What is First Step Legal (FSL)?

FSL is a unique Community Legal Centre providing pro bono, legal advice and representation to among the most marginalised in the community. We practice predominately in Criminal Law, Family Violence matters and Family Law plus a small range of civil law matters including VOCAT and Fines.

What makes FSL different?

FSL operates as a unique Health Justice Partnership (HJP) within First Step, a not-for-profit mental health and addiction clinic in St Kilda. We also work with Windana Therapeutic Community in Maryknoll, the Star Health Family Violence team, the Alfred Health St Kilda Road Outpatients Clinic, and Launch Housing East St Kilda. We work closely with clinicians and aim to adopt an approach to legal practice that is compassionate and addresses the underlying reasons why a person becomes connected with the justice system. We are focused on excellence in our legal practice and work collaboratively with our client’s therapeutic supports to reduce recidivism and the need for involvement with the court system. We understand that better health outcomes for clients are connected with them being able to achieve better legal outcomes.

Who makes up First Step Legal?

First Step Legal is comprised of: Director of Legal Services (Tania Wolff, who is 2021/2 LIV President); Practice Manager; Three lawyers - Principal Lawyer, Criminal Lawyer, Family Lawyer; Legal Administrator; Legal Case Manager and 11 volunteers. We are looking to recruit up to 6 new volunteers as part of this recruitment round.

About the role

We strive to provide an experience that helps people to do work that they care about and will help them to grow. Volunteers with our service have opportunities to self-select work and have contact with lawyers. Ultimately, the role is flexible, as is the service. We do whatever is required to best support our clients and continue to improve as a service and volunteers are a part of this.

Work undertaken may include:

• Supporting the Legal Administrator and Legal Case Manager with matters referred by our HJP partners, including triage, scheduling appointments and facilitating referrals.
• Creating and updating file information in our ActionStep database
• Taking and logging file notes relating to legal advice and court attendance
• Support of lawyers to case manage complex ongoing files, attending appointments (including via outreach at our HJP partners) and liaison with/attendance at court in support of our clients
• Undertaking follow up surveys with past clients
• Legal research and drafting
• Participation in projects related to the service’s operation, our health justice partners and our broader systemic goals

About you

• Undertaking a law degree
• Demonstrated interest in social justice
• Demonstrated interest in Criminal Law, Family Law or Family Violence
• Interest in Health-Justice Partnerships, with relevant experience in the health field desirable
• Capacity to work autonomously
• Strong legal and general research skills
• Interpersonal skills including an ability to work with a wide range of colleagues and clients

Please note:

• Triple COVID Vaccinations are currently required. as this is a health centre-based role across our HJPs.
• FSL operates M-F 9-5. Whilst in-person attendance is much preferred, we can also accommodate work from home, by agreement.
• We are happy to be flexible accommodating the demands of university assessments.

Questions

Website: https://www.firststep.org.au/first_step_legal

Contact: Michelle Goldberg (Principal Lawyer): E: [email protected], using the subject line: Paralegal (Voluntary) enquiry via EthicalJobs, T: (03) 7036 9120