1

Position Description

POSITION TITLE: Community Legal Education Solicitor

CLOSE DATE:Sunday 20th September 2015. No late applications accepted.

THE ORGANISATION: CENTRAL AUSTRALIAN WOMEN’S LEGAL SERVICE INC.

The Central Australian Women’s Legal Service Inc. (‘CAWLS’) is a Community Legal Centre which specialises in providing free legal information, advice and assistance to women of Central Australia. CAWLS also provides community legal education and participates in the process of law reform affecting the women in Central Australia.

Our vision is to enable, educate and empower women to better engage in the legal system so that their rights can be considered and respected.

Our purpose is to be an accessible, proactive and responsive legal service for all Central Australian women with priority given to those in greatest need.

CAWLS has 4 keys values, namely

  1. Integrity - we work honestly and consistently with women to provide a professional service;
  2. Inclusivity - We value equality of access to our service and endeavour to make a difference;
  3. Respect - We provide services that are respectful of the dignity, safety and security of women; and
  4. Quality of service - We strive for excellence in service delivery to ensure practices are compliant, accountable and client focussed.

CAWLS is funded by both

  1. The Commonwealth Attorney Generals Department to operate a generalist women’s legal service as well as to provide outreach services to indigenous women in remote areas; including programs for indigenous women incarcerated in prison and on post release.
  1. TheNT Department of Justice to operate a specialised domestic violence legal service.

CAWLS is managed by a voluntary Management Committee, whilst the day-to-day management is by the Managing Principal Solicitor.

THE ROLE

The Community Legal Education (CLE) Solicitor will liaise with key stakeholders across the community and legal sectorsto review existing CLE services and Programs, identify gaps in legal literacy within the community, and developand implement a revised CLE program in line with CAWLS strategic plan. The provision of CLE to targeted remote communities will form a key part of the CLE program.

The CLE Solicitor will also undertake limited casework, and provide legal advice in the course of CAWLS advice clinics and in conjunction with CLE sessions undertaken in remote communities.

Subject to capacity, the CLE Solicitor will also consult with other CAWLS staff about law reform issues of relevance to women in Central Australia, and coordinate responses as appropriate.

PERIOD OF APPOINTMENT

This position is for a period of 2 years subject to satisfactory completion of a six month probationary period and ongoing funding.

HOURS OF WORK

This position is thirty seven and a half hours (37.5) per week.

ACCOUNTABILITY

The employing body is CAWLS.

The CLESolicitor will be accountable to the Managing Principal Solicitor and will liaise closely with other legal practitioners and the office manager in the performance of their duties.

SALARY AND CONDITIONS

Salary Range: dependent on experience. 30% salary sacrificing is available. The employer pays superannuation at 10% and 6 weeks annual leave.

DUTIES

Core Tasks

  1. Service Delivery
  • Engaging with stakeholders and community members to establish CLE needs
  • Planning and coordinating CLE including conducting and introducing education sessions, researching existing programs, developing materials, and implementing programs
  • Ensuring that CLE delivery is informed by Adult Education best practice principles
  • EvaluatingCLE
  • Providing advice and occasional casework in relevant areas of CAWLS legal practice
  1. Community Development
  • Raising awareness amongst the community and stakeholders as to the range of assistance CAWLS can provide
  • Promoting and marketing CLE
  • Liaising with relevant agencies and key stakeholders in the community to identify CLE needs and demands
  • Building partnerships with other organisations to maintain effective service
  • Exploring opportunities for collaborative CLE projects
  • Representing CAWLS at stakeholder meetings and in other professional networks
  1. Social Action and Client Advocacy
  • Documenting emerging issues and trends arising from service delivery
  • Being involved in the wider identification of systemic legal issues and in the development of strategies to deal with them
  • Preparing funding submissions for continued CLE services
  • Identifying new funding opportunities for specific CLE projects and initiatives
  • Preparing law reform submissions
  • Preparing policy documents including the CAWLS Annual Report
  1. Professional Development
  • Participating in professional development activities conducted by the NT Law Society and other relevant bodies to comply with Compulsory Professional Development requirements
  • Undertaking research to keep informed of changes regarding legislation which affect service delivery
  • Attending workshops to enhance professional skills
  1. Administration
  • Providing written reports on work undertaken to Managing Principal solicitorand/orManagement Committee
  • Providing and maintaining appropriate statistics for CLE and providing statistical reports to the Managing Principal Solicitor and/or Management Committee in the specified format
  • Undertaking periodic performance evaluation of the CLE Service
  • Maintaining confidentiality and good client management practices
  1. Referral Function
  • Be aware of additional resources and welfare groups in the community and inform CAWLS staff of these services where appropriate
  • Network and liaise with local regional welfare organisations
  • Maintain links with variety of organisations to ensure that changes in structure, scope and policy are reflected in referral including community based and government services

SELECTION CRITERIA

Qualifications

ESSENTIAL:

  • Admitted or eligible for admission as a legal practitioner of the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory and the High Court of Australia
  • Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to social justice issues for women, particularly Indigenous/Torres Strait Islander women and those women from culturally diverse backgrounds; and women experiencing social, economic and cultural disadvantage and lack of access to legal services
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills
  • Demonstrated ability to work alone with a minimum of supervision as well as working effectively in a multidisciplinary team
  • Ability to identify, develop, prepare and deliver culturally appropriate community legal education materials/presentations
  • Knowledge of community development principles and experience in community engagement
  • Manual drivers licence

DESIRABLE:

  • Demonstrated understanding and use of social media and working in an electronic environment
  • Demonstrated high level liaison and networking skills
  • Project management skills
  • Experience in the delivery of community legal education
  • At least two years post admission experience in one or more of CAWLS practice areas

Applications close on 20 September 2015.

Applications must address the selection criteria and be accompanied by a current CV. For further information and to submit an application, contact Managing Principal Solicitor Janet Taylor at or on (08) 8952 4055.