Law Society NT

Managing Solicitor - Legal Aid NT - Family Dispute Resolution Service

  • Darwin
  • Full-time, 2 year contract
  • $128,551-$143,611 plus Superannuation (salary packaging options available)

Objective:

Under the direction of the Associate Director Client Services, lead Legal Aid NT’s Territory wide Family Dispute Resolution Service (FDRS), and ensure consistent practice in the provision of high-quality services.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

  1. Provide high quality management of the FDR Service and Family Law Pathways Network Program to maximise the efficiency, effectiveness and availability of the service and program and ensure consistent practice in the provision of high-quality services.
  2. Chair FDR conferences and manage the assessment of conference matters for risk and suitability.
  3. Oversee the panel selection of Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners (FDRPs) and child inclusive practitioners and facilitate training and accreditation in FDR for panel legal practitioners and panel FDRPs.
  4. Ensure that services are safe for all clients and designed and delivered in a way that is culturally sensitive to the needs of vulnerable clients.
  5. Manage staff performance and development, compliance with human resource policies and procedures and ensure a safe, positive, and productive working environment.
  6. Develop and maintain strong and productive relationships with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders, including legal practitioners accessing FDR Services and other relevant networks to improve outcomes for clients, and to inform the direction of and improve practices of Legal Aid NT.
  7. Provide leadership and advice to internal and external stakeholders on service improvements, strategy, policy, legal issues, law reform proposals, emerging issues and other priorities relating to Family Dispute Resolution in the Northern Territory, including representing Legal Aid NT working groups as required.
  8. Comply with the Legal Aid Act (NT), the Legal Profession Act (NT), the Family Law (Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners) Regulations, the Legal Aid guidelines, and all legislation, subordinate legislation, and professional standards applicable to the conduct of the service.

Selection Criteria

Essential:

  1. Admission or eligibility for admission as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory of Australia.
  2. Current registration with the Attorney-General’s Department as an FDRP, or eligibility to register as an FDRP.
  3. Significant post-admission experience in the practice of Family Law, including experience as an FDRP in Family Dispute Resolution conferences.
  4. Extensive professional knowledge and experience relating to the area of family relationship issues faced by separated parents and the impact of conflict on children; of the impacts of domestic and family violence; and screening, assessment, safety planning and referral.
  5. Proven initiative and management experience, including an ability to lead a team to high performance and manage change.
  6. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with a demonstrated ability to influence and negotiate, to engage and build collaborative relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders and to communicate effectively and respectfully with people from diverse backgrounds.
  7. Demonstrated knowledge of current legal issues affecting disadvantaged people in the NT and the provision of legal services in the NT.
  8. High level knowledge and experience in professional practice standards, issues and trends relating to alternative and family dispute resolution.
  9. Demonstrated experience in liaising with other agencies, developing networks and contacts in other associated services.
  10. Knowledge and experience in working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities.
  11. Commitment to legal aid values and an understanding of Northern Territory justice issues and the legal assistance sector.

Desirable:

  1. 5 years’ experience in Family Law

Click here to download the position description

Applications close 4 PM 9 May 2025. 

For further information contact Human Resources on 08 8999 3000 or email recruitment@legalaid.nt.gov.au. 

  • Last Modified: April 11, 2025
  • 12:13 pm