Legal Counsel

Description

Reporting directly to the Chief of the Winnipeg Police Service, the Legal Counsel provides legal and policy advice to the Chief of Police and throughout the organization, and leads and supervises the Legal Counsel Office. The Legal Counsel plays a key role in mitigating risks to the organization's interests and its ability to fulfill its mandate. 

The Legal Counsel provides expertise and advice on potential legislative and policy changes, labour relations matters, disciplinary matters, hearings, inquests, and litigation. 

The Legal Counsel represents and acts on behalf of the Service when working with the Attorney-General's Department, the Federal Justice Department, City of Winnipeg Legal Services, the Law Enforcement Review Agency, and judicial inquiries. 

The Legal Counsel operates in a high-pressure environment, providing advice to the Chief of Police on sensitive matters that may impact public confidence in the Winnipeg Police Service, and/or result in the Service being required to pay damages or defend or discipline its members. 

The Legal Counsel prepares documents and testimony for disclosure to various levels of court, inquests, arbitrations, and judicial inquiries. The context in which the Legal Counsel operates is also shaped by the growing complexity of the criminal justice system and the corresponding growth in the comprehensiveness of investigative strategies and tactics, as well as resulting complex legal cases.