Description:
Family Law Solicitor – Family & Civil Law
Hunter Community Legal Centre
Job description
6 Month Contract
Salary dependent on experience
Salary Sacrifice arrangements available
Flexible working hours & working from home arrangements are available.
Who we are.
Community Legal Centers (CLCs) across Australia provide access to justice to the most vulnerable and disadvantaged members of our community. Our Centre has over 30 years of experience as a CLC and provides free legal assistance and community legal education to people living and working in the Hunter region.
Hunter CLC’s Family Law team provides assistance in Parenting, Property, and Divorce matters and our Generalist team provides legal assistance in; ADVO & APVO, employment, consumer, traffic, fines & penalties, credit & debt, motor vehicle accident, coronial matters, missing persons & victims services.
The Hunter CLC is based in our Newcastle office, our Centre operates 9-5 Monday to Friday with flexible working hours and working-from-home arrangements available. Periodic travel may also be required to provide court duty, outreach, and community legal education services.
About the role.
Working as part of the Family Law team and under the supervision of both an accredited Family Law Specialist and the Principal Solicitor, the primary objective of the role is to provide high-quality legal advice and in some cases representation to vulnerable and disadvantaged clients with Family Law issues in Parenting, Property, Divorce and Legally Assisted Mediation matters. This role would ideally suit an experienced Family Lawyer. The successful candidate will have 3-5 years of recent experience in providing Family Law advice, be registered with the High Court and have the ability to appear in the Family Court. The majority of Hunter CLC’s client work will be via telephone advice with the aim of equipping clients to self-represent. The role will also require providing a regular duty service and Legal assistance as part of an outreach clinic.
To be successful in the role the candidate needs to be able to communicate with a range of clients, many of whom come from disadvantaged backgrounds, may have a disability or behavioural issues, and are likely to be in distress. Our solicitors need to be comfortable explaining complex legal concepts in a way that’s easy for clients to understand.
Hunter CLC's Solicitors are also expected to complete relevant periodic training to maintain professional competence and keep updated with changes in the law and Hunter CLC’s policies, systems, guidelines, and practices.
Non-legal work such as community legal education, policy development, and community engagement are also important parts of the role.
ACCOUNTABILITIES:
Provide relevant, considered, independent, balanced and professional family law advice in a relatable manner.
Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislation, case law and court procedures.
Research, prepare and provide legal advice to facilitate client’s self-representation and on occasion provide ongoing representation and/or prepare briefs for counsel and attend to instructing counsel.
Ensure all policies and practices are ethical and comply with the Hunter CLC’s policies and workplace health and safety legislation and promote the establishment of equal employment and access in accordance with agreed statutory policy.
Maintain all files in an orderly and professional manner, including the recording of all data for statistical purposes.
Ensure the lawful achievement of Hunter CLC’s core objectives to the highest standards of probity and efficiency, and with due reference to the interests of all stakeholders.
YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
To be successful in this position you will need to demonstrate:
A passion for social justice.
Legal qualifications and a NSW Practicing Certificate (or be able to obtain one immediately).
Up-to-date knowledge of Family Law, including practice and procedure.
Proven capacity to identify and understand legal issues facing socially and economically disadvantaged people in the Hunter region.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills and time management skills.
Computer literacy and capacity to generate legal correspondence.
Current valid NSW Driver’s license and a willingness to drive their own comprehensively insured vehicle in metro and country locations, travel and stay overnight or longer (strongly desirable).
Experience in a CLC environment (is desirable but not essential).
Please contact Hunter CLC if you have any questions 02 4040 9121 or email admin@hunterclc.com.au
Please apply on Seek. Applications should be accompanied by a cover letter addressing the selection criteria and outlining the applicant's suitability for the role. To be successful all applicants will need to undergo both criminal records & Working with Children Checks.
CLOSING DATE: 14.4.25