As a Graduate Lawyer/ Paralegal in the Counselling Notes Protect (CNP) service you will perform administrative, secretarial, clerical and legal duties that support the CNP legal service. You may also be required to provide administrative cover for other roles within the service to ensure the efficient and effective operations of the WLSQ.

This role is can be full time or part time and the work hours can be negotiated with the right candidates.

Depending on eligibility, applicants will either be appointed to the role as Paralegal – CNP or Graduate Lawyer – CNP.

The following candidates are eligible to be appointed to the graduate lawyer role:

• Law students who have commenced their final semester of their law degree; or
• Students who have recently graduated from law and who have not been admitted to practice;
• Law graduates who are currently undertaking PLT (but are not yet admitted to practice); or
• People who have recently been admitted to practice.

ABOUT THIS ROLE

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide secretarial, paralegal and administrative support to legal staff who are undertaking client work including:
  • Word processing and preparing and editing documents such as letters and file notes.
  • Managing administrative arrangements to support court appearances, which may include appearing at mentions, seeking directions, collecting subpoenaed material from Courts, and filing court documents.
  • Opening and closing files, data entry and filing.
  • Administrative tasks associated with managing hardcopy and electronic files, which will include paginating and redacting records in client files.
  • Calendar management.
  • Arranging travel tasks.
  • Management of client referrals into the service.
  • Monitoring, responding to or forwarding emails from the WLSQ administrative email address.
  • Other general administration and organisational assistance as required.2.
• Undertake general clerical duties including:
  • Telephone and reception enquiries.
  • Copying, faxing and filing.
  • Administrative tasks associated with supporting the internal processes of WLSQ e.g. taking meeting minutes.
  • Administrative tasks to support day-to-day activities of the WLSQ.
  • Updating WLSQ client databases and records.
  • Contributing to the development and maintenance of the statistical records of the WLSQ.
  • Maintenance of WLSQ administrative systems.
• Contribute to a collaborative team culture for staff and volunteers which is professional, productive, supportive and consistent with the WLSQ values and feminist principles.

Additional tasks performed by Graduate Lawyer CNP:

Perform other tasks under the supervision of a senior solicitor including:

• Undertake legal casework in consultation with a supervising solicitor.
• Assist the supervising solicitor in the drafting and provision of advice.
• Liaise with clients, handle enquiries and take instructions where appropriate.
• Undertake court-based advocacy under supervision where appropriate.
• Undertake legal research and contribute to the development of legal education material.

Skills and Capabilities:

1. Research skills and the ability to rapidly acquire knowledge of Division 2A of the Evidence Act and other legal areas relevant to the operations of the ‘Counselling Notes Protect’ service including, court procedure, Practice Direction 5/21, and pre-trial criminal law procedures.
2. Demonstrated experience in performing administrative / secretarial/ paralegal tasks associated with a legal service in a criminal law, domestic violence or Family law environment, including the management of hard and electronic copies of client files, and the ability to draft simple legal documentation.
3. Well-developed and effective interpersonal and communication skills, both written and oral, including the ability to make appropriate client referrals, and communicate sensitively and appropriately with vulnerable and disadvantaged clients, including those who have experienced domestic, family and sexual violence.
4. High level written communication and organisational skills required to prepare briefs to counsel, legal process documents and correspondence covering simple legal and factual issues.
5. An ability to collate and analyse information and legal issues, and to make decisions and judgements when completing tasks to meet agreed timeframes;
6. High level of computer literacy including demonstrated experience with MS Word, MS Excel, MS Outlook, database programs and office equipment.
7. Sound knowledge and understanding of legal and social issues affecting women from a range of different cultural and socio-economic backgrounds, and a commitment to working for a community organisation within a feminist framework in a manner consistent with the mission, purpose and values of WLSQ.

REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS

In addition to having a meaningful and rewarding career, you will receive:

• An attractive remuneration package between $39.26 and $42.25 per hour plus statutory superannuation.
• Generous leave entitlements with additional paid leave over Christmas and New Year.
• Attractive salary sacrifice options.

MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS:

WLSQ has an exemption under the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 that allows for the employment of women only within the organisation.

WLSQ also requires all staff to have at least two COVID-19 Vaccinations.

Successful applicants will be required to complete a National Police Check.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are encouraged to apply for this position.

If you have any questions regarding this role, please email [email protected], using the subject line: Graduate Lawyer / Paralegal - Counselling Notes Protect enquiry via EthicalJobs. 

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.