Senior Lawyer

An opportunity for a diligent Senior Lawyer has become available to join our legal team. This is an opportunity for the right candidate to be part of a reputable organisation with excellent professional development prospects. Attractive remuneration package and access to salary packaging. This role is full time and based in our Perth office.
About knowmore
knowmore is a nation-wide independent community legal centre providing free legal information, advice, representation and referrals, financial counselling, support and systemic advocacy for victims and survivors of child sexual abuse. Since 2022 our service has expanded to provide legal advice and financial counselling for people applying to the Territories Stolen Generations Redress Scheme, financial counselling for people applying to the Victorian Stolen Generations Reparations Package and free legal advice for survivors of child sexual abuse that are not eligible to apply to the National Redress Scheme. We continue to provide free legal advice, support and financial counselling in relation to the National Redress Scheme.
knowmore uses a multidisciplinary model bringing together lawyers, intake officers, social workers and counsellors, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander engagement advisors and financial counsellors to provide trauma-informed, client-centred and culturally safe legal assistance to clients. Services are provided through a national phone line and face-to-face services in key locations, supported by a comprehensive program of outreach and community engagement across Australia. knowmore currently has offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Darwin.
About the Role
The Senior Lawyer will provide high quality legal services to clients in a culturally safe and appropriate manner within a trauma informed and multi-disciplinary framework.
This role delivers front line legal services and casework assistance and reports directly to the Managing Lawyer in the relevant knowmore office and assists that role in providing support, mentoring and professional supervision to other lawyers in the legal team. The role works collaboratively as a member of the national legal team and within knowmore's multi-disciplinary model, working alongside other teams delivering intake, social work and cultural support services to clients. At times the role will also work with other partner services to support clients.
The role will advise clients who are survivors of child sexual abuse about redress and compensation options, including redress claims under the National Redress Scheme, and acting for clients making such claims. Senior Lawyers will manage a significant caseload, including more complex matters. Senior Lawyers will also contribute to knowmore's policy and law reform work and prepare and deliver community legal education and participate in other community engagement activities, working cooperatively and collaboratively with other staff and service providers. Guided by the organisation's service plan, the role will involve intrastate and interstate travel to deliver services to clients on an outreach basis, and to undertake community engagement activities. Accordingly, a current drivers' licence is highly desirable, along with the ability and willingness to travel, including to remote and regional locations for up to a week at a time, and to work out of hours.
Duties and Responsibilities
Provide high quality advice and representation to clients in relation to the legal issues arising from their experience of sexual abuse, including in relation to their redress options, undertaking a significant caseload and working with clients with complex needs.
Support the Managing Lawyer to lead knowmore's service delivery to clients in a local office and to work co-operatively with knowmore's other teams to ensure clients' legal and related needs are identified and actioned in an effective and consistent way and all timelines are met.
Contribute as a professional member of a national legal practice; ensuring compliance by self and supervised legal staff with professional and corporate responsibilities including the rules and requirements of relevant legal profession legislation and the Community Legal Centre Risk Management Guide.
Assist the Managing Lawyer in conducting regular file reviews and monitoring and contributing to the development and continuous improvement of service delivery standards, policies and precedents.
Ensure all relevant service data is recorded.
Support the development of effective working relationships and referral arrangements with other service providers.
Undertake legal research and drafting to support knowmore's contributions to law reform and policy and procedural initiatives relating to its client group, including through the identification of issues arising from practice.
Assist in the preparation and delivery of community legal education and other engagement activities and materials, working cooperatively and collaboratively with non-legal service providers and other staff and external partners to raise awareness and provide information about knowmore's services and common issues facing the client group.
Assist in the day-to-day supervision and coordination of the activities of volunteers and pro bono providers.
Proactively manage own self-care and workload, and model a commitment to self-care and resilience.
Act as the Managing Lawyer when required from time to time.
Undertake other duties and projects as directed.
Selection Criteria
Hold or be eligible to immediately obtain a current unrestricted practising certificate in the relevant jurisdiction.
