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Practice Manager Lawyer

Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service

Overview

The Practice Manager for Balit Ngulu team works to achieve VALS’ goals and objectives. The role coordinates and delivers a range of projects, policy and law reform initiatives, strategic litigation work, and community and professional legal education programs. The purpose of the role is to provide high quality legal services, including duty lawyer services, representation, advice and information in criminal law matters to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth in Melbourne metropolitan area and Shepparton and its neighboring areas such as Echuca and Bendigo City.

The position also manages the day to day functioning of the Balit Ngulu program.

Key Performance Indicators, Duties & Responsibility

  1. Plan and deliver a quality legal service for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth in Melbourne metropolitan area and Shepparton and its neighbouring areas at various courts including the Children’s Court Criminal Division and Children’s Koori Courts in order to represent clients of Balit Ngulu Legal Service.
  2. Supervise, manage and mentor staff and contribute to the organisation through professional legal education and training
  3. Effectively manage the legal practice unit, including coordinating case-planning meetings
  4. Appear as a senior advocate in various courts in order to represent clients of Balit Ngulu Legal Services.
  5. Participate in community legal education projects, law and policy reform and other Balit Ngulu Legal Service projects as required
  6. Liaise with Government and non-Government organisations on legal issues relevant to Phase Four of Burra Lotjpa Dunguludja, the Aboriginal Justice Agreement (AJA)
  7. Contribute to, and participate in, the collaborative relationship between Victoria Legal Aid, Aboriginal community-controlled organisations, Community Legal Centres and other community organisations with whom Balit Ngulu Legal Services interacts
  8. Keep up to date with relevant legal developments and procedures by attending professional legal education programs and maintaining an understanding of issues impacting members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Youth Communities
  9. You will be required to undertake some travel within Victoria to deliver services to Aboriginal youth within the service locations of the program. Sometimes this travel will occur outside of usual business hours.
  10. Other duties as required

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)
  • Promptly respond to and report health and safety hazards, incidents and near misses to management.
  • Attend mandatory training sessions (i.e. Equal employment opportunity, health and safety, cultural safety) and mandatory training specific to position.

Key Selection Criteria

  1. Comprehensive understanding of the youth justice issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities, including in respect of child protection and the Aboriginal placement principle
  2. Capacity to work as an advocate and caseworker in complex matters
  3. Substantial knowledge of and practical experience in the law
  4. Ability to supervise, mentor and train staff and contribute to the development of individuals and their knowledge and skills
  5. Sound interpersonal skills and the capacity to communicate effectively with members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Youth community
  6. A minimum of five-years post-admission experience in youth justice related matters and be eligible to obtain a Principal Practicing Certificate.
  7. Demonstrated computer literacy skills and proficiency using the Microsoft Office and other relevant software. The capacity to quickly acquire competency in the of VALS’s client data base (ActionStep).
  8. 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 be expressed
  9. Experience working in the non-profit sector.

A position description is attached.

How to apply

This job ad has now expired, and applications are no longer being accepted.
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