SOLICITOR - CARE PROTECTION & FAMILY
FULL TIME PERMANENT
BASED IN REDFERN
WHO ARE WE?
The (ALS) is a public company limited by guarantee and a registered charity.
The ALS aims to provide culturally appropriate information and referral, legal advice and court representation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men, women and children in NSW and ACT.
The Care & Protection/Family Law practice is a holistic service providing legal representation, advice, casework assistance and referrals to Aboriginal families impacted or affected by family violence and contact with the child protection system. The Care & Protection/Family Law practice also seeks to provide early support around intervention and community education around alternative pathways to ensure children are not removed from families and communities.
ABOUT THE ROLE
In this role you will deliver of culturally appropriate legal advice, and representation to clients in accordance with the ALS policies, procedures and guidelines in Care & Protection/Family Law including early intervention and outreach services, community legal education and referrals.
This position requires a hands-on, practical, and flexible approach to problem solving, and excellent communication, negotiation, facilitation and organisational skills and the ability to act autonomously and within a team environment.
Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Providing an efficient and effective legal service to clients in Care and Protection and Family Law matters, in accordance with legislation and directions, policy, guidelines and practice standards, including:
- Providing legal advice, minor assistance, and duty solicitor services to Aboriginal clients.
- Representing clients, including appearing for clients, instructing counsel when necessary and participating, as appropriate, in dispute resolution including negotiating early resolution of litigation.
- Conducting casework including taking instructions, undertaking research and preparation of documents/ submissions.
- Providing appropriate referrals to other agencies/services as required.
- Determining merit in Family Law and Care & Protection matters under delegated authority and consistent with ALS policy and guidelines.
- Making recommendations about merit and exercising discretion as required.
- Undertaking active case management and complying with practice standards for case management.
- The delivery of early intervention legal services including advice and non-court assistance to clients.
- Conducting an efficient and effective legal practice in Care and Protection matters and Family Law and Child Support Matters, including via an Outreach program as required.
- Working collaboratively as a team member.
- Contributing to development and ongoing review of ALS guidelines, including contributing to law reform initiatives through providing feedback as requested
- Organising and presenting information sessions for current and potential clients and conducting Community Legal Education and Outreach as required.
- Ensuring all duties and activities are carried out in an ethical manner, complying with ALS policies, procedures and any other applicable guidelines or legislation
ABOUT YOU
To be successful in this position you will need to demonstrate:
- Legal qualifications and an NSW Practising Certificate.
- Knowledge of NSW Care and Protection Laws and Family Law.
- Capacity to represent Aboriginal clients and undertake an advocacy role before Courts or Tribunals.
- Strong interpersonal skills and an ability to provide quality customer service in a high-volume work environment.
- Proven capacity to identify and understand legal issues facing socially and economically disadvantaged Aboriginal peoples.
- Capacity to prepare excellent written communication skills to prepare court documents, correspondence, submissions, and other written materials.
- Travel to regional and interstate locations for work purposes. An inherent requirement of the job is the ability to independently travel to regional locations by car for work purposes, therefore a current driver’s licence is required (the ALS is an Equal Opportunity Employer and will consider reasonable adjustments where an employee cannot meet this requirement due to a disability or their age).
- Ability to understand ALS policies and procedures.
- Well-developed legal research/analytical and statutory interpretation skills.
- Ability to meet deadlines, work without close supervision and to manage a diverse workload.
- Knowledge and experience working with Microsoft Office Suite
Desirable Criteria
- Current valid unrestricted NSW Driver’s licence and a willingness to drive in metropolitan and country locations, travel intrastate and stay overnight or longer.
How to apply
Please CLICK HERE to download the application package for this position. Please submit your application to Mary Day (Regional Administration Coordinator) at
E: [email protected] Only candidates with completed application packages will be considered. Applications for this position close at 5pm on Wednesday 17 August 2022.
