As a Manager of Legal Advisory Services, you provide strategic legal direction and oversight to a team of legal professionals within the Department of National Defence. You are responsible for managing legal advisory services that support operational and administrative decision-making across the organization. Your role involves ensuring legal compliance, managing risk, and delivering timely legal advice on complex matters ranging from defence policy to procurement and personnel issues.
Your day-to-day responsibilities include supervising legal staff, assigning and reviewing legal work, managing case files, and representing the department in legal matters. You work closely with senior leadership to identify emerging legal issues and develop strategies to address them. You also manage budgets, coordinate with other government departments and external legal counsel when needed, and ensure your team maintains the highest professional and ethical standards.
You will work in a dynamic environment where legal issues directly impact national defence operations and policy. Your work requires strong judgment, confidentiality, and the ability to communicate complex legal concepts to non-legal audiences. You may work regular office hours, though legal matters can sometimes require extended hours or urgent response to emerging issues.
Key Responsibilities
Plan and manage the delivery of legal advisory services services and programs, Supervise and develop staff within the legal advisory services team, Monitor performance metrics and report on results, Develop and implement operational plans and procedures, Manage stakeholder relationships and ensure service quality
Post-secondary education in the relevant field; supervisory and operational management experience
Training
To qualify for this position, you must hold a Bachelor of Laws degree (LL.B.) or Juris Doctor (J.D.) from a recognized Canadian law school and be a member in good standing of a Canadian provincial or territorial law society. Some provinces require completion of articling or a Professional Legal Training Program.
Successful candidates typically have 5 to 10 years of legal experience, with at least 2 to 3 years in a supervisory or management capacity. Experience in government law, public law, administrative law, or defence-related legal matters is highly valued. You should demonstrate strong knowledge of federal legislation, Treasury Board policies, and Government of Canada legal frameworks.
The federal Public Service supports ongoing professional development through access to legal education programs, management training, and courses on government operations. As a legal professional, you are expected to maintain your professional development hours and stay current with changes in law and legal practice. DND may also support specialized training in defence law, military law, or other areas relevant to your team's mandate.
Entry Plans
Entry into the Manager - Legal Advisory Services position typically occurs through: (1) Public Service Commission competitions open to Canadian citizens or permanent residents with legal qualifications; (2) Lateral moves from other legal roles within DND or the broader federal Public Service, where candidates already have status as public servants; (3) Internal advancement from senior legal advisor or counsel positions within the organization; or (4) Staffing pools maintained by DND or Treasury Board for legal management positions.
Many candidates enter federal legal management after working in provincial or private legal practice. If you are a Canadian lawyer without federal public service experience, you would typically compete in an open recruitment process. If you are already employed by DND or another federal department in a legal capacity, you may be eligible to apply for management opportunities through internal competitions or deployments.
The Public Service Commission website (jobs.gc.ca) regularly posts competitions for legal management positions. Some specialized recruitment may also occur through direct engagement with law schools or legal associations. We encourage you to monitor current job postings and register for alerts to stay informed about opportunities.
Part-Time Options
Most Manager - Legal Advisory Services positions are full-time, as these roles require regular presence for supervision, decision-making, and stakeholder engagement. However, the federal Public Service does offer flexibility options that may be negotiated depending on operational needs and departmental policy.
Partial remote work may be available for portions of your week, allowing you to handle certain legal research, writing, and administrative tasks from home while maintaining in-person time for team meetings, mentoring, and client consultation. Flexible work arrangements, including flexible start and end times, may also be possible within the constraints of supporting your team and meeting departmental requirements.
Any part-time, compressed work week, or formal flexible work arrangements would need to be negotiated with your manager and approved according to DND's policies. Managers in legal roles are generally expected to be available for urgent matters and emerging legal issues, which may limit the degree of flexibility possible compared to non-supervisory positions. We recommend discussing specific flexibility needs during your recruitment process.
Related Careers
No related military careers on file for this position.
