Academy Specialist - MT Academy

Job Description

McCarthy Tétrault is a leading Canadian law firm offering a full suite of legal and business solutions to clients in Canada and around the world. With offices in Toronto, Montréal, Québec City, Calgary and Vancouver, we provide challenging and rewarding career opportunities across the country. Recognized as one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers for eleven consecutive years and one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers for fourteen consecutive years, our culture is guided by The McCarthy Way—our shared approach to working with clients and with each other.

The McCarthy Way is built on four core elements: Excellence, through attracting and developing top talent committed to delivering on our Client Commitment; Collaboration, through seamless, integrated teamwork; Inclusion, through eliminating barriers to belonging and success; and Innovation, through delivering maximum value by embracing leading-edge technologies and approaches. Together, these principles shape how we work, lead, and grow—every day.

We are recruiting for a MT Academy Specialist to join our team in our Toronto or Vancouver office. The successful candidate must have a minimum of five years of experience in a program development and implementation role and will be responsible for designing, administering, co-ordinating and delivering national lawyer education programs, regulatory compliance and administering and co-ordinating the work of MT Academ. McCarthy Tétrault employees benefit from a hybrid work environment.

Salary Range : $75,000 - $80,000annually 

The offered salary may vary based on the candidate’s job-specific knowledge, skills, and experience.

As a Specialist, MT Academy, you will be:

MT Professional Journey Office – MT Academy

Designing, administering, co-ordinating and delivering national lawyer education programs thatcomprise the MT Academy including student, associate, income partner and equity partner programs, including programming aligned to one or more national practice groups. Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Supporting the Senior Professional Resources Director (“SPRD”) to deliver and manage the education programs and processes for lawyers of one or more national practice groups. 
• Attending and presenting at relevant Practice Group meetings when required. 
• Creating and maintaining an education programming communication plan for the lawyers of one or more national practice groups. 
• Creating and maintaining a database of relevant marquee external programming for one or more national practice groups, and supporting selection of and registration for that programming as required.
• Liaising with internal and external experts to identify new programs and speakers.
• Arranging and leading program planning meetings of speakers and assembling and distributing draft materials for review and update by speakers, developing and drafting program overview descriptions to communicate to program participants and introducing programs, etc.
• Arranging all program/workshop logistics including catering, boardrooms, video conference equipment and all technology requirements, and recording and posting of recorded programs and materials, as required.
• Taking the lead in working with stakeholders with respect to all preparation, logistics and documentation relating to the delivery of national programs, workshops and retreats.
• Sending program notices, invitations, reminders and confirmation information to participants and speakers.
• Working with instructors to prepare program materials for distribution to program participants and speakers and applying the appropriate branding to all.
• Tracking attendance at programs and supporting program participants in evidencing their attendance to their respective provincial Law Society for cpd credit.
• Co-ordinating program evaluations and preparing evaluation summary reports for the MT Academy Director, the Head of the MT Professional Journey Office and SPRD.
• Preparing comprehensive reports post-program as requested.
• Contributing to and keeping up-to-date all program protocols and tracking systems in use or developed from time to time by/for MT Academy.
• Updating and maintaining all national and regional MT Acaemy programs and practice group meetings in the Professional Resources Calendar and on espresso.

Regulatory Compliance

Working with the MT Academy Coordinator, who administers the day-to-day CPD processes, to ensure programming meets the requirements of the applicable provincial and territorial law societies related to your assigned national group(s). Duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Acquiring and maintaining knowledge of the requirements.
• Overseeing the accreditation of programming for the assigned national practice group(s), confirming that accreditation applications are made and that credit information and attendance records are accurate and complete. 
• Advising the SPRD and practice group leaders on CPD eligibility, credit gaps and compliance deadlines, and escalating any compliance risks to the Director, Professional Resources and the Head of the MT Professional Journey Office. Working with members of the team to support the integration of skills and experiences into the wider recruitment, evaluation, promotion and formal business planning processes for lawyers.
• Using and contributing to the ongoing development of all related protocols and tracking systems. 

General Administration & Co-ordination 

Administering and co-ordinating the work of MT Academy as well as within the Professional Resources Group. Duties to include:

• Applying appropriate branding on all work products including notices, invitations, agendas, reports, charts and outlines and being pro-active in identifying opportunities to include same in the work of others in the Professional Resources Group.
• Working co-operatively with other members of the Professional Resources Group to complete assignments and achieve objectives related to the MT Professional Journey Office.
• Co-ordinating and collaborating with members of the MT Professional Journey Office in the application of project management principles to all aspects of the work of the MT Professional Journey Office work with a view to contributing to ongoing efficiencies and consistencies in such work.
• Attending, and when requested, organizing MT Academy meetings, including preparing agendas and minutes for same, using Teams, webinar tools, video conferencing, or such other systems. Also attending Professional Resources Group meetings.
• Responding promptly to requires and inquiries from internal and external clients – providing them needed direction, assistance, materials and resources.
• Assisting in the preparation of various plans, reports and charts that describe, track or provide updates on education programs.
• Contributing to the ongoing development of all protocols and tracking systems.
• Arranging for payment of consultant invoices, fees or charges for attendance at programs by lawyers or incurred on behalf of the MT Professional Journey Office.
• Any other duties as assigned.

As our ideal candidate, you will distinguish yourself by the following profile:

• Undergraduate university or college degree. Study related to adult learning an asset.
• A minimum of five years of experience in a program development and implementation role with significant administrative responsibilities as well as experience interfacing with senior professionals and members of the business community. Law firm or other professional services firm experience preferred. Event management an asset.
• Significant flexibility in order to deliver various education programs including flexible lunch hours, arrival and departure times as well as some evening work during heavy workload periods.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and comfortable speaking to groups of students and lawyers at programs or meetings.
• Strong interpersonal skills and comfortable working with lawyers, clients and staff individually and in teams.
• High level of service orientation with the ability to problem solve independently and practically.
• Self-starter who takes initiative with exceptional organizational and time management skills, and who works efficiently with minimum supervision.
• Ability to maintain a fast pace and manage multiple demands under pressure by prioritizing, being practical and results-oriented.
• Strong attention to accuracy and detail along with a numeric aptitude.

As a member of the McCarthy team, you will have access to:

• Outstanding benefits from day one, including insurance premiums paid by the Firm.
• Competitive compensation including paid overtime.
• A commitment to professional development and growth opportunities for our people at all levels, supported by a culture that fully embraces and encourages two-way feedback.
• Strong community involvement and a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.
• A collaborative, cohesive culture that connects lawyers and business teams through collective purpose.

How to Apply: 

We encourage external candidates to apply online and internal applicants must apply directly through our internal careers portal on Espresso. We look forward to receiving your application.

McCarthy Tétrault utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) technology as part of our application screening process to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of our recruitment efforts by analyzing applications to identify candidates whose qualifications and experiences align with the requirements of the position.

We thank all applicants for their interest in McCarthy Tétrault; however, only chosen applicants will be contacted. We regret that we are unable to respond to individual inquiries about application status. McCarthy Tétrault is an equal opportunity employer that fosters an inclusive, equitable, and accessible environment. Please notify us if you require accommodation at any time during the recruitment process.