INTERMEDIATE SOLICITOR - BATHURST
Full-time Permanent
About the role
The primary responsibility of the Intermediate Solicitor, Criminal Law Practice within the Bathurst ALS Office is to:
- Manage the Committals Practice by taking direct carriage of at least 50% of the committal matters arising and allocating the remainder to the solicitor(s).
- Manage the District Court (Short Matters) Practice by allocating all District Court short matters and taking carriage of, and appearing in most short matters, especially sentence matters.
- Prepare and run complex Local Court (‘LC’) and Children’s Court (‘CC’) hearings and sentence matters and oversee the management of the LC/CC Practice.
- Manage the allocation of Local/Children’s Court Circuits to Solicitors and Field Officers.
About the ALS
Born out of a protest movement, the Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT) Limited is the primary legal service for Aboriginal people in NSW and the ACT. Our vision is to achieve social justice and equity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, families and communities.
We offer a diverse, inclusive and supportive work environment. We’re passionate about what we do and we work hard. The ALS values the health and wellbeing of our employees and we are proud to offer flexible work practices.
Benefits of working with us
We offer a diverse, inclusive and supportive work environment, where you can develop and grow. We’re passionate about what we do and we work hard.
The ALS values the health and wellbeing of our employees and we are proud to offer flexible work practices and additional leave entitlements.
Staff can choose to take advantage of benefits including salary packaging to maximise take-home pay.
Key accountabilities
- Develop and maintain stable, productive, professional and collaborative intra-office working relationships between all staff members.
- Assist with the planning and training of solicitors commencing work and with their program of Continuing Professional Development.
- Assist in the preparation of District Court short matters allocated to solicitors with permission to appear.
- Ensure high quality ‘culturally appropriate’ representation to ALS clients in all committal matters, and at first instance, promptly deal with any complaints by clients and/or family members.
- Maintain a ‘Strictly Indictable Table’, update and release to all office staff on a weekly basis and provide a monthly copy to the Deputy Principal Solicitor.
- Liaise with the Managing Lawyer (Cluster)/Managing Lawyer and Deputy Principal Solicitor on any complex committal matters and seek approval to retain Counsel pre-committal.
- Responsible for the resolution of ethical issues/questions in consultation with solicitor in question (and the management where necessary) and for the resolution of conflict issues/determination.Responsible for the appropriate referral of clients to the LA NSW and other private practitioners/firms and briefing Counsel (to appear and advise).
- Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of relevant criminal law legislation, case law and court procedures.
- Ensure the lawful achievement of ALS core business objectives to the highest standards of probity and efficiency, and with due reference to the interests of all stakeholders.
- Provide considered, independent, balanced and professional criminal law advice.
What you’ll bring to the role
To be successful in this position you will need to demonstrate:
- Knowledge and appreciation of the cultural and social needs of Aboriginal people combined with continuing respect and support for Aboriginal cultural practices in dealing with clients, their families, communities and staff.
- Legal qualifications and an NSW recognised Practicing Certificate with a minimum of 2 years’ experience in Criminal Law.
- In-depth knowledge of the Criminal Law, including practice and procedure.
- Proven capacity to provide a strong advocacy role in leading the District Court and Committal Practices, along with the Local Court/Children’s Court practice.
- Demonstrated management, supervisory and mentoring skills of a multidisciplinary team of staff.
- Capacity to provide high quality legal representation and advice to Aboriginal people and deal with any complaints by clients and/or family members.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills and time management skills.
- Ability to meet deadlines, work without supervision and manage a diverse workload.
- Willingness to drive or fly lengthy distances within the Region and stay overnight or longer to undertake court work or training.
- Demonstrated commitment to the effective implementation of Workplace Health and Safety and Ethical and Diversity practices in the workplace.
How to apply
Please CLICK HERE to download the application package for this position. Please submit the completed application package to Curtis Penning (Acting Deputy Principal Solicitor Regional) at [email protected]
Applications for this position close at midnight, Friday 26 August 2022.