Intermediate Solicitor - Acfas, Civil Law Practice

Intermediate Solicitor, Civil Law Practice

• Opportunity to make a meaningful impact in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
• Diverse civil law practice across various areas including fines, employment, housing, and consumer matters.
• Involvement in community legal education and outreach initiatives.
• Contract length is for 2 years or up until June 2026, whichever is earlier.

Primary Purpose of the Role

The primary purpose of this role is to deliver culturally appropriate legal advice, assistance and representation services to clients in civil matters including fines, employment, housing, social security, NDIS and consumer matters amongst others. While primarily assisting clients of the ALS Child and Family Advocacy and Support (ACFAS) program, the role will also contribute to the development and delivery of the civil law practice and its services as a whole.

Why Join the ALS Team?

At the Aboriginal Legal Service (ALS) you can make an impact. You will join a strong movement fighting for social justice and equity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, families and communities.

Our focus is our people:
the people we support and the people we employ. We offer a career you can be proud of and a place where you feel safe to be yourself. We invest in our people and appreciate the rich diversity of lived experiences, languages, and culture.

Born out of a protest movement over 50 years ago, the ALS is an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation delivering high-quality, culturally safe legal and support services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in NSW and the ACT. It's an exciting time to be joining us. We recently received additional funding to deliver a range of new programs aimed at addressing systemic issues and driving structural reforms. This is creating significant opportunities for the ALS, our staff and communities.

As well as the satisfaction of working in a job that really matters, we offer our staff benefits including:

• Not-for-profit salary packaging to reduce your tax liability and maximise take-home pay
• Annual leave loading of 17.5%
• Career and professional development opportunities
• Access to personal counselling for you and your family
• Additional paid leave of up to 6 days per year, paid parental and study leave
• Flexible work options - talk to us about how we can make this role work for you

About the Role

The Solicitor role is part of the Civil Law Practice and will primarily deliver civil law services to clients of a new family-oriented justice program, the ALS Child and Family Advocacy and Support (ACFAS) program.

The Solicitor role will be responsible for:

• Providing high quality, culturally appropriate advice, discrete assistance and casework services in areas such as fines, consumer, mental health, human rights, employment, housing, social security, or other areas of civil law
• Conducting community legal education and legal outreach and assisting in preparing promotional materials and/or information booklets and pamphlets
• Working collaboratively with stakeholders and service delivery partners
• Maintaining an up-to-date knowledge of relevant civil law legislation, case law and court procedures
• Communicating with, taking instructions from, and effectively representing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients who may present as distressed, have a physical or intellectual disability, or have drug or alcohol addictions, when the legal concepts involved are complex and difficult for the client to understand
• Contributing to law and policy reform
• Complying with legal ethical obligations
• Adhering to ALS's Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Work Health and Safety (WHS) policies, work practices and rules
• Demonstrating a commitment to and behaviours that aligns to ALS Values and ALS Code of Conduct
• Performing other reasonable duties as directed

About You

We're looking for someone who brings:

• Legal qualifications and a NSW Practising Certificate with a minimum of 3 years' experience in Civil Law
• In-depth knowledge of civil law, including practice and procedures
• Capacity to provide high quality legal representation and advice to Aboriginal people, and manage complaints by clients and/or family members
• Willingness to regularly drive or fly to the Dubbo/Moree regions and stay overnight or longer to undertake outreach, community legal education or training
• Knowledge and appreciation of the cultural and social needs of Aboriginal people combined with continuing respect and support for Aboriginal cultural practices when considering service delivery and other support for clients, their families, communities and employees
• Identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
• Knowledge of, and experience in care and protection law
• Current valid unrestricted NSW Driver's licence and a willingness to drive in metropolitan and country locations, travel intrastate and stay overnight or longer.

Pre-Employment Requirements

ALS is committed to implementing safe recruitment practices. Your application may be subject to pre-employment checks such as reference checks, Working with Children (NSW) or Working with Vulnerable People (ACT) check, right to work in Australia, COVID-19 vaccinations and National Police History check.

• Please send an up-to-date CV and cover letter outlining your suitability for the role to (Subject Title:
  Ref 2024-92 Intermediate Solicitor - ACFAS, Civil Law Practice)
• When sending your application, please ensure youinclude the reference number 2024-92 in subject title
• If you have any enquiries or would like to discuss the role, please contact our recruitment team

Applications for this position close at 11:
59 PM 05th July 2024.

I identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander

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