Legal Counsel

Overview

Fairstone Bank and its family of brands are united in delivering innovative, accessible and reliable financial solutions that enable Canadians to reach their goals. In 2024, Home Trust Company, Home Bank and Oaken Financial became part of the Fairstone Bank family of brands, alongside Fairstone, EdenPark and Fig. Together, we are the leading alternative lending bank in Canada with a diverse suite of products including residential and commercial mortgages, consumer deposits and GICs, credit cards, retail and automobile financing, personal loans and digital lending.

We have nearly a century of lending experience through our legacy companies and are proud to be Canada’s leading alternative lending bank. Join Fairstone as a Legal Counsel, reporting to the Director, Legal, and be part of our talented and growing team!

About The Role

We are looking for a Legal Counsel with experience practicing corporate and commercial law in an in-house legal department or law firm. Reporting to the Director, Legal, you will provide legal expertise and support to Fairstone Financial Inc. Based in one of our centralized locations in Montreal, Toronto or London Ontario, you will be a key member of a dynamic in-house legal team and have an opportunity to grow and develop the skills required of in-house lawyers by working directly with colleagues to grow the business while ensuring the legal and regulatory risk is mitigated and managed.

Responsibilities

• Providing strategic legal support to, amongst others, the operations, human resources, risk, finance, marketing, product development and corporate development teams;
• Managing litigation files (customer and employment-related) in conjunction with external counsel;
• Drafting, negotiating and reviewing commercial contracts and related documents to support consumer lending and credit card products, retail point-of-sale financing agreements and real estate leases for retail branches;
• Advising business units on all aspects of federal and provincial consumer lending laws and regulations, including consumer protection.

What We’re Looking For

• Ability to understand the operational and systematic complexity of the company’s products and services to provide practical legal support on new initiatives, products and services.
• Strong interpretation, organizational, and drafting skills.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
• Analytical capability and judgement as well as strong problem-solving skills and the ability to deal with ambiguity.
• Demonstrated ability to provide ideas, advice and practical solutions relative to legal and regulatory issues.
• Results oriented, efficient, driven and self-motivated with a commitment to excellence.
• Ability to prioritize and manage individual and team workload and competing priorities.
• 1 - 3 years of corporate commercial experience gained from a law firm or in-house legal department, with exposure to the areas of banking, corporate, and/or consumer finance.
• Juris Doctor (JD) or Bachelor of Laws (LLB).
• Licensed to practice law in Canada and a lawyer in good standing with a provincial law society (Ontario or Quebec bar membership preferred), or Member of the Chambre des Notaries du Québec.
• Bilingual (English/French, written and spoken) preferred.
• Experience with privacy and/or technology law is an asset.
• Ability to work independently and as a member of a team in a fast-paced environment with the ability to adapt to change and meet aggressive timelines.
• A positive attitude, a desire to learn, and a willingness to roll up your sleeves to get work done.

What You’ll Love About Working Here

• Award-Winning Culture: We’re proud to be recognized as a Great Place to Work Canada 2025 and one of Montreal’s Top Employers 2025.
• Work-Life Balance: Hybrid work model designed to support your lifestyle.
• Time to Recharge: Generous vacation based on role, statutory holidays, plus wellness days.
• Compensation Package: Competitive base salary plus an annual incentive bonus tied to performance.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Health and dental coverage and virtual healthcare.
• Future-Ready Savings: Group Retirement Savings Plan with up to 7% employer match.
• Exclusive Perks: Discounts from top retailers via WorkPerks and location-based perks.
• On-Site Fitness: Gym access at select offices.
• Continuous Growth: Education Assistance Program and Fairstone Academy for training and skill development.
• Family Support: Parental leave top-up program.
• Community Impact: One paid volunteer day to give back to causes that matter to you.
• For more information on who we are as an employer, please contact us through our official channels.

What You Can Expect - Pay & Process

• Expected base salary range is 80,000–95,000 plus the opportunity to earn an annual incentive bonus tied to performance.
• This posting is for an existing vacancy within our organization.
• Artificial intelligence may be used in parts of the recruitment process.
• All candidates considered for hire must successfully pass a criminal background check, credit check, and validation of work experience to qualify for hire.

If what you read excites you, we’d like to hear from you! Please submit your application and we’ll contact you if you are selected for the first stages of the interview process.

Learn more: Fairstone official site. Follow us on LinkedIn: Fairstone on LinkedIn. If you have a preferred language for communication, please inform us whether you prefer French or English on your application.

Fairstone is an equal opportunity employer. We will make reasonable accommodations to respond to the needs of people with disabilities. Aboriginals, members of visible minorities, and disabled are encouraged to apply in confidence.

Time Type
Full time

Job Type
Permanent