ABOUT US

Seniors Rights Service has been assisting older Australians as the leading provider of legal services, aged care advocacy and rights education and information to seniors in NSW since 1986. Seniors Rights Service provides support to older people to know and assert their rights. We have a free legal service as well as aged care advocacy and service system navigator programs. Seniors Rights Service also delivers community education and information of relevance to older people across NSW.

ABOUT THE ROLE

We are seeking a passionate and self-motivated Manager, Legal Service/Principal Solicitor to lead our Legal Services team in Sydney. This role will be engaged on 35 hours per week, on a maximum term contract aligning with our funding period through to 30 June 2025. This role is based in our Sydney office with access to hybrid work arrangements.

This role is an important leadership position responsible for the leading, control, planning, performance and decision making of a small team of legal professionals. This role would suit an experienced people leader who has a collaborative work style and a strong social justice ethic. Seniors Rights Service operates in a dynamic, rapidly changing environment which requires flexibility, adaptability and initiative as well as excellent organisation and critical thinking skills.

Key responsibilities include:

• Supervising the legal practice as "solicitor on the record," and ensuring that Seniors Rights Service is compliant with the National Association of Community Legal Centre's risk management framework and legal and regulatory requirements.
• Operates the legal practice in a manner which is consistent with Seniors Rights Service’s strategic plan and provides a leadership and coordination role in the development of the Centre's advice, casework, community engagement building, community legal education and law reform activities and ensuring all aspects of the Service's practice are working effectively and efficiently.
• Demonstrates integrity, clear communication, long term and sustainable thinking and best available evidence to direct the work of the Legal Service giving direction and leadership that is strategic, reasoned, ethical, compassionate and boundaried.
• Provides expert advice to the Senior Manager, Service Delivery and the Chief Executive Officer on matters concerning the legal practice, legal service delivery and the strategic direction of the Centre.
• Drives the development and expansion of the legal practice to meet the organisation's strategic goals and assists the Senior Manager, Service Delivery to monitor the performance of the Service against its strategic objectives.
• Provides advice and maintains personal carriage of a casework load as well as undertaking community legal education, community development, law reform and policy work.
• Adopt and implement a respectful and multidisciplinary approach to practice and work collaboratively with all staff.

ABOUT YOU

1. Demonstrated experience in leading legal practice teams and a strong commitment to teamwork
2. Demonstrated understanding of progressive legal advocacy and awareness of the current issues relating to social justice and law reform affecting disadvantaged older people in NSW.
3. Demonstrated capacity to work collaboratively in empowering vulnerable and disadvantaged clients and communities.
4. Substantial legal practice and casework experience and effectiveness in at least some of the following areas of law: human rights and discrimination, credit and debt, consumer law, residential tenancy, seniors rights, adult guardianship, powers of attorney and wills.
5. Capacity and willingness to undertake legal casework including complex matters and to make a significant and continuing contribution towards legal service targets and objectives.
6. Demonstrated skills in negotiation, organisation, time management, effective communication and reporting
7. Flexibility, adaptability and initiative as well as critical thinking skills
8. Excellent computer skills, experience in data entry and fluent with Microsoft Office 365
9. A current drivers licence, current influenza vaccination and fully vaccinated against COVID-19
10. Familiarity with:

• • National Legal Assistance Partnership (NLAP)
  • Community Legal Services Australia Risk Management Guide
  • Community Assistance Services System (CLASS)
  • National Legal Assistance Data Standards.

WHAT WE OFFER

• A collaborative and fun work culture in a growing organisation
• Great flexibility and a full-time 35-hour work week
• $120-130k base salary p.a based on experience plus access to NFP Salary packaging benefits
• 15 days personal/carers leave each year
• Gifted leave between Christmas and New Year

At Seniors Rights Service, we seek a workforce that is as diverse as our society - in race, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, sexuality and cultures - and one that reflects the communities we work in. We believe diversity and inclusion are fundamental to our culture and core values and we demonstrate this commitment through all our employment practices. Our inclusive workplace culture contributes to making Seniors Rights Service a great place to work. We strongly encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People to apply.

Please address the ‘About You’ section and attach your CV.