Full Time - Permanent
About the role
We are looking for an experienced family lawyer with an ability to undertake advocacy, negotiation and litigation in family law, protection and care, and family violence / restraining order matters.
As part of the legal team based at the busy South West Regional office, you will provide quality client centred legal services to the most disadvantaged members of the community in the family law practice area. Your legal practice focus is representation services; more complex legal advice and minor assistance services; as well as contributing to duty lawyer services, community legal education activities, and stakeholder engagement. These duties involve direct contact with clients at the Legal Aid office, prisons, Bunbury courts, circuits (Busselton, Collie, Margaret River, Manjimup, and Harvey) and other outreach locations.
You will be required to manage your own files with minimal supervision; take carriage of matters involving complex circumstances, factual or legal difficulty; conduct litigation up to and including trial; attend mediations and appear in a range of courts. The role includes supporting less experienced lawyers and paralegals to build their capabilities. Subject to team composition, there are opportunities to develop leadership, people management, or service planning skills.
To be successful in this role, you will:
- Have considerable post-admission family law experience.
- Have the capacity to appear in a range of courts and mediation conferencing without supervision.
- Put our clients at the centre of everything you do.
- Communicate in plain English and have an ability to build rapport with clients.
- Interact confidently and sensitively with our client base who are made up of people from diverse backgrounds and all walks of life, including persons with complex needs, presenting with drug and alcohol issues, mental health issues, distressed or agitated due to their legal situation.
- Work both autonomously and as part of a team in often high-pressure and time sensitive situations.
- Organise yourself so that your time is managed effectively, and deadlines are met.
- Enjoy working collaboratively with all our stakeholders.
- Be able to deal with exposure to potentially disturbing and/or emotionally draining matters involving women or children.
About us and what we can offer you
We offer a strong team working environment, the satisfaction of adding value to the community, and a range of benefits in line with business requirements, which may include professional development opportunities, flexible working and leave arrangements and a range of health and wellbeing initiatives.
Legal Aid WA is an independent statutory authority funded by the State Government and Commonwealth Governments. We provide services to over 100,000 clients each year in the areas of criminal, family and civil law across Western Australia.
Legal Aid WA is a provider of customer centred services and fosters a culture of inclusion. We appreciate differing viewpoints and cultural diversity and value all perspectives as we strive for excellent customer service through process improvements and innovation.
Further information
Please visit www.legalaid.wa.gov.au to find out more about us and click here to learn about the benefits we offer employees.
Download the attached Job Description Form for more information about the role.
If, after reading the attachments, you would like to talk to someone about the job, please contact Derek Hunter, Solicitor in Charge, on phone (08) 9721 2277 or email derek.hunter@legalaid.wa.gov.au.
For First Nations specific information regarding working at Legal Aid WA, including our First Nations Staff Network, please visit First Nations Employment.
If you are a First Nations person who would like assistance with your application, please contact Jobs and Skills WA online or call them on 13 64 64.
Assessment
The attached Job Description Form (JDF) provides an overview of the role, along with the selection criteria against which you will be assessed throughout the selection process. Alignment with Legal Aid’s values will also be considered in the panel’s assessment of candidates. Please take time to familiarise yourself with the role prior to applying.
How to Apply
Applications are made online. In addition to the questions being asked in the online application, you should also submit:
- A comprehensive CV (max. 5 pages) that showcases your experience and key achievements relevant to the role (tip - pay particular attention to the selection criteria); and
- A cover letter (max. 3 pages) responding to the questions below:
- Outline your experience conducting family law matters. (In your answer, please provide examples which demonstrate this experience, and if applicable, also describe instances where you provided legal services to disadvantaged people.)
- What are the major challenges you believe you will encounter as a regional Legal Aid family lawyer; and What strengths, skills and experience would you bring to the role to overcome these challenges?
Qualifications and minimum experience required for the role will also be assessed by the panel at application stage.
We recommend you review our guide on applying for a job at Legal Aid WA, including eligibility, preparing your application and the selection process, prior to submitting your application.
Click the “Apply for Job” button at bottom of this page to submit your application. APPLICATIONS WILL ONLY BE ACCEPTED VIA www.jobs.wa.gov.au
Please allow enough time to submit your application, as late applications will not be accepted.
Failure to submit the required information may result in the selection panel being unable to fully assess your application.
If you experience technical difficulties submitting your application online, contact Regina Tatchley on (08) 9261 6496 and quote recruitment ID LA22673.
Substantive Equality
Legal Aid Western Australia is an equal opportunity employer, we recognise the value that people of diverse backgrounds bring to the workforce. We are committed to improving employment opportunities and outcomes through the recruitment, development and retention of people from all diverse backgrounds.
Suitable Australian First Nations applicants may be given priority consideration over non diversity group applicants to achieve public sector outcomes. People with disability will be provided with reasonable adjustments in our recruitment processes and in the workplace.
Other Conditions
This selection process may also be used to fill other similar vacancies throughout our organisation. Alternatively, should the successful candidate decline or vacate the advertised position, the next most suitable candidate may be selected from this process. Both options remain valid for a period of twelve (12) months (unless otherwise stated) from the completion date of the initial selection process. Should no suitable candidate be identified, or an offer declined, the panel may search for further candidates beyond the closing date.
Appointment to all positions at Legal Aid WA is subject to a satisfactory national criminal history check, integrity and conflict checks, and 100-point identification check.
ATTACHMENTS:
-
la22673 scl 3-4 family solicitor bunbury jdf.pdf
You can view and print these PDF attachments by downloading
Adobe Reader.
WORK TYPE:
Permanent - Full Time
LOCATION:
Bunbury
CLOSING DATE:
2023-01-23 4:00 PM
(YYYY-MM-DD)
