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Job Description Legal Counsel, Advocacy & Policy Department: Legal & Regulatory Affairs Reports To: General Counsel Direct Reports: None Employment Type: Full-time, Permanent Location: Toronto, ON Work Model: Hybrid Salary Range: $135,000-$150,000 Position Overview The Legal Counsel, Advocacy & Policy role is a builder role within Advocis Legal & Regulatory Affairs function. Reporting to the General Counsel, this position plays a critical role in strengthening Advocis advocacy presence, rebuilding policy and regulatory engagement processes, and serving as a trusted legal and regulatory resource for members. This role is not a maintenance position. The Legal Counsel will be responsible for developing foundational advocacy infrastructure, monitoring legal and regulatory developments in the financial services area across Canada, and translating complex issues into practical guidance, research, and engagement materials for Advocis members, committees, and leadership. The role contributes directly to positioning Advocis as a credible, relevant, and influential voice with regulators, policymakers, and industry stakeholders. The successful candidate will be intellectually curious, highly collaborative, and comfortable operating as a jack of all trades across legal and regulatory research, advocacy support, process development, and member engagement. This role is also intended to support long-term succession planning within the Legal & Regulatory Affairs function. About Advocis Advocis, The Financial Advisors Association of Canada, is the countrys largest voluntary professional membership association for financial advisors and planners, with a history spanning more than a century. We play a national leadership role in advancing professionalism, consumer protection, and public confidence in financial advice. It is a nonprofit organisation operating in a highly regulated environment. Through advocacy with governments and regulators, the delivery of respected education and professional designations, and the support of a vibrant, coast-to-coast chapter network, Advocis shapes the standards and future of the financial advice profession in Canada. Our work directly impacts financial advisors and planners, consumers, and other insurance industry stakeholders and is designed to ensure Canadians have access to competent, ethical, and professional financial advice. Key Responsibilities 1.Advocacy & Regulatory Monitoring Monitor legislative, regulatory, and policy developments across Canada affecting financial advisors and planners, insurance and the financial services industry more broadly. Rebuild and maintain a comprehensive inventory of legal and regulatory issues relevant to Advocis members, including clear tracking, prioritization, and status monitoring mechanisms Identify emerging issues where Advocis should engage proactively as an advocate for the professionalism of financial advisors and planners. Support the development and advancement of defined advocacy files, from issue identification through engagement, analysis, and submission, in collaboration with the General Counsel and relevant Advocis committees. Establish and maintain disciplined processes for issue intake, analysis, escalation, and engagement to support timely and consistent advocacy responses. Contribute to strengthening Advocis credibility and visibility with regulators, policymakers, and industry stakeholders through disciplined issue monitoring and timely engagement. 2.Legal & Regulatory Research Conduct legal and regulatory research on matters impacting members, insurance and the financial services industry more broadly, including legislation, regulations, guidance, enforcement trends, and policy proposals. Prepare issue briefs, summaries, speaking notes, and background materials for internal leadership, member committees, and advocacy initiatives. Translate complex legal and regulatory concepts into clear, practical guidance for non-legal audiences. Develop standardized research outputs and reference materials to support consistency and reuse across advocacy files, committees, and member communications. 3.Member & Committee Engagement Serve as a key point of contact for members on legal and regulatory issues affecting their professional practice. Support member engagement through issue briefings, explanatory materials, and one-on-one discussions. Assist in preparing members for advocacy engagement by developing talking points, background materials, and educational resources. Support and, where appropriate, help manage legal and regulatory committees, working groups, or task forces, depending on organisational needs and role fit. Establish clear and effective communication channels between Legal & Regulatory Affairs, members, chapters, and internal teams to support coordinated advocacy and issue awareness. Contribute to advocacy-related communications content in collaboration with communications and member-facing teams, helping articulate the value of Advocis advocacy work to members. 4.Collaboration & Internal Support Work closely with the General Counsel on advocacy priorities, policy files, and external stakeholder engagement. Work closely with the General Counsel on general corporate governance and regulatory matters. Collaborate with communications, education, and member services teams to ensure alignment and consistency of messaging. Contribute to the documentation and continuous improvement of advocacy-related workflows and practices as part of broader Legal & Regulatory Affairs operations. Support broader legal and regulatory initiatives as required, including coordination with external counsel when appropriate. Qualifications & Experience LLB or Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited Canadian law school. Membership in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario or another Canadian jurisdiction. 5-7 years of relevant legal practice or relevant regulatory policy experience (association, government, or regulator experience preferred). Experience or strong interest in the financial services industry (e.g. insurance, securities, or financial planning regulation). Demonstrated ability to conduct legal and regulatory research and synthesize complex information. Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage diverse audiences. Experience working with member-based organisations, committees, or stakeholders is an asset. Core Competencies Intellectual curiosity and strong analytical thinking Comfort building programs, processes, and frameworks from the ground up Relationship-building and stakeholder engagement skills Ability to balance research, process development, and member-facing work Practical, solution-oriented mindset High degree of professionalism, discretion, and sound judgement What Success Looks Like A rebuilt and well-maintained inventory of legal and regulatory issues affecting members, with clear prioritization and tracking. Defined policy files are supported with high-quality research, analysis, and member-facing materials. Clear, repeatable advocacy and regulatory monitoring processes are in place and well-documented. Members view Advocis as a credible, engaged, and responsive advocate on legal and regulatory matters. Leadership and committees receive timely, practical, and well-synthesized legal and policy analysis. The Legal Counsel and General Counsel operate as a highly aligned, forward-looking team strengthening Advocis advocacy impact and positioning the Association as a respected voice in the financial services regulatory landscape. Our Commitment Advocis is committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. If you require accommodation during any stage of the process, please let us know and we will work with you in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).