Senior Legal Advisor, Ethics and Risk Management (1 Year Contract)

Overview At KPMG, you’ll join a team of diverse and dedicated problem solvers, connected by a common cause: turning insight into opportunity for clients and communities around the world. The Opportunity: KPMG LLP is seeking a lawyer with a collaborative, problem-solving mindset for a one-year contract to join the national Risk Management team as Senior Legal Advisor, Ethics and Risk Management. In this national position, reporting directly to the Partner, Risk Management and working closely with the Risk Management Team and firm members across KPMG LLP and KPMG Law, you will provide advice to law professionals on risk management policies and policy development. You will act as subject the matter expert and the principal source of guidance for leadership, lawyers and administrative professionals on law society regulatory rules and developments affecting the legal profession and law firm practice, including ethics, conflicts of interest, ethical dividers, professionalism, trust accounts, practice management, and related topics. You will be the principal subject matter expert on all areas touching the rules which regulate the legal profession and law firms across Canada. What you will do Act as the subject matter expert and principal source of guidance for leadership, risk management professionals, lawyers, and administrative professionals on all areas related to the rules which regulate the legal profession and law firms across Canada, including on areas related to: ethics, conflicts of interest, joint retainers, privilege, ethical dividers, contingency fee agreements, professionalism, privilege, trust accounts, client identification and verification, risk management, practice management, and related topics. Advise on professional responsibility and law society issues affecting KPMG LLP and KPMG Law, clients, and the legal industry Develop, update, and review practice management resources and risk management policies. Collaborate with the team of conflict resolvers to advise and support on the day-to-day operation of the firm’s conflict of interest process, ensuring it meets firm standards and applicable regulatory rules. This includes the identification, evaluation, and resolution of potential legal and business conflicts. Analyze and resolve complex conflicts of interest in a manner that complies with applicable rules and mitigates risk, while supporting the firm’s business and strategic goals. Develop – and advise on – the conflicts and compliance processes related to lawyer onboarding and offboarding. Advise lawyers on adherence to applicable regulatory and firm-developed rules and policies. Collaborate with the law firm’s national finance team to provide guidance on law society trust accounting rules. Collaborate with the law firm’s national operations team to provide guidance on firm best practices that comply with applicable law society rules and developments in case law. Prepare and delivering presentations on risk management and law society regulatory issues. Review law society professionalism and practice management resources on a regular basis to keep the firm abreast on changes to law society rules affecting KPMG Law and recommend practical actions, policies and procedures to operationalize the changes. Provide ongoing advice and recommendations to risk management, leadership, administrative teams, and lawyers on best practices related to law society rules, conflicts, ethical dividers. Keep up to date on law society rules, codes of conduct, applicable case law and best practices applicable to the practice of law and regulation of the legal profession. Research and draft memos on areas related to law society rules, codes of conduct, privilege and related areas, for the risk management team and firm leadership. Maintain firm engagement letters and reviewing and provide recommendations to lawyers on firm engagement letters and non-standard engagement letters proposed by clients. Collaborate with the firm’s Office of General Counsel on legal issues affecting the firm, as needed. What you bring to the role J.D. or LL.B. from an accredited law school. Member in good standing of a Canadian law society/bar with a minimum of 5 years practicing law. Significant experience providing guidance on law society regulatory rules, ethics, conflicts of interest, ethical dividers, professionalism, privilege, risk management, practice management, and related topics. Significant experience resolving conflict of interest issues and related issues pertaining to ethical dividers. Experience establishing policies, processes, and best practice ways of working to deliver business and risk improvements. Superior knowledge of the Law Society Rules of Professional Conduct, Law Society Acts and ByLaws, along with the professional responsibility and practice management standards applicable to lawyers and law firms in Ontario, Québec, Alberta and British Columbia Superior knowledge of ethical, professional responsibility and practice management issues facing lawyers and law firms (an understanding of law firms working with affiliated non-law firms would be an asset). Superior risk assessment and risk management skills. Superior ability to quickly identify ethical, professional responsibility, and practice management issues in complex factual situations, synthesize the information, and apply professionalism, practice management standards, applicable law society rules, case law, and best practices to these situations to provide practical and compliant advice to Risk Management and firm leadership. Bilingualism (French/English) would be an asset. Experience in a national law firm and in-house setting would be an asset. Knowledge, Skills and Attributes Confident acting as the sole subject matter expert on the regulatory rules governing lawyers and the practice of law (across Canada) to provide practical advice to the risk management team, lawyers, leadership, and administrative professionals in a highly demanding, fast-paced environment with an aptitude for multi-tasking and the ability to effectively communicate with multiple stakeholders across KPMG LLP and KPMG Law. The ability to exercise a high degree of judgment, discretion and autonomy while providing guidance on the subject matter. Excellent analytical and strategic thinking skills combined with the ability to explain complex legal issues in practical terms. Good judgment and ability to provide business-oriented, solution-focused legal advice Excellent organizational and operational skills. Strong presentation skills with the confidence to lead training programs for lawyers and staff Excellent relationship-building skills. Proven ability to effectively handle challenging situations in a time-sensitive manner. Keys to your success KPMG individuals Deliver Impact | Seek Growth | Inspire Trust and understand that a diverse workforce enables us to deepen relationships and strengthen our business. Providing you with the support you need to be at your best For more information about KPMG in Canada’s Benefits and well-being, click here. Our Values, The KPMG Way Integrity, we do what is right | Excellence, we never stop learning and improving | Courage, we think and act boldly | Together, we respect each other and draw strength from our differences | For Better, we do what matters KPMG in Canada is a proud equal opportunities employer and we are committed to creating a respectful, inclusive and barrier-free workplace that allows all of our people to reach their full potential. A diverse workforce is key to our success and we believe in bringing your whole self to work. We welcome all qualified candidates to apply and hope you will choose KPMG in Canada as your employer of choice. For more information about Inclusion, Diversity & Equity in Recruitment, please click here. For general recruitment-related inquiries, please contact the HR Delivery Centre at [email protected]. If you have a question about accessible employment at KPMG, or to begin a confidential conversation about your individual accessibility or accommodation needs through the recruitment process, we encourage you to contact us at [email protected] or phone: 416-777-8002 or toll free 1-888-466-4778.