Salary Offering: VALS LB 1.1 – 1.7 $84,357.55 - $90,357.55 plus 11.5% Superannuation

Additional Benefits:

• 17.5% Leave Loading
• 5 extra days leave on top of 20 days annual leave
• Only required to work 35 hours per week, any extra hours worked will be calculated as your Time In Lieu (TOIL) – which you may use as additional leave hours
• Access to company vehicles for any work-related trips
• Salary packaging is available via Maxxia

Office Locations: High Street, Preston

Full-time with option to extend based on funding and performance

This position may require regional and very occasional interstate travel.

OVERVIEW OF THE ROLE:

Criminal Lawyers are to provide high quality legal services, including duty lawyer services, representation, advice and information in criminal law matters to members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community in Victoria. You will be operating as part of an integrated and diverse team that includes junior lawyers, senior lawyers, administration staff and client service officers

Responsibilities

• Appear as an advocate in various courts including the Children’s Court, Magistrates Court, County Court and Koori Courts in order to represent clients of VALS in criminal matters.
• Deliver a quality legal service by conducting casework in criminal law matters for members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.
• You will be required to travel across Victoria to deliver services to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Sometimes this travel will occur outside of usual business hours and on weekends. Use of a VALS vehicle is available for this travel and a driver’s licence is required.
• Participate in the on call after hours roster (“Night phone”) and provide emergency advice to members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community in Victoria.
• Appear for clients at remand Court. At times this will require duty lawyer shifts on a rotating seven-day (including evenings, weekends and public holidays) roster
• Participate in community legal education projects, law reform and other VALS projects as required.
• Participate in regular team meetings.
• Contribute to the collaborative relationship between Victoria Legal Aid and other community organisations with whom VALS 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.
• As directed, undertake other duties which are incidental and peripheral to the main tasks, provided that such duties are reasonably within the employee’s skills, competence and training.

Key Selection Criteria

• Admitted or eligible for admission as a legal practitioner in Victoria.
• Demonstrated ability to act as an advocate, deliver legal advice and casework on behalf of VALS clients.
• Knowledge of and practical experience in the law and court procedures with a focus on the criminal 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 Victoria.
• The ability to work collaboratively with others and to foster a co-operative and supportive team environment.
• A knowledge of the principles and values of the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service.
• Basic competency in the use of Office 365 software and the capacity to quickly acquire competency in the use of VALS client database.
• Ability to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and acknowledge their diverse backgrounds, personalities and varying needs and the unique cultural ways in which they may need be expressed.

Key Capabilities

• Demonstrates emotional intelligence and shows respect to colleagues and other stakeholders always.
• Supports and contributes to a cohesive team and organisation culture.
• Understands and complies with legal professional obligations.
• Meets client and stakeholder expectations in a timely, reliable and consistent manner - ensures that others meet expectations.
• Possesses a strong grasp of relevant legal issues but consults with internal or external experts where appropriate.
• Contributes to knowledge and learning resources for the organization.

Personal accountability

• Compliance with all VALS values, code of conduct, policies and procedures and relevant government legislation and standards where relevant.
• Demonstrate a commitment to the principles of social justice and aim to ensure every individual is treated with dignity and respect regardless of their background, ability, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation or religion.
• Ensure appropriate use of resources.
• Actively participate in initiatives to maintain, build upon and promote a positive and collaborative workplace.
• Take reasonable care for your own health & safety, and health and safety of others (to extent required)
• Maintain own self-care and wellbeing with support of line management.
• Promptly respond to and report health and safety hazards, incidents and near misses to management.
• Attend mandatory training sessions (ie. equal employment opportunity, health and safety, cultural safety) and mandatory training specific to position.

MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS:

On offer of this position, you must provide:

• Copy of your current Employee Working with Children Card.
• You will be required to complete a current Criminal History Police Check.
• Up to date vaccination certificate or valid medical exemption
• Proof of rights to work in Australia, i.e., a copy of an Australian Passport, Birth Certificate, or Immigration VISA documentation
• Current valid Australian Driver’s Licence
• Copies of any certificates or degrees relevant to this role