Department of Justice Canada Minister's Transition Book
Introduction
Welcome to the Department of Justice, Canada’s Legal Team.
The Department is considered a medium-sized government department, comprised of approximately 5,000 employees. Roughly half of the Department’s staff are lawyers; the other half includes experts in fields such as research, social sciences, and communications, as well as paralegals and support staff.
In addition to its Headquarters in Ottawa, the Department provides services across the country, through six regional offices: Atlantic Region, Quebec Region, Ontario Region, Prairie Region, British Columbia Region, and Northern Region. Staff at these regional offices provide legal advice and support to federal departments and agencies outside of the National Capital Region.
The Department fulfils three distinctive roles within the Government of Canada, acting as a:
- policy department with broad responsibilities for overseeing all matters relating to the administration of justice that fall within the federal domain;
- provider of a range of legal advisory, litigation, and legislative services to government departments and agencies; and
- central agency responsible for supporting the Minister in advising Cabinet on all legal matters including the constitutionality of government initiatives and activities.
Justice plays a central role in the maintenance of a just and democratic society and its institutions.
- Date modified: