Legal Counsel (Health Law)

ABOUT US

The Canadian Nurses Protective Society (CNPS) provides legal advice, risk management services, legal assistance and professional liability protection related to nursing practice to over 175,000 eligible Canadian nurses across all Canadian provinces and territories. With the CNPS, you will enjoy a dynamic work environment, a collegial atmosphere and a rewarding career that provides opportunities for legal contributions at the leading edge of developments in the delivery of health care services in Canada.

SCOPE OF POSITION

As a lawyer and educator, the Canadian Nurses Protective Society (CNPS) legal counsel is primarily responsible for providing legal advice and assistance to eligible nurses across Canada. In addition, the CNPS legal counsel is responsible for the strategic management of civil litigation, criminal, regulatory, statutory and other legal proceedings, personally or in collaboration with external counsel. In their capacity as an educator, the CNPS legal counsel is also responsible for developing and delivering to nurses risk-management education on prevalent and emerging issues in health law.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provision of legal information, advice, and support to nursing professionals in connection with issues arising from their professional practice;
•  Review and analysis of legal documents;
• Provision of advice and legal representation to nurses involved in litigation and legal proceedings;
• Strategic management of the conduct of litigation and legal proceedings across Canadian jurisdictions; and
• Documentation of legal services in accordance with applicable standards and employer policies.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES

• Development and presentation of educational modules, workshops, and lectures on professional obligations and legal issues relevant to nursing;
• Drafting of articles for publication on various health law topics relevant to nursing;
• Research and provision of legal opinions relating to various corporate issues; and
• Representing the CNPS on external committees and working groups.

REQUIREMENTS

• Law degree from a Canadian university;
• License to practice common law in a Canadian province or territory;
• Minimum 5 years of civil litigation experience (must have), including 3 years practicing Health Law (highly preferred);
• Experience working with regulated health-care professionals (preferred);
• Proficiency with SharePoint and Microsoft Office Suite/365 (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint);
• Ability to travel within Canada; and
• Ability and willingness to relocate to Ottawa.

KEY COMPETENCIES

• Leadership: Collaborative, inclusive, and team focused. Understands the intricacies of working, learning, and progressing as part of a team;
• Communication: An excellent communicator with proven negotiation and relationship-building skills, including the ability to communicate effectively in an empathetic manner in highly sensitive situations;
• Case Management: A self-motivated professional who thrives in a fast paced and dynamic environment while effectively managing changing and competing priorities; and
• Critical Thinking: A creative thinker with highly developed analytical and organizational skills who understands the intricacies of litigation and exercises good judgment in providing accurate legal advice.

ADDITIONAL ASSETS

• Nursing baccalaureate and broad nursing experience;
• Registered or eligible for registration as a registered nurse or nurse practitioner in a Canadian province of territory;
• Fluent in both official languages, written and oral;
• Licensed to practice civil law, and/or licensed to practice in multiple Canadian jurisdictions; and
• Law or Health related academic and/or teaching appointments.

RENUMERATION AND BENEFITS

In 2026, CNPS anticipates significant organizational growth. In this context, CNPS offers a competitive, flexible, and attractive total compensation package that reflects the value and strategic impact of its legal functions.

For this position, the annual salary range is between $105,000 and $155,000. This range reflects the expected compensation for candidates with at least five (5) years of experience post call to the bar, who possess skills, strengths, and an experience profile that meet—or exceed—the requirements outlined for this role.

In addition to salary, CNPS offers all team members, including the legal team—regardless of year of call to the bar—a comprehensive benefits package. The total compensation program includes, among other things:

• • • comprehensive health and dental care coverage;
    • participation in the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP), one of the most advantageous defined benefit pension plans in Canada;
    • access to organizational wellness and well-being support programs;
    • paid vacation and sick days;
    • coverage of professional membership fees as well as funding for professional development; and
    • access to initiatives promoting work-life balance, including a telework policy currently allowing members of the legal team to work remotely up to three (3) days per week.

The total compensation program is reviewed annually to ensure its relevance, attractiveness, and competitiveness. CNPS also welcomes applications from individuals with significantly more extensive professional experience. The compensation offered may be above the stated range. CNPS is committed to attracting exceptional talent and is proud to offer highly competitive compensation at all career levels. Candidates with at least five (5) years of post call experience will be given priority consideration for this hiring process.

HOW TO APPLY

Interested individuals are invited to submit their application to the following address: hr@cnps.ca. We thank all applicants in advance for their interest in CNPS. However, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

The CNPS welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations measures are available on request throughout the selection process.