Minimum of 3 years post admission experience.
A strong awareness of the legal issues facing survivors of child sexual abuse and demonstrated experience practicing in a relevant area or areas of law; experience in personal injury claims may be advantageous.
Demonstrated experience in leadership and supervising and assisting more junior legal staff to identify and manage priorities, meet timelines and comply with the responsibilities of legal practice.
Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and effectively as a member of a larger multi-disciplinary team of legal and non-legal staff, with the capacity to work flexibly, independently and with limited supervision.
Demonstrated understanding of the issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and experience in providing culturally safe services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Demonstrated ability to identify broader and systemic issues arising from casework and to develop appropriate responses and to contribute to policy development and law reform activities.
Proactively manage own care and workload.
Ability and willingness to travel and work in regional, rural and remote areas.
Capacity to accept and respond appropriately to constructive feedback regarding professional capability and work performance.
Qualifications and other Requirements
A relevant tertiary qualification and professional accreditation is required.
Holding a satisfactorily National Police Records Check and a Working with Children Check.
The role may involve intrastate and interstate travel to deliver services to clients on an outreach basis, and to undertake community engagement activities. Accordingly, a current driver's licence is desirable.
Location & Hours
The role is based in Perth
Full-time
Ongoing – subject to the funding of the knowmore service.
Organisational Obligations
Share our values and have a strong commitment to improving the lives of survivors of child abuse.
First Nations cultural competency – to work in ways that recognise and counteract privilege and bias, and appreciate the values, traditions, belief systems, and experience of First Nations People.
Demonstrate an active and dedicated commitment to knowmore's Purpose, Vision and Values.
Commitment to working within and supporting knowmore's practice framework (trauma-informed culturally safe, person-centred).
Comply with knowmore's Policies and Procedures.
Observe all legal and legislative requirements.
Ensure a high level of confidentiality and integrity.
Assist in the development of, and participate in knowmore's initiatives, projects and events.
Cultivate productive and collaborative working relationships and outcomes through open an inclusive planning, continuous improvement and transparent work practices.
Liaise with others in a professional, respectful and constructive manner.
Take reasonable care to protect their health and safety and the health and safety of others.
To engage in professional supervision and other reflective practice opportunities as required.
A competitive salary commensurate with the not for profit sector is offered together with the availability of salary packaging to achieve a tax effective total salary package. In addition to being a flexible workplace, knowmore offers 12% superannuation (0.5% above the SGC), a 37.5 hour working week and 4 weeks annual leave, including annual leave loading.
Employees have access to a training and development opportunities as well as our Employee Assistance Program.
Additionally, knowmore offers the ability to partially work from home to facilitate a balanced work life.
Aunty Glendra Stubbs is a Wiradjuri woman and an Elder in Residence at knowmore. She has been supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients since knowmore began in 2013. In this video, Aunty Glendra shares her story about working at knowmore and supporting her clients on their journey. Video Link: https://youtu.be/Ib4Va2apySU
How to apply
Further Information about knowmore is available at www.knowmore.org.au
If this sounds like an opportunity you would be interested, please apply now .
Your application must include:
A cover letter outlining why you are applying for this position and your responses to the key selection criteria (maximum of four pages)
A resume with your skills, experience and qualifications
The role will be required to satisfactorily complete a National Police Records Check, a Working with Children Check and and be fully COVID-19 vaccinated or have a medical exemption..
There is no application closing date for this role, we are keen to proceed with recruitment as soon as possible and interviews may be conducted as applications are received. Due to the volume of anticipated applications, only successful applicants will be contacted.
Agencies please note: This recruitment assignment is being managed directly by knowmore. We do not require extra assistance at this time
Your application will include the following questions:
How many years' experience do you have as a lawyer?
Which of the following statements best describes your right to work in Australia?
What's your expected annual base salary?
Do you have a current Working With Children (WWC) Check?
How much notice are you required to give your current employer?
Do you hold a current Australian legal practising certificate?
Are you available to travel for this role when required?
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