Genealogist / Research Assistant
(Remote or In-Person in Ottawa)

Send your CV/Resume to careers@marinimmigrationlaw.ca by August 9, 2026

About Marin Immigration Law

Marin Immigration Law is a growing, fully remote Canadian immigration law firm focused on transparent, high-quality, and client-centered legal services. Led by Cédric Marin, our practice has a strong focus on Canadian citizenship by descent, which means genealogical research sits at the very heart of what we do.

We are hiring a Genealogist / Research Assistant to join our genealogy team.

About the Role

As a Genealogist / Research Assistant, you will trace family lineages and source the vital records that support our clients' citizenship applications. You will typically work to obtain baptism and birth records in both Canada and the United States. Where those records cannot be found, you will build a case on a preponderance of evidence, drawing on census returns, church registers, and other historical sources.

Files where records are already digitized and available online through platforms like Ancestry or FamilySearch form the baseline of the work. What defines this role is the harder sourcing that comes after: reaching out directly to churches, parishes, dioceses, genealogy societies, and archives to locate the records that are not available online. This is a role for someone who is energized by the difficult files, not just the routine ones.

Key Responsibilities

  • Researching and tracing multi-generational family lineages
  • Sourcing baptism, birth, marriage, and death records in Canada and the United States
  • Building preponderance-of-evidence records using census returns and other historical documents
  • Contacting churches, parishes, dioceses, genealogy societies, and archives to obtain records that are not digitized
  • Writing clear, well-organized research reports
  • Tracking your work and deadlines in a task management system such as Linear or Asana

The Ideal Candidate

  • Brings deep, demonstrated knowledge of genealogical research, including a strong command of vital records systems, church and civil registers, census returns, and the methods for building a case on a preponderance of evidence when primary records cannot be found
  • Understands where records live across both Canadian and U.S. jurisdictions, and how availability shifts across time periods, denominations, and archives, ideally with a working familiarity with the Genealogical Proof Standard
  • Takes initiative to think creatively about how to locate difficult records, and is confident and effective in reaching out directly to churches, parishes, dioceses, genealogy societies, and archives
  • Is a strong writer who produces clear, well-organized research reports
  • Brings flexibility of mind, analytical thinking, and sound analysis to complex and often ambiguous records
  • Is willing to learn, takes direction and constructive critique well, and works as a genuine team player
  • Thrives working independently and remotely, and manages their own deadlines with minimal oversight
  • Is comfortable with technology and eager to learn new systems

Language

French reading and comprehension are essential. A great deal of our source material, particularly Quebec parish and civil records, is in French, and you will need to read and understand these records without assistance. Spoken French is not required, but the ability to read French confidently is a must.

Compensation and Schedule

  • CAD $25 to $50 per hour, depending on years of experience and expertise
  • 20 to 40 hours per week, with a preference for full-time
  • Comprehensive benefits, 100% paid by the employer for full-time employees
  • Monday to Friday, standard business hours (EST)

Location

Fully remote (Canada-wide), or in-office at our downtown Ottawa location if you prefer working on-site.

How to Apply

Please send your CV to careers@marinimmigrationlaw.ca and indicate that you are applying for the Genealogist / Research Assistant position, along with your earliest availability to start.