• Salary Offering: VALS D 1.1 – 1.6 - $68,351.38 - $73,351.38 (full-time equivalent) per annum plus 11.5% Superannuation
• Office Locations: 273, High Street Preston Victoria 3072.
• This role is full-time fixed term until 30th of June 2025 (renewal subject to ongoing funding for new financial year in July 2025)
• This position may require regional travel.

Additional Benefits:

• 17.5% Leave Loading
• 5 extra days leave on top of 20 days annual leave
• Only required to work 35 hours per week, any extra hours worked will be calculated as your Time In Lieu (TOIL) – which you may use as additional leave hours
• Access to company vehicles for any work-related trips
• Salary packaging is available via Maxxia

OVERVIEW OF THE ROLE:

To provide high quality secretarial and support services to the legal staff in the provision of criminal law assistance to members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community in Victoria.

You will be operating as part of an integrated and diverse team that includes junior lawyers, senior lawyers, administrative staff and client service officers.

DAY TO DAY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assist in the logging of client court dates on internal calendar systems
• Undertake all secretarial tasks and associated file management tasks as provided by solicitors in relation to the ongoing file management of clients of the Service in areas of Criminal law
• Prepare documentation for briefing Counsel or other professionals as directed, including photocopying, collating and arranging delivery
• Assist in arranging appointments for clients or making contact with clients directly
• Lodge and maintain Victoria Legal Aid grant applications within the ATLAS system as required
• Undertake filing of reports and other documentation on behalf of clients
• Keep up to date with relevant procedures by attending professional education programs and maintain an understanding of issues impacting the justice system and members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities of Victoria
• Assisting our VALS reception area to cover breaks of the receptionist

KEY SELECTION CRITERIA:

• Demonstrated ability and experience as a legal secretary
• Advanced skills in the use of MS Office Software (particularly MS Word, Excel, E-mail) to a legal practice, or similar, and the capacity to quickly acquire competency in the use of VALS’ client data base.
• Professional and courteous phone manner and interpersonal skills and the capacity to communicate effectively with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members, including young people and families.
• Work collaboratively with others and foster a co-operative/supportive team environment

• A commitment to the legal issues faced by members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community in Victoria including an ability to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and acknowledge their diverse backgrounds, personalities and varying needs and the unique cultural ways in which they may be expressed.

MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS:

On offer of this position, you must provide:

• Copy of your current Employee Working with Children Card.
• You will be required to complete a current Criminal History Police Check.
• Up to date vaccination certificate or valid medical exemption
• Proof of rights to work in Australia, i.e., a copy of an Australian Passport, Birth Certificate, or Immigration VISA documentation
• Current valid Victorian Driver’s Licence
• Copies of any certificates or degrees relevant to this role