Legislative Counsels provide expert legal advice and support on legislative matters within the Department of National Defence. They analyze legislation, regulations, and policy frameworks to ensure DND operations comply with federal laws and constitutional requirements. These professionals work at the intersection of law and government, helping shape how defence policy is developed and implemented across the organization.
Key responsibilities include reviewing and drafting legislative instruments, providing legal opinions on the application of federal statutes to military and civilian operations, and advising senior management on legal implications of proposed policies and programs. Legislative Counsels also represent the department in inter-departmental consultations on legislative matters and contribute to government-wide legal harmonization efforts.
You will work in a dynamic environment where your legal expertise directly supports national defence priorities. This role offers opportunity to influence significant policy decisions and develop specialized knowledge in military law, constitutional law, and federal legislation. Legislative Counsels collaborate with colleagues across DND, other government departments, and external legal experts to address complex legal challenges.
Key Responsibilities
Provide legislative services support to departmental clients, Research and analyze legal issues and precedents, Draft legal opinions, contracts, and regulatory instruments, Advise on legal risks and compliance requirements
Post-secondary education or equivalent experience relevant to the position
Training
To qualify as a Legislative Counsel, you must be a lawyer in good standing with a provincial or territorial law society in Canada. This requires completion of a law degree (J.D. or LL.B.) from an accredited Canadian law school and successful completion of provincial bar admission requirements, including articling or professional practice requirements and bar examinations.
The Government of Canada values ongoing professional development. Once employed, you may pursue specialized certifications in administrative law, constitutional law, or public law through professional legal organizations. The Department supports continuing legal education to maintain and enhance your expertise. Some positions may require or prefer experience in legislative drafting, statutory interpretation, or government legal practice. Security clearance requirements are common for this role given the defence context.
Entry Plans
There are several pathways to become a Legislative Counsel in the federal Public Service:
Public Service Commission (PSC) Competitions: The primary route is through open or internal merit-based competitions advertised on the Government of Canada Jobs website (jobs.gc.ca). These competitions assess your legal qualifications, legislative knowledge, and suitability for the defence environment.
Lateral Moves: If you are already employed in the federal Public Service in another legal role, you may transition to a Legislative Counsel position through internal competitions or staffing processes.
Student and Early Career Programs: Law students and recent law school graduates may enter through federal student work programs (co-op, internships) or early-career recruitment initiatives, which can lead to permanent positions.
Pooling: In some cases, the Public Service Commission maintains pools of qualified candidates for legislative legal positions, allowing for faster staffing when vacancies arise.
Prospective candidates should monitor the Government of Canada Jobs website and the DND careers portal for posted opportunities and register for job alerts in the Legal Services field.
Part-Time Options
Legislative Counsel positions are typically full-time roles given the nature of legal advisory work and the need for continuity on complex files. However, the federal Public Service does offer flexible work arrangements in many locations.
Part-time opportunities may be available in some cases, though they are less common for positions requiring ongoing client relationships with senior management and interdepartmental coordination. Remote and hybrid work arrangements have become more prevalent across the Public Service, and many DND legal positions now offer flexibility to work from home for portions of the week, particularly for research, analysis, and drafting tasks.
Flexible start times, compressed work weeks, and leave options (including parental leave) are available to all federal employees and can be discussed with your manager and Human Resources business partner. Eligibility for specific flexible arrangements depends on operational requirements and organizational needs. Prospective employees are encouraged to inquire about available flexibility options during the recruitment process.
Related Careers
No related military careers on file for this position.
