About SMLS

Established in 1973, South-East Monash Legal Service (SMLS) is a community legal centre that provides free legal assistance to people in Southeast Melbourne. SMLS provides legal information, advice and case work including representation for people experiencing disadvantage on a range of legal matters, such as family law and family violence, employment law, debt and fines, civil litigation, wills, power of attorney, and tenancy.

SMLS aims to empower and support members of the community to understand and make use of the law and the legal system to protect their rights and to increase their awareness of their legal responsibilities. SMLS is a strong advocate of and committed to the use of integrated service models to address multifaceted challenges facing our community members.

SMLS is committed to advocacy and social change. SMLS is a leader in the provision of community and clinical legal education; advocacy through policy submissions and lobbying; outreach services; and targeted referral programs.

Our Vision 

A fair and inclusive community where people can access the resources, networks and support they need to resolve legal issues and overcome barriers to social, cultural and economic inclusion and participation

Our Purpose

To help resolve people’s legal and interconnected issues and ensure that laws and legal processes are fair.

Our Values

Our core values are Respect, Community, Excellence and Courage.

Position Description

SMLS has a very exciting position open! These roles don’t come up often, so if you are a senior lawyer with people management experience or a current leader, keen to diversify your leadership career here is the role for you!

Our organisation has grown a lot over the last 5 years, and we have been refining our focus areas, our practice methods, our whole of organisation integrated approach to ensure we deliver the outcomes we are committed to. We have developed a final 2-year operational plan as part of our current strategic plan. Be part of the implementation!

We are a dynamic and diverse organisation driven with 2 priorities in mind, being ‘future focused’ and ‘solutions focused’. At the Director level, you also play a significant role in the direction and growth of the community legal centre sector as a whole. Are you a strategic thinker, who wants to develop and implement ideas based on the story our community engagement tells us – then this is your opportunity.

Position Purpose

The Director of Legal Practice (DLP) acts a delegate of the Principal Lawyer overseeing allocated practice areas in accordance with all requirements of professional practice obligations. The DLP provides effective management across legal functions in support of our staff, and our client services.

A DLP is responsible for leading a dedicated team to deliver legal services of excellence, highly skilled program planning & learning objectives for junior staff. They should display strategic foresight in SMLS’ response to legal trends and demand. The DLP will ensure efficiency, high quality service delivery, future growth and organisational sustainability.

The DLP reports to the Executive Director and will engage with SMLS staff and external stakeholders to understand operational requirements and pursue opportunities to enhance service delivery through legal program excellence. The DLP will play a leadership role across SMLS through their participation in the Management Team.

The DLP Group B is focused on our civil practices (predominantly employment law related), our policy agenda and key stakeholder relationships within the legal sector. The DLP Group B also has a focus on our volunteer and intern programs.

Position Responsibilities

Team Leadership and Organisational Effectiveness

• Provide strong management and workflow coordination to build a highly skilled, service focused, proactive, effective and reliable legal teams
• Develop and implement processes, policies and tools to ensure legal services of excellence
• Management and coordination systems and activities (e.g. outreach, professional development planning, monitoring probation/records/planning, etc)
• Contribute to organisational leadership through participation in the SMLS Leadership Team
• Contribute to organisational positioning, strategy and capacity through strong leadership capabilities and an organisational mindset

Other

• Other duties as determined from time to time (by the ED)

Position Requirements

Essential Selection Criteria

• Eligible to hold a Principal Practicing Certificate or complete necessary course in Victoria
• Strong people leadership experience and demonstrated engagement of high performing and collaborative teams.
• Significant experience in supporting the effective management of legal practice and risk management processes
• Minimum 5 years post admission practice including complex case management experience in civil practice and litigation.
• Experience in law reform monitoring and policy development
• Proven ability to contribute to a cohesive team environment by sharing information, supporting team priorities and ensuring open communication.
• Demonstrated management experience and skills, including the ability to plan, prioritise, meet deadlines and drive project outcomes.
• Strong interpersonal skills including the ability to communicate sensitively, influence outcomes and build mutually beneficial relationships.
• High level analytical skills and problem solving ability, as well as initiative and a proactive approach.
• Strong experience in best practice systems and process review, development and implementation.
• Advanced computer skills

Desirable

• Experience working in an organisation committed to social justice.

• Employment law experience

• Stakeholder engagement experience including but not limited to leading committees, working groups

For more detailed information please see the attached Position Description.

Any further questions can be directed to [email protected], using the subject line: Director of Legal Practice - Group B enquiry via EthicalJobs.