Redfern, NSW | Full Time | 12 Months Fixed Term
Primary purpose of the role
The primary responsibility of the Visiting Legal Service Co-ordinating Lawyer, Children’s Criminal Law Practice within a designated ALS Office is to Co-ordinate the ALS Visiting Children’s Service in Youth Justice Centers including liaising with stakeholders, providing management and support to relevant staff, monitoring and reporting on service delivery and perform regular visits to Youth Detention Centres as part of the ALS Visiting Children’s Service in Youth Justice Centres, including the provision of crime and civil law advice, alongside maintaining a practice in the Children’s Court.
Why join the ALS NSW/ACT team?
At the Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT) Limited (ALS) we deliver quality and culturally appropriate legal services that meet the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people throughout NSW and the ACT. As part of the team, you will have the chance to make a difference and contribute to social justice and equity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, families and communities.
Our focus is our people; the people and communities we support, and the team we employ. We offer a career you can be proud of and a place where you feel safe to be yourself. We invest in our workforce and appreciate the rich diversity they represent of life experience, languages, and culture.
Born out of a protest movement over 50 years ago, the ALS is the primary legal service for Aboriginal people in NSW and the ACT and is fearless in its advocacy for those we represent. It’s an exciting time for the ALS, with both our services and teams growing significantly. We recently received additional government funding to deliver a range of new programs aimed at addressing systemic issues and driving structural reforms. This is creating unprecedented opportunities for the ALS and our communities.
For many of our staff making a real difference to the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, families and communities and working with a great, supportive team is its own reward.
In addition, we offer valuable benefits including:
- Salary packaging options and novated car leasing – meaning your fortnightly take home pay is more than it would otherwise be
- Annual Leave Loading of 17.5%
- Career and professional development opportunities
- Access to personal counselling for you and your family
- A range of paid leave including paid parental and study leave
- Flexible work options – talk to us about how we can make this role work for you
The Role
The Visiting Legal Service Co-ordinating Lawyer role will play a critical role in supporting the work of the Criminal Law Practice, through the provision of legal service and staff support. The Criminal Law Practice operates out of 19 offices across NSW and provides criminal law services to adults and children at approximately 100 court locations across NSW. In addition, the practice represents families in coronial inquest proceedings.
Key Responsibilities
- Co-ordinate the ALS Visiting Children’s Service in Youth Justice Centres including liaising with stakeholders, providing management and support to relevant staff, monitoring and reporting on service delivery
- Perform regular visits to Youth Detention Centres as part of the ALS Visiting Children’s Service in Youth Justice Centres, including the provision of crime and civil law advice.
- Appear in Children’s Court criminal matters, including as needed in the Youth Koori Court, as directed by the Managing Solicitor, Redfern and the Managing Solicitor, Children’s Criminal Practice.
- Participate in training and mentoring of solicitors as directed, particularly visiting legal service solicitors.
- Foster collaborative relationships with external stakeholders, including Youth Justice, local Aboriginal organisations and service provider and communities.
- Develop and maintain productive, professional and collaborative intra-office working relationships between all staff members.
- Ensure high quality ‘culturally appropriate’ representation to ALS clients in all matters, and at first instance, promptly deal with any complaints by clients and/or family members.
- 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.
- 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.
- Assist with the development of submissions regarding the children’s law and law reform and represent the ALS at meetings, conference and seminars as directed.
- Keep up-to-date on legal developments and procedures and identifying training needs and attending training to maintain professional standards and retain a practicing certificate
About you
The successful incumbent will 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 a NSW Practicing Certificate with a minimum of 2years experience in Criminal Law.
- In-depth knowledge of the Criminal Law, including practice and procedure and Children’s Criminal Law.
- Experience in providing a visiting legal service or demonstrated capacity to provide a visiting legal service.
- Demonstrated co-ordination, organisation, supervision and mentoring 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.
- Demonstrated commitment to the effective implementation of Workplace Health & Safety and Ethical and Diversity practices in the workplace
Desirable
- Current valid unrestricted NSW Driver’s licence and a willingness to drive in metropolitan and country locations, travel intrastate and stay overnight or longer.
Pre-employment requirements:
ALS is committed to implementing safer recruitment practices. Your application may be subject to a number of pre-employment checks such as reference checks, Working with Children (NSW) or Working with Vulnerable People (ACT) check, Right to work in Australia, COVID-19 vaccinations as per NSW/ACT Health Order and Police check. Please note that candidates with criminal records are not automatically barred from being considered. Each application will be considered on its merits.
How to apply:
- Please submit a resume and cover letter to [email protected]
Closing Date: 11:59pm Thursday 23 November 2023.
