Description
The Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO) is seeking a experienced Legal Counsel. We have one temporary position available to start immediately.
About RECO
RECO is a not-for-profit corporation responsible for administering the Trust in Real Estate Services Act, 2002 (TRESA) and associated regulations on behalf of the province of Ontario to protect the public interest through a safe and informed marketplace. A modern regulator with over 160 employees, RECO is a collegial and dynamic environment where quality work-life balance is valued along with strategic agility, curiosity and empathy in our action. RECO regulates approximately 100,000 registrants in the real estate sector.
Hybrid work environment
RECO has adopted a ‘hybrid’ environment, which will typically include a minimum attendance in the office of one day per week, with some teams requiring more frequent in-office attendance.
RECO’s commitment to diversity and inclusion: They aren’t just words to us!
RECO is committed to promoting an equitable, diverse, and inclusive environment that includes awareness, education, and engagement-building opportunities for all employees.
The role
Under the direction of the Director, Litigation, the successful candidate provide counsel, Litigation and ancillary services necessary to the administration and enforcement of the Trust in Real Estate Services Act, 2002 (TRESA).
Position responsibilities
- Provide counsel on Complaints cases, including legal analysis and advice to Complaints department, preparation of prosecutorial viability assessments, allegation statements, and appearing on pre-hearings, motions, hearings and appeal hearings before the Discipline and Appeals Committees of RECO.
- Provide counsel on administrative actions undertaken by the Registrar, including drafting/reviewing terms and conditions, preparing proposals to refuse, suspend or revoke registration, preparing other administrative orders, appearing at pre-hearings, motions and hearings before the License Appeal Tribunal, and appearing on appeals of such decisions at Divisional Court and Ontario Court of Appeal.
- Prosecute Part III Provincial Offence matters in the Ontario Court of Justice, assist in determining laying of charges, preliminary appearances, appear at Judicial pre-trials, conduct plea negotiations, guilty pleas, voir dires and Charter motions, trials, sentencing, and appeals.
- Provide and appear as counsel to RECO in, or work with external counsel on, civil motions, trials, appeals, applications for judicial review, injunction applications, and any other civil or administrative matters, such as Small Claims Court, Divisional Court, and other governmental bodies and tribunals or commissions, including drafting documents and pleadings, or negotiating settlements.
- Provide counsel and advice to Committees of the Board, task forces, the CEO, the Registrar, and other RECO departments, as assigned by Director, Litigation, as well as on an ad hoc, day-to-day basis, including analyzing or resolving legal problems/issues for other departments, on a wide variety of legal, corporate and ethical issues such as contract law, employment law, corporate law, landlord and tenant law, real estate brokerage law, and real and personal property law.
- Special projects dealing with legislative and policy review, corporate by-laws and impending legislative changes, as assigned.
- Conduct legal research and prepare legal memorandum on a variety of topics, or otherwise assist in tasks that apply to the administration and enforcement of the Trust in Real Estate Services Act, 2002 (TRESA)
- On occasion, some travel is required outside the General Toronto Area.
- Qualifications and experience
- Current member, in good standing, of the Law Society of Upper Canada
- At least six to ten (6-10) years’ experience (or 2-4 years’ for junior position) in regulatory law, professional discipline law, administrative law, civil litigation or prosecutions or broad-based general practice experience or in-house counsel experience
- Excellent oral and written communication skills, team player skills, problem solving, dispute resolution and negotiating skills, organizational, prioritization and multi-tasking skills, advocacy skills
- Knowledge of ethics, real estate industry, the Act and regulations, real property law, agency and real estate brokerage law, corporate law, regulatory law, professional discipline law, administrative law, civil law, criminal and quasi-criminal law, consumer protection laws, administrative authority model
- Knowledge of Microsoft Office products.
Desirable Skills:
- Familiarity with TRESA 2002 and RECO’s By-laws;
- Prosecutorial experience under POA or discipline processes;
- Legal research skills.
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Posting Date: March 10, 2025
Closing Date: March 24, 2025
Grade: 10+
Salary Range: $112,000-$140,000
Qualified applicants are invited to submit a detailed application with outline of experience specifically addressing RECO’s needs in confidence to Human Resources.
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RECO is committed to treating all people in a way that allows them to maintain their dignity and independence. We believe in integration and equal opportunity. We are committed to meeting the needs of persons with disabilities in a timely manner, and will do so by preventing and removing barriers to accessibility.
We thank all applicants in advance for their interest.
