Unifor is Canada’s largest private sector union. Unifor is committed to social unionism, which seeks to advance the interests of workers of all backgrounds at their workplaces and in their communities.
Our members work in many economic sectors across Canada. Our diverse membership provides exciting opportunities for labour lawyers to do a variety of interesting work.
Unifor is hiring an experienced lawyer as Legal Department Director in Toronto. This job posting is for an existing vacancy. The ideal candidates will have acquired 10 or more years of advisory, litigation and leadership experience in a law firm or trade union. Qualified candidates with less experience may also be considered. Candidates with similar experience in other non-profit organizations may be considered.
The Unifor Legal Department provides legal services to Unifor and its members across Canada.
The Department’s core work involves litigation and advice in these areas:
- Collective bargaining.
- Labour board applications, responses and interventions.
- Labour arbitrations.
- Civil litigation including picketing injunction cases, judicial reviews, and appeals.
- Bankruptcy, CCAA and other insolvency proceedings.
- Human rights commission applications, responses and interventions.
- Legal compliance with lobbying, election financing, and other relevant regulatory schemes.
The Legal Department Director leads this work and has additional responsibilities that include labour and employment relations with Unifor staff and their bargaining agents, advice to the National Officers and the National Executive Board, contributions to policy development, and retaining and instructing external counsel.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
The ideal candidate will have these qualifications:
- Proficiency in English is essential. Proficiency in French is desirable.
- Demonstrated litigation experience in relevant areas.
- Strong advocacy and relationship-building skills.
- Detailed knowledge of relevant labour relations and employment laws.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with short timelines.
- Lawyer membership (or eligibility for lawyer membership) in the Law Society of Ontario.
- Ability to travel occasionally in Canada.
Salary and Benefits
Current annual salary is approximately $156,000, plus additional per diem and automobile allowances, generous benefits, and enrolment in a defined benefit pension plan.
Applicants selected for an interview will be asked to provide two or more references. Contact information for references may accompany the application or be provided later.
Applications will be reviewed as they are received. In alignment with our values, AI is not being used in the recruitment process.
Applications should be sent to @email no later than Friday July 17, 2026.
We thank all candidates for their interest, but we will only contact those persons selected for an interview.
