clients.
The qualities that we require without exception, are a desire for excellence, a passion for advocacy, a commitment to listening and serving our clients. We value associates that are independent, confident, skilled at time management and who are committed to continued professional and self-development. You must be open to feedback, mentoring others and being an active team member in face paced firm.
We provide compensation as well as benefits and perks that is competitive with large, national law firms in Toronto.
Senior Law Clerk or Paralegal Opportunity
Atkinson LLP is a diverse, dynamic, and successful award-winning commercial litigation law firm located in the heart of the financial district in downtown Toronto. We provide clients with cost-effective legal solutions to various litigation disputes including employment, contract, and real property disputes.
Atkinson LLP is seeking an experienced Law Clerk or Paralegal with a minimum of 5 years experience in commercial litigation to our team. The successful candidate must be an enthusiastic self starter, a strong team player, problem solver, proactive, and takes initiative. A respectful persona as well as keen attention to detail including thorough proofreading skills is essential. The ideal candidate must be able to interact with colleagues and clients in a collegial, professional and collaborative manner.
Atkinson LLP upholds a strict confidentiality policy to protect the privacy of all candidates so that you can ensure a stress-free recruitment process.
What we can offer you:
• Atkinson LLP has a strong reputation among its competition, peers, and clients for being respectful and conscientious with practicing law.
• We offer competitive compensation packages based on experience with vacation and benefits including joining our group RRSP after completing the probationary period.
• We offer flexible start and finish times with the possibility to permanently work from home.
• Discretionary bonus pay based on performance.
Key Requirements:
• Issue pleadings and file various court documents via the e-civil filing portal.
• Work with process servers to ensure that documents are served and filed.
• Attend the courthouse as needed to file and retrieve documents.
• Prepare, revise, and proofread drafts of correspondence and court documents such as pleadings, affidavits of service, etc.
• A Commissioner of Affidavits is aan asset.
• Familiarity and a willingness to learn new applications such as Dropbox, Docusign, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Caselines.
• Adaptable to changing court and firm policies such as Regional Practice Directions.
• Preparation of simple court documents such as discovery plans, notices of intent to defend, notice of appearance, notice of appointment of lawyer, discontinuance, etc.
• Schedule and coordinate examinations, prepare and send notice of examinations, draft and send out preparation letters to clients.
• Organize client documents, determine missing documents/evidence based on the pleadings and information provided by clients, and prepare Affidavit of Documents.
• Order transcripts, draft undertaking charts, and collect and prepare undertaking charts for review by senior lawyers.
• Ability to prepare mediation briefs or pre-trial briefs is an asset but is not required.
• Assisting with trial preparation such as issuing summons and completing joint book of documents.
• On occasion, the successful candidate is comfortable completing non billable marketing work such as amending office manual chapters, posting on social media, and assisting with legal presentations.
• Awareness of processes and deadlines for serving and filing court documents.
Required Experience/Skills/Qualifications:
• Successful completion of a post-secondary program in a related discipline (i.e., legal assistant, law clerk and/or Paralegal course) and a minimum of 5 years experience in a commercial litigation setting.
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy, ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines and draft correspondence and legal documents.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work autonomously.
• Knowledge of the Rules of Civil Procedure and general court procedure.
• Ability to use initiative and exercise judgment in identifying issues needing immediate attention.
• Strong administrative, organizational, interpersonal and communication skills (oral and written), solid typing skills (75-80 wpm).
• Intermediate to advanced technical skills (including Microsoft Office, Microsoft Excel, and Ghostpractice).
• The ability to research on search engines such as CanLii and Westlaw is an asset, but is not required.
• Flexibility with respect to working occasional overtime on an as-needed basis.
Atkinson LLP is seeking a junior Billings Clerk Intern to join our team. The ideal candidate will
have come from the legal industry, but it is not required, and will have AP and AR or billing
experience. This is an internship position which may lead to a full-time position.
Application deadline: Friday, August 2, 2024
Responsibilities:
• Open new cases and input data;
• Record and store client information;
• Process legal billings efficiently, on a monthly/quarterly or as-needed within assigned teams;
• Process, edit, finalize and post pre-bills using GhostPractice;
• Reconcile monthly and weekly expenses and ensuring they are properly posted and paid in
GhostPractice;
• Handle Moneris end of day closing duties;
• Prepare bank deposits;
• Process payment for retainers for new and existing clients;
• Prepare final bills and submit to clients with lawyers’ approval;
• Transfer time/disbursements according to lawyers’ instructions, Law Society of Ontario and firm guidelines;
• Process credit card payments;
• Prepare draft invoices to be approved/edited by lawyers;
• Prepare payment and communicate with clients regarding the return of trust funds;
• Distribute final invoices to clients and record when payment is processed;
• Close inactive files;
• Monitor billing system to ensure accuracy of client data; and
• Provide backup to other teams and other assistance as needed.
Requirements:
• Previous experience in a law firm setting (preferred)
• Pursuing post-secondary education in accounting and/or equivalent professional experience;
• Understanding of accounting theory;
• Experience with GhostPractice (preferred);
• Strong proficiency with MS Office (Outlook, Word, Excel), and Adobe Acrobat;
• Detailed oriented, with excellent communication, organizational and time management skills;
• Calm, friendly, team-player committed to delivering excellent customer service.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with tight deadlines
• Overtime and weekend work may be required.
We thank all applicants in advance for their interest, however, only those candidates selected for an
interview will be contacted. Please apply to Lesley Atkinson with your curriculum vitae, resume, and
transcripts by contacting [email protected]