Legal Paraprofessional (Law Clerk/Contract Specialist) - Legal Services - Regular Full-Time 2024-10656

Location: Hybrid

Summary of Duties

As a member of the Legal Services team at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (“Sunnybrook”), the Legal Paraprofessional will report directly to the Senior Legal Paraprofessional, Legal Office Manager and is required to work independently and collaboratively within a busy client environment with a high volume of work. The focus of this role includes, but is not limited to the following:

Corporate Legal Work:

• Drafting, reviewing, negotiating and providing advice on a broad range of corporate agreements, including: confidentiality agreements, information technology agreements, software license agreements, education affiliation agreements, services agreements, funding agreements, collaboration agreements, construction contracts and leases
• Reviewing the business terms of agreements and working directly with business and senior leaders to ensure terms are compliant with applicable legislation and regulations and Sunnybrook policies and guidelines
• Drafting and providing advice on a broad range of documents including: releases, Human Rights Tribunal responses, construction lien claims, delay and price escalation claims
• Providing guidance to Capital Planning group, and supporting escalations, final review and sign-off, for RFP tender processes and procurement vendor agreements negotiated by our third party contracting service provider in accordance with Broader Public Sector Guidelines
• Conducting corporate and real estate searches using eCore and Teranet eXpress
• Working with internal clients to asses legal implications of plans, policies, actions and other specific matters
• Participating in discussions with external counsel retained to assist on complex corporate matters
• Overseeing and tracking status of multiple corporate files and providing regular updates
• Other duties as requested

Research Legal Work:

• Drafting, reviewing, negotiating and providing advice to researchers and research administration personnel on a broad range of clinical and pre-clinical research agreements, including: clinical trial agreements, sponsored research agreements, sub-site agreements, material and/or data transfer agreements, research services agreements, and confidentiality agreements
• Working with the Technology Transfer Office on the negotiation of technology licenses and other IP agreements
• Liaising with the Research Finance office on a regular basis to support the timely development and review of research budgets and to support applications for grants as needed
• Other duties as requested

Qualifications:

• A College diploma or certificate in a Paralegal or Law Clerk program.
• Three to five years of relevant experience gained in an in-house setting or leading law firm. Previous experience in a healthcare or medical research setting will be considered an asset and preferred.
• Ability to demonstrate sound use of and familiarity with legal terminology, language and vocabulary.
• Ability to demonstrate a sound use of and familiarity with medical terminology will be considered an asset.
• Superior organizational and communication skills, tact, diplomacy and sound judgment.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision within a dynamic team, where problem-solving ability and enthusiasm will be highly valued.
• Experience working on special projects and flexibility with regard to types of tasks assigned, as well as initiative to develop new projects.
• Ability to work under pressure and deal with conflicting priorities and deadlines is critical to the role.
• Well-developed computer skills are essential, including high level of proficiency in the use and maintenance of computer database systems and data analysis, proficiency in the use of the Microsoft Office suite of applications, Adobe Acrobat Professional and related software combined with an ability to learn new applications quickly.
• Experience working with clients, staff and organizations serving diverse groups is an asset.
• Experience with research processes in an academic setting would be considered an asset.