Overview

Family Lawyers are to provide high quality legal services, including duty lawyer services, representation, advice and information in family law and child protection matters to members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community in Tasmania.

Key Performance Indicators, Duties & Responsibility

• Appear as an advocate in various courts including the Federal Circuit Court, Family Court of Australia and Magistrates Court in order to represent TACLS clients.
• Deliver a quality legal service by conducting casework in family law matters, including dispute resolution, and advocacy in child related matters for members of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Trial experience will be favourably considered.
• Participate in community legal education projects, law reform and other TACLS projects as required.
• Contribute to the collaborative relationship between the Legal Aid Commissions and other community and community legal organisations with whom TACLS interacts.
• Keep up to date with relevant legal developments and procedures by attending professional legal education programs and maintain an understanding of issues impacting the justice system and members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
• You will be required to travel across Tasmania to deliver services to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Sometimes this travel will occur outside of usual business hours.

Key Selection Criteria

• Admitted or eligible for admission as a legal practitioner in Tasmania.
• Capability to work as an advocate and caseworker in child related family law and child protection matters.
• Substantial knowledge of and practical experience in the law and court procedures with a focus on the family law jurisdiction.
• Sound interpersonal skills and the capacity to communicate effectively with members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.
• A commitment to and understanding of the legal issues faced by members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community in Tasmania.
• The ability to work collaboratively with others and to foster a co-operative and supportive team environment.
• Basic competency in the use of MS Office Software (particularly MS Word, Excel, E-mail) to a legal practice and the capacity to quickly acquire competency in the use of TACLS client data base.