Positions Vacant

Solicitor (Part-Time) –14 hours per week with flexible scheduling.

The North and North West Community Legal Service (NNWCLS) is seeking a passionate and skilled Solicitor to join our team in Armidale, NSW. In this part-time role, you will be responsible for delivering legal advice, casework, advocacy, and education to those with the least access to the legal system in the New England and North West regions of NSW.

Reporting to the Principal Solicitor and the Management Committee, the role requires travel and engagement with diverse communities. The Solicitor must exercise a high degree of personal responsibility in providing legal advice, managing casework, and offering continuing legal education and advocacy.

As a Solicitor with extensive experience, you will bring your dedication to social justice and your legal expertise to support disadvantaged clients and communities.

The position is located at the office of North & North West Community Legal Service at 215 Beardy Street, Armidale.

The remuneration for this role is $58.45 p/h plus superannuation, leave loading and travel reimbursement – the position is subject to funding continuation. Charitable organisation salary sacrifice is available. The position operates under the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry (SCHCADS) Award Level 6.1.  Annual and sick leave as per award conditions.

PURPOSE OF POSITION:

To deliver legal advice, casework, information and education to those with the least access to the legal system in the North and North West region of NSW.

RESPONSIBLE TO:

• The Principal Solicitor for legal and PII requirements
• The Management Committee of NNWCLS for policy and accountability requirements.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

General Legal Service Practice:

• Provide legal information, advice, and casework services, including participating in the outreach program.
• Ensure the completeness of case-work files, core data sheets, and reporting requirements.
• Monitor and report significant occurrences or trends in service delivery.

Service Delivery Maintenance and Development:

• Maintain existing service delivery initiatives and develop new ones.
• Implement alternative methods of delivering legal information and education to rural and remote areas.
• Develop and conduct a structured community legal education (CLE) program.

Community Legal Education:

• Plan and develop work plans based on community needs and strategic priorities.
• Develop, deliver, and evaluate CLE teaching materials and methods.
• Produce and document educational materials and strategies.

Networking and Community Liaison:

• Maintain and develop links with local solicitors, service providers, and community organisations in consultation with the Principal Solicitor.

Planning, Review, and Professional Development:

• Participate in staff meetings, sub-committees, strategic planning meetings, and workshops.
• Engage in professional development activities to enhance knowledge and skills.
• Comply with equal opportunity and WHS policies and procedures.

Essential Requirements

• Legal Qualifications: Hold or be eligible to hold an unrestricted Practicing Certificate as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of NSW with 5+ years post-admission experience.
• Commitment to Social Justice: Demonstrated dedication to social justice, including the ability to identify and address issues affecting disadvantaged clients and communities.
• Case and File Management: Proven ability to conduct appropriate case and file management, including setting priorities, organising workloads, and maintaining records.
• Professional Knowledge: Understanding or ability to acquire knowledge of professional practice requirements and issues related to service delivery in rural contexts.
• Communication and Teamwork: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, computer literacy, and the capacity to work effectively in a community-based team environment, including with diverse and disadvantaged clients.
• A current NSW Driver License is required.

This is a regional position and the area to be serviced is the North and North West region of New South Wales. Travel to major population centres as part of the Service’s outreach may be required, but can be negotiated.

SELECTION CRITERIA

• Hold, or be eligible to hold, an unrestricted Practicing Certificate as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of NSW
• Demonstrated commitment to social justice
• Must have at least five-years of post-admission experience, preferably in Family Law, Domestic and Sexual Violence, Civil, Employment, Criminal Law and Welfare Rights
• Demonstrated ability to conduct appropriate case and file management
• Knowledge, or ability to acquire such knowledge, of all relevant professional practice requirements (e.g. Professional Indemnity Insurance, Legal practice legislation) as they relate to the operations of the Legal Service
• Demonstrated ability to identify and understand issues affecting disadvantaged clients and communities’ access to social justice
• Demonstrated ability to set priorities, organise and manage workloads
• Demonstrated excellent written and verbal communications skills
• Demonstrated ability to maintain records, seek out, gather and analyse existing information on all issues relevant to the position
• Capacity to work in a community-based team environment
• Capacity to work with clients with intellectual disabilities, clients from Indigenous and non-English speaking backgrounds and clients from other disadvantaged circumstances
• Knowledge of issues relating to service delivery in rural context/outreach work
• Demonstrated computer literacy, including word processing and Internet based research
• A current unencumbered NSW Driver License and be competent in driving for a long distance
• National Police Check or willingness to obtain one

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants are strongly encouraged to apply.

Address applications, including selection criteria, resume and cover letter to the Acting Principal Solicitor, at PO Box 857, Armidale NSW 2350, by email to nnwcls@gmail.com, or via Seek.

For all inquiries or a copy of the job description please email nnwcls@gmail.com or call 6772 8100.

Closing date for applications: we will begin reviewing applications and scheduling interviews on Tuesday, the 23rd of July 2024. However, we will consider applications until a candidate is found, or 5pm on Wednesday 31 July 2024.

Volunteer Law Student

SELECTION CRITERIA:

• Completion of at least two years of a combined undergraduate law degree, or at least one year of a graduate law degree
• Demonstrated commitment to social justice
• Ability to volunteer for at least 6 months
• Ability to work independently and as part of a small team
• Demonstrated interest in legal issues affecting communities served by NNWCLS

If you are interested, please complete an application form, found below.