Lawyer - CAWLS

• Tennant Creek
• Full-time, 2 year contract
• Total effective package includes: base salary, superannuation, leave loading, relocation assistance and salary packaging options. Relocation assistance may be available as per CAWLS policies

 

Objective:

The primary objectives of the role are;

• To provide legal advice, representation and referrals to clients attending CAWLS, within CAWLS service delivery including;
  • Family law, divorce, property, children
  • Domestic and family violence,
  • Child Protection,
  • Discrimination,
  • Credit & Debt,
  • Tenancy
  • Employment including Workplace Sexual Harassment
  • Victims of Crime applications
  • Other civil law matters
• To work with the CAWLS Management Team for the overall success of the service providing high quality legal advice and casework to CAWLS clients;
• To enable, educate and empower women to better engage in the legal system so that their rights can be considered and respected;
• To assist in creating a bright and safe future for all women and children, helping them to live with dignity and respect, free from all forms of violence and abuse;
• To assist CAWLS to fulfil all obligations pursuant to funding agreements ensuring the service is compliant with all regulatory bodies.

 

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Legal Advice and Casework Service:

• Provide high quality legal advice and representation within CAWLS areas of practice and guidelines. 
• Assist CAWLS Management to develop and maintain the law practice and itssystemsto ensure legal services align with the Centre’s practice modes, organisational priorities, professional responsibilities, and funding obligations.
• Work with colleagues across the organisation to deliver holistic and wrap around services for clients including appropriate referrals to otherservices and agencies when necessary.
• Represent clients at the local court, in the Federal Circuit court and other tribunals as necessary and to assist with the provision of duty lawyer services.
• Undertake Outreach to provide legal advice and representation to women. May include occasional travel to remote locations. 
• Assist to plan, deliver, and evaluate community legal education resources and presentations as requested by the Manager, Policy and Education.
• Develop and maintain appropriate networks with relevant community-based organisations, engaging in partnership development activities to build awareness of the service for CAWLS clients.
• Undertake and/or participate in policy and law reform & assist with the writing and editing of texts for publication asrequired.
• Support other colleagues, particularly when they are out of office, by taking responsibility for their files.
• Other duties as delegated by the Senior Management team.

 

Administration:

• Maintain effective file management systems and internal quality assurance procedures consistent with the administrative systems, procedures, and policies of the organisation to ensure collection of relevant data and statistics and provide reports to the CAWLS Senior Management team as requested.
• Ensure all legal service data collection is accurate, comprehensive and informs practice and advocacy.

 

General:

• Undertake training/professional development in consultation with the Senior Management team.
• Ensure compliance with CAWLS policies and procedures.
• Participate in regular staff and supervision meetings and annual performance appraisal.
• Monitor and evaluate areas of responsibility in line with performance review and the Centre’s organisational planning.
• Always maintain a teamwork approach.
• Other relevant duties as directed by the Senior Management Team.

 

Selection Criteria

Essential:

1. Eligible to hold a Practising Certificate in the Northern Territory, and;
2. Capacity to provide high quality legal advice and casework, particularly in the areas of law relevant to CAWLS areas of practice.
3. Demonstrated commitment to meeting the legal needs of disadvantaged groups & commitment to social justice and equality.
4. Understanding of and commitment to the work of community legal centres and demonstrated understanding of issues facing clients assisted by the Centre particularly the dynamics of domestic and family violence as it affects women.
5. Understanding of legal, economic, and social issues affecting women in the Northern Territory, particularly Central Australia and the Barkly regions.
6. Ability and desire to work in a trauma-informed service delivery model, including working with a multi-disciplinary team and collaborating with other agencies to deliver client outcomes.
7. Ability to work both as a member of a team as well asindependently with minimal supervision, well developed time management skills and the ability to manage client matters and meet deadlines.
8. Demonstrated computer literacy and high level written and oral communication skills, including the ability to simplify legal jargon, type own reports, court documents, letters and undertake data entry.
9. Personal commitment to reflection and self-care to build resilience and minimise the impact of vicarious trauma.
10. Hold, or the ability to obtain, a current NT Driver’s License, NT Ochre Card as well as pass a National Police Check.

 

Desirable:

1. Post-admission experience in an Australian Legal Practice for two (2) or more years. 
2. Experience working with people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD)/ First Nations backgrounds.
3. Experience with general civil law matters in particular Domestic and Family violence.
4. Previous experience working in a Community Legal Centre & experience using CLASS (database).

 

Click here to download the position description

 

Applications close Tuesday, 22 October 2024. 

 

For further information contact Alice de Brenni on 08 8952 4055 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.