Legal Assistant, Employment & Labour

 

Dentons is designed to be different. Our Firm leads the way in a rapidly changing legal marketplace. We challenge the status quo and deliver consistent results as well as uncompromising quality and value to our clients. Our global presence is renowned as a Firm with over 21,000 individuals in more than 200 offices serving clients across 80+ countries.

Dentons Canada is committed to its people and communities. We are consistently recognized as an employer of choice having received numerous awards including being selected as one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers (2026). Canada’s Top Employers for Young People (2026), and Canada’s Best Diversity Employers (2026).

This role is an opportunity for you to join Canada’s Global Law Firm, a Firm that offers opportunities to build your career while growing your skills and deepening your expertise.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Employment and Labour Legal Assistant role requires a unique blend of skills and experience in providing legal administrative support within a high-volume practice, attending to closing of a variety of Employment matters, preparing and reviewing documents, and ensuring accuracy and satisfaction of all client and litigation requirements. The Employment Practice Group is looking for a confident, dedicated, and curious team player who can manage complex tasks, prioritize and collaborate effectively, and adapt to changing priorities with ease.

As a valued member of our team, you will play a critical role in coordinating client matters, supporting practice management initiatives, and ensuring compliance with firm standards. You bring a willingness to learn and grow while demonstrating sound judgment and independence in handling sophisticated administrative responsibilities. You are personable, organized, discreet, and detail-oriented, with a strong client-first approach to your work. In addition to these qualities, you are reliable, solution-oriented, and believe in frequent and open communication. You understand that successful teams are collaborative and that combining individual strengths leads to the best outcomes.

 

Our legal assistant structure is based on a team model within a practice group. Legal assistants typically support more than one lawyer and will be called upon help others within their practice group when workload volumes are at their peak or during periods of vacation or absence coverage.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Prepare client-ready engagement letters, routine correspondence, and routine documents, requiring minimal supervision or revision.
• Open and maintain files, matter lists, contact records, and bring-forward systems in iManage in accordance with firm standards.
• Manage the full billing cycle, including inputting and reviewing dockets and time entries, preparing and finalizing invoices, monitoring deadlines, and resolving discrepancies with lawyers, clients, and finance.
• Handle confidential information with discretion, uphold privacy and ethical standards, and support compliance activities.
• Act as a point of contact for clients regarding scheduling and document requests.
• Manage calendars, critical dates and deadlines, meeting scheduling, travel arrangements, and boardroom and catering coordination.
• Identify efficiency opportunities, implement new tools and champion best practices within the team.
• Process incoming/outgoing mail and perform general administrative tasks, as assigned.
  
  

Practice-specific responsibilities:

• Provide proactive, engaged support to Partners and Associates, contributing to a collaborative team environment and offering guidance and mentorship to junior colleagues.
• Prepare and draft legal documentation (from precedents) such as termination letters, termination packages, employment agreements and amendments, client policies, handbooks, mediation briefs, demand letters, and other related correspondence.
• Provide litigation support by preparing shells of pleadings and supporting through all stages of the litigation process including managing deadlines, preparing court materials, coordinating service and filing.
• Preparing, compiling, serving and filing at the Court of Queen’s Bench, Alberta Labour Relations Board, Alberta Human Rights Commission, Alberta Human Rights Tribunal documents in accordance with the ALRB and the HRTA Rules of Procedure and practice directions.
• Coordinate and schedule mediations, arbitrations, and hearings, including handling rescheduling and confirming logistics with relevant parties.
• Assemble and compile/prepare mediation and arbitration briefs, hearing binders, and related materials to support counsel throughout the dispute resolution process.

 

REQUIREMENTS:

• Completion of a recognized legal support program (Law Clerk, Legal Assistant, Paralegal), preferred, or equivalent.
• 5+ years of law firm experience in a legal assistant or legal administrative role.
• Familiarity with/experience in employment and labour law, including wrongful dismissal claims, ESA matters, grievances, arbitrations, human rights applications, workplace safety matters, and labour board filings.
• Technical knowledge of key legislation including the Employment Standards Act, Human Rights Code, Canada Labour Code, Labour Relations Act, and Occupational Health and Safety Act.
• Proficiency with legal software and electronic filing systems related to labour & employment (court and tribunal submission platforms).
• Advanced digital dexterity in Microsoft Office Suite; ability to independently format complex legal documents and coordinate multiple calendars.
• Solid experience with document management systems (e.g., iManage) and billing platforms (e.g., 3E).
• Strong organizational and prioritization skills; produce high-quality work while managing competing deadlines with minimal supervision.
• Excellent grammar, proofreading, and attention to detail in all deliverables taking full ownership of the accuracy, completeness and professionalism of all legal documents and administrative work.
• Professional and courteous communication with clients, opposing counsel, and internal teams.
  
  

 

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.   

   

This role is a replacement role.

 

The target salary range for this position is $60,000 – $75,000, commensurate with the successful candidate’s skills, experience, and qualifications. Dentons is committed to equitable and competitive compensation. This target range falls within our internal salary ranges, which are based on comparable roles in the external market.  We strive to hire, promote, and transfer individuals at the entry point of the range, with consideration given to prior experience, relevant skills, and market conditions. 

 

We recognize that rewarding exceptional talent goes beyond salary. Our comprehensive total rewards package includes inclusive and flexible benefits that support the wellbeing and development of our people. This includes extended health and mental health benefits, paid time off, retirement savings plans, a fitness subsidy, parental leave top-up, and more. 

  

In addition, our learning and development programs—such as mentorship opportunities, employee networks, and leadership development initiatives—are designed to support personal and professional growth. 

  

At Dentons, all candidate screening, assessment, and hiring decisions are made by people. From time to time, we use AI-enabled tools to assist in enhancing our recruitment process and materials; however, these tools do not screen candidates or make hiring decisions. 

  

Note: Availability of benefits and programs may vary depending on your location and employment type and may be subject to eligibility criteria. Dentons reserves the right to modify or discontinue offerings, in whole or in part, at its discretion and without prior notice. 

 

Equal Opportunity Statement 

 

At Dentons Canada, inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility (IDEA) are not just ancillary values, they are foundational to our business. We believe that IDEA is essential to the shared success of our team and our clients. Our forward-thinking and inclusive culture supports the professional development of all our people, enhances the leading services we offer to our clients, and informs our commitment to make a positive impact in the communities where we live and work. As a testament to our commitment to IDEA, we have been recognized as one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employer’s for 15 consecutive years (2011-2026), as well as one of Canada’s Top Employers for Young People (2026) for the ninth time. 

  

Dentons Canada is an equal opportunity employer, and we welcome your application. All employment decisions, including hiring, will be made without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, colour, creed, disability, ethnic origin, family status, gender identity, marital status, place of origin, race, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable human rights legislation. 

  

We are committed to providing you with an inclusive, barrier-free, and accessible workplace to support your success. Should you require accommodation during the recruitment process, for example as a result of a disability, please contact us at careers.canada@dentons.com.