UNSW, NEW South Wales KINGSFORD LEGAL CENTRE
POSITION SUMMARY
The purpose of this role is to provide effective advice and casework in generalist civil law, discrimination and employment law to our clients. The role will also educate law students at the University of New South Wales.
ORGANISATIONAL ENVIRONMENT
Overview of the Faculty/School/Divisional Work Unit
Kingsford Legal Centre is a community legal centre which is part of the University of New South Wales’ Faculty of Law. The Centre has two primary aims:
1. To provide legal advice and representation, law reform and community education to the local community; and
2. To educate law students at the University of New South Wales.
A management committee made up of members of the Faculty, a member from the private profession, and a member from the community sector meets on a quarterly basis.
Statistics
The Centre has an annual budget of $1,000,000. The Centre has over 120 clinical students per annum, plus 450 Lawyers, Ethics and Justice students. The Centre has approximately 60 volunteer solicitors.
The Centre has equivalent to 9 full time members of staff (1Director, Principal Solicitor/clinical supervisor, 3 Solicitor/clinical supervisors, 1 Office Manager, 1 seconded solicitor, Front Office Coordinator, Law Reform and Policy Worker/clinical supervisor, Aboriginal Access Worker plus 2 part time staff.).
Reporting Relationships
This position reports to the Director of the Centre.
The Solicitor/Clinical Supervisor will be required to work independently in the areas specified. S/he will work within but contribute to a general framework established by the Director. S/he is expected to use initiative to facilitate the effective operation of the Centre.
The Solicitor/Clinical Supervisor will have working relationships with the staff and students at the Kingsford Legal Centre, with the clients who use the Centre, staff in the Faculty of Law, UNSW general and administrative staff, as well as with external organisations who work closely with KLC.
KEY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Level 6
· Provide employment, discrimination and generalist civil law advice and conduct casework in conjunction with the other lawyers employed at the Centre in accordance with the Centre’s policies;
· Participate in delivering quality clinical legal education to UNSW Law students including by: assisting with the induction of students each session; undertaking student assessment; sharing the teaching of classes; and supervising and developing student projects;
· Participate in law reform campaigns, including submission and report writing;
· Coordinate and participate in Community Legal Centres (CLCs) NSW meetings, and contribute to policy work of the sector in areas of expertise;
· Oversee the Centre’s advice nights on a fortnightly basis as well as supervise the volunteers rostered ;
· Develop and deliver workshops on relevant areas of law for community workers, volunteer lawyers or other community legal centre lawyers;
· Assist in the general day to day administration of the Centre, including assisting other staff members during periods of leave
· Participate in fortnightly staff meetings, weekly case meetings and in a community service management committee
· Cooperate with all health and safety policies and procedures of the university and take all reasonable care to ensure that their actions or omissions do not impact on the health and safety of others in the university.
Level 7
· Develop and run new classes for students which incorporate active learning;
· Identify and implement Access and Equity strategies in respect of the Centre’s students and clients
· Conduct more complex casework in line with Centre policies;
· Identify and develop proactive law reform strategies based on identifying casework trends and areas requiring reform;
· Develop and coordinate sector wide law reform responses, including the management of a range of stakeholders, including submission writing, international human rights reporting and law reform reports;
· Supervise other staff members at the Centre in accordance with the Centre’s risk management policies;
· Collaborate on projects with clinical legal educators from other universities;
· Develop the Centre’s community legal education program with reference to current community need.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Level 6
· Eligible to practise as a solicitor New South Wales;
· Demonstrated experience in providing advice and casework in a relevant area of law;
· Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to effectively communicate with people from diverse backgrounds;
· A demonstrated commitment to social justice;
· Demonstrated experience in working with people from CALD/Aboriginal backgrounds and/or people with a disability
· Knowledge of equal opportunity principles, knowledge of OHS responsibilities and a commitment to relevant OHS training
Level 7 (in addition to the above)
· Experience in legal advice and casework, including complex cases, particularly in the areas of employment and discrimination law;
· Experience in developing and delivering legal education to legal practitioners or at legal education conferences;
· Experience in coordinating collaborative responses to law reform opportunities.
· Experience in legal supervision and volunteers on a regular basis, in accordance with risk management practices;
PROGRESSION STATEMENT
The incumbent will normally be expected to have reached the top step of level 6 prior to progression to level 7. Criteria for progression to level 7 will be based on satisfactory performance of all duties and accountabilities at level 6 and a demonstrated capacity to take on the duties and accountabilities at level 6 and a demonstrated capacity to take on the duties and accountabilities of the position at level 7.
Source: Uniting News