Overview

This position is tied to an Integrated Practice Project which VALS is undertaking in partnership with Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action). The project is funded through Federation of Community Legal Centres’ integrated services fund. The project commenced in 2019 and has secured funding year on year, with current funding guaranteed to 2022.

Key Performance Indicators, Duties & Responsibility

Casework and Advice Provision

• Provide high quality and professionally delivered legal advice and representation to clients with consumer and credit law matters in courts, tribunals and external dispute resolution forums as appropriate.
• Work collaboratively with other staff-members in the VALS Civil and Human Rights practice to ensure subject area knowledge is shared, to assist with building the internal capacity of the team to handle complex consumer and debt matters, which will require, from time to time, the supervision and training of other lawyers in consumer and debt matters.
• Deliver training (including in partnership with Consumer Action) and share legal precedents and other resources with VALS’ civil team, in order to develop VALS’ internal capacity to manage complex consumer and debt related legal disputes.

Engagement and collaboration

• Form a strong working relationship with direct project partner in the CALC Koori Engagement Manager and Aboriginal Policy Officer
• Collaborate with the Koori Engagement Manager and Aboriginal Policy Officer and other relevant VALS and Consumer Action staff to attend community engagement sessions in regional and rural areas.

Strategic Advocacy

• Work closely with the Aboriginal Policy Officer at Consumer Action as well as other relevant staff to identity systemic issues and assist where possible with associated campaign and advocacy work.
• Assist VALS CEO and other senior staff in relation to media and other external facing opportunities arising from the work of this project

Key Selection Criteria

The applicant must be a qualified legal practitioner with at least two years full-time post-admission experience in a role involving frequent legal casework and advice. The applicant must also have a current Victorian driver’s license, as the role will require travel to regional areas of Victoria for community engagement.

Legal skills and knowledge

• Strong negotiation skills and a professional common-sense approach to dispute resolution.
• A desirable skill for the role is direct knowledge of consumer and credit law, its legislative framework and regulation generally and the ability to develop, learn and apply this knowledge. Whilst there will be some scope for initial intensive training via CALC, previous experience practising in this area of law will be highly regarded.
• A demonstrated experience in providing legal advice, representation, and conducting litigation in various jurisdictions including tribunals and courts.

Skills working with our clients

• Experience and skill working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients, either in an ATSIL, community legal centre, or legal aid.
• Ability to interact easily and in a friendly manner with people who experiencing stressful legal issues, including in an outreach ‘out of the office’ environment.
• An awareness and personal interest of the social context of our clients and their legal issues.

Working collaboratively

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to tailor and modify communication to a range of audiences.
• Proven collaborative skills and ability to work effectively with and through others, including Aboriginal colleagues and partner organisations.
• Respect for others' feelings and ideas and the ability to work effectively and professionally with people from a diverse range of backgrounds, always maintaining dignity and respect

A position description is attached.