Sydney, NEW South Wales Legal Aid NSW
Solicitor IV – Mental Health Advocacy Service – Civil Law – Part time 14 hpw – Monday and Tuesday – Temporary for 12 months with possibility to extend – Central Sydney
ABOUT LEGAL AID NSW
Legal Aid NSW is the largest legal aid agency in Australia, comprising of a Central Sydney office and 28 regional offices in metropolitan and regional centres across NSW and a number of specialist services and advice clinics. Working at Legal Aid NSW provides the opportunity to support people with disabilities, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, women and children, Indigenous people and people with mental illness who may experience difficulties when enforcing and defending their rights.
OUR TEAM AND WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR
The Mental Health Advocacy Service is based at Legal Aid’s Central Sydney office and provides advice, minor assistance and representation to people in mental health, guardianship and, drug and alcohol treatment matters throughout NSW. These matters are conducted before the Mental Health Review Tribunal, Guardianship Division of NCAT, Supreme Court and before Magistrates (for matters conducted under the Drug and Alcohol Treatment Act).
We are looking for a senior lawyer to job share the role of leading and managing the civil arm of the MHAS practice. That involves working Monday and Tuesday each week. The role involves coordinating services, including representation, across NSW through utilising a combination of inhouse MHAS solicitors as well as inhouse civil law Legal Aid solicitors located at other offices and members of Legal Aid’s private practitioners civil panel.
ABOUT THE ROLE
Your duties as a Senior Solicitor in the Civil Law Division will include:
• Providing high quality advice, minor assistance and casework services in areas of disability law with specific focus on matters conducted before the Mental Health Review Tribunal under the Mental Health Act, the Guardianship Act, NSW Trustee and Guardian Act and Drug and Alcohol Treatment Act.
• Coordinating the provision of relevant services, including representation, throughout the NSW.
• Conduct and supervise other legal officers to ensure an efficient and effective legal practice in accordance with the standards required by Legal Aid NSW.
• Community engagement, identifying and attending community and government agency events and meetings. The aim is to promote our services and identify community needs and opportunities
• Assisting with team planning and implementing identified new services. This is a strategic task to help ensure we are meeting Legal Aid’s priorities in targeted and efficient ways.
• Comply with the Legal Aid Commission Act, policies and practice management standards and undertake all related administrative and case management activities.
ABOUT YOU
The successful applicant will be an experienced legal practitioner who can maintain a busy practice, including complex matters whilst simultaneously supervising and inspiring a team within the Mental Health Advocacy Service through innovative leadership. The successful applicant will be committed to delivering excellent service and be able to engage with external stakeholders. Management experience and enthusiasm for mentoring/developing staff is essential. The ability to work collaboratively in a job share role is essential.
ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS
• Admission or eligibility for admission as a legal practitioner in NSW
• Ability to provide a valid Practising Certificate upon commencement
• Willingness to undertake a Criminal Record Check and/or working with Children Check
• Hold Australian or NZ citizenship or Australian Permanent Resident or a valid working visa
• Fully vaccinated against COVID-19 prior to commencement
HOW TO APPLY
Applications MUST be submitted online through www.iworkfor.nsw.gov.au to be considered. No late applications will be accepted.
Applicants should read the Role Description and consider the Focus Capabilities and Key Accountabilities when preparing their resume and cover letter.
Applicants are requested to attach:
• current resume / curriculum vitae (CV) (maximum 5 pages)
• cover letter (maximum 2 pages) responding to the following two questions:
1. Please outline your experience in providing legal services, including representation, advice and assistance people who experience mental illness and/or intellectual disability.
2. Please outline your experience in coordinating services and leading a team of legal practitioners including implementing change, supervision, training, allocation of work and individual planning.
Please save your CV and Cover Letter as 'LAST NAME, First name – CV/Cover Letter' in PDF or word format.
The selection process will include a range of comparative assessment techniques to assist in determining capability and suitability for the role.
This recruitment will be used to fill any current vacancies and may be used to create a Talent Pool for similar future temporary or ongoing vacancies that may arise over the next 18 months.
OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
Legal Aid NSW welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds, including people with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, the LGBTI community, culturally diverse people and other diverse communities.
Legal Aid NSW provides dignified access to accommodate the diverse needs of our community. We acknowledge and support the access needs of people with visible and invisible disabilities, as such all of our offices are accessible.
If you require a reasonable adjustment in order to participate in the recruitment process, or you are looking for general information about our reasonable adjustment process, please contact our team via email, and advise your preferred method of communication: erecruitment@legalaid.nsw.gov.au.
FURTHER INFORMATION
• Temporary Opportunity at 14 HPW for an initial period of 12 months with the option of that period being extended further.
• Enquiries: Todd Davis on (02) 8746 2623 or Todd.Davis@legalaid.nsw.gov.au
• Applying for a Role
• Working at Legal Aid NSW
• Salary Range $126,120 – $128,547 plus superannuation & leave loading
• Jobs Board Ref 00008QYN
• Closing Date: Sunday 20th Feb 2022 [11:59pm]
To ensure recruitment at Legal Aid NSW continues without interruption during the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual methods may be used for interviews and assessments. This may include interviews conducted by video, telephone interviewing, Microsoft Teams meetings and online assessments.
Source: Uniting News