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Senior Solicitor - Disability Law Specialist - Mid North Coast

Mid North Coast Community Legal Centre
  • Pay Grade: Role is classified at Level 6.1 of the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services (SCHADS) Industry Award
  • Hours: 35 hours per week
  • $88,767.00 package (including superannuation and annual leave loading)

Conditions: Mid North Coast Community Legal Centre is a flexible workplace with above award leave conditions including salary packaging, 9.5% superannuation plus 1.35% advance payment of annual leave loading. MNCCLC also offers other generous conditions of employment, including additional paid leave over the December / January holiday period.

Reports to: Principal Solicitor.

DESCRIPTION OF ROLE

Advocacy Law Alliance Inc (ALA) is looking for a Senior Solicitor – Disability Law Specialist.

Mid North Coast Community Legal Centre (MNCCLC) and Disability Advocacy NSW (DANSW) are programs of ALA. This is a new position funded by DANSW and embedded in the MNCCLC team, with supervision from the Principal Solicitor.

The successful candidate will provide specialist civil legal advice to clients with a disability and their carers accessing DANSW for support from disability advocates. The position will also involve some casework (for clients unable to access any other form of legal support), generalist civil legal advice, education and outreach where appropriate.

ABOUT DANSW

www.da.org.au

DA NSW is a standout individual advocacy organisation which covers two thirds of NSW (https://da.org.au/contact-us/). DA NSW’s vision is that people with a disability have a right to equality, fairness, and a good quality of life.DA NSW provides non-legal advocacy support in many areas which relate to the law e.g. NDIS Appeals at the AAT, Disability Royal Commission, disability discrimination, DSP and consumer law.

ABOUT MNCCLC

www.mncclc.org.au

MNCCLC is an innovative community legal centre providing civil law services in the local government areas of Mid North Coast, Port Macquarie – Hastings, Kempsey Shire, Nambucca Shire, Bellingen Shire and Coffs Harbour. MNCCLC seeks to provide access to justice through a multidisciplinary approach that includes legal information, legal advice, advocacy and representation, policy and law reform and legal outreach across the geographic catchment area. The MNCCLC team consists of a team of 13 staff and volunteers.

AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

Key relationships

  • Reporting to Principal Solicitor, Executive Officer – Legal, Executive Officer – Social and Advocacy Coordinator

Legal Practice

  • Provide high quality, specialised civil disability legal advice for the clients of Disability Advocacy NSW (DA), assisted by their advocates, across the DA catchment area
  • In line with the Centre’s business plan and Legal Practice Manual, provide legal services including:
    • Legal information and referral
    • Legal advice and casework (civil – NDIS Appeals, DSP and Guardianship focus)
    • Occasional representation at court/tribunals when other legal services cannot assist
    • In house education to disability advocates
    • Legal policy analysis and law reform
  • Provide mentoring, supervision, education and specialist knowledge to solicitors at the Centre

Law Reform and Community Legal Education

  • Our expectation is that as the successful candidate becomes established in their role, their contributions towards law reform and community legal education will increase.
  • Keep up to date with legal and policy developments important to people with disability and the disability services sector and develop and communicate strategies which disability advocates/clients can use in response to legal/policy changes.
  • Spearhead law reform work with support from the Advocacy Coordinator and the Principal Solicitor.
  • Identify opportunities for in-house education, develop publications and projects designed to benefit vulnerable clients in meaningful ways, and engage with legal allies and non-legal stakeholders to achieve this.
  • Develop and provide community legal education workshops in line with MNCCLC’s strategic plan.

General

  • Participate in internal management and staff meetings, professional and organisational development and planning activities.
  • Accurately record advice, casework, and other service activities onto the CLASS database.
  • Provide input into the centre’s strategic (business) plan especially in relation to trends noted in the operation of the legal practice.
  • Assist in the general administration of the centre. Undertake shared intake duties.
  • Undertake duties related to supporting, mentoring and supervision of volunteers and students at the MNCCLC.
  • Carry out other appropriate tasks as directed by your supervisor.

Carry out any reasonable additional tasks as directed. Comply with the policies and practice manual of the organisation. Comply with the relevant standards set for the organisation by the funding body or sector association along with the ALA Code of Ethics and Conduct. Note from time to time this position description may be reviewed and updated.

Selection Criteria

The successful applicant will be an experienced lawyer (minimum 5 years post admission experience with an unrestricted NSW Practising Certificate) with a commitment to social justice principles, an interest in working with people with a disability and ability to demonstrate the following selection criteria:

  • Excellent legal, advocacy and negotiation skills, with demonstrated recent experience at the AAT (e.g. NDIS, DSP) and knowledge about Royal Commissions, discrimination and other areas of civil law affecting people with a disability. Specialist knowledge of NDIS Appeals would be an advantage.
  • Ability to collaborate with non-legal disability advocates in getting positive outcomes for clients with a disability.
  • Advice and casework experience with knowledge in relevant areas of disability law, working strategically, innovatively and efficiently in complex matters to achieve outcomes.
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills, including an ability to communicate clearly in plain English with diverse groups including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and people with disabilities.
  • Well-developed interpersonal skills, including conflict resolution skills and the ability to work well within a team environment including under supervision of the Principal Solicitor.
  • Driven by integrity, responsibility, accountability, attention to detail and pride in work.
  • Hold a current NSW drivers licence or access to other reasonable form of transport and willingness to travel regularly to areas within the MNCCLC and DA catchment.

CALD, ATSI and people with a disability are all encouraged to apply for this role. All applications will be assessed on merit against the selection criteria and in accordance with equal employment opportunity principles.

How to apply

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