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The federal Justice department is taking steps to cut $52.2 million worth of legal services it provides government over the next three years with “two waves” of reforms that will eliminate jobs, change the working relationship with client departments and, it hopes, improve efficiency.

The department, often called Canada’s largest law firm, is introducing several changes following a year-long review.

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In the first wave, the changes will eliminate the positions of 65 lawyers and 15 management jobs by 2017, which the department believes can be done by attrition rather than layoffs.

According to a memo circulated to staff, a key area for reform is “re-defining” Justice’s relationship with client departments “to strike the right balance between supply and demand of legal services.”

Many Justice department lawyers are “embedded” or work on-site in other departments and agencies as legal counsel. They also draft legislation and regulations, and represent the government in court.