• Full-time (part-time optional)
  
• Recruiting for level 5 and level 6 Solicitors
  
• Paid Christmas shutdown period leave
  
• Salary sacrificing available
  
• Canberra CBD

ABOUT CARE CONSUMER LAW

Care Consumer Law is a community legal centre that provides free legal assistance to people in the ACT in the areas of credit law, insurance, fair trading/the Australian consumer law, contracts and bankruptcy.

It also provides the free Defined Benefits Information Service for the ACT’s Motor Accident Injuries Commission.

Care Consumer Law is part of Care – a community organisation that has been continuously supporting the Canberra community since 1983, providing free and confidential support and assistance to people living on low to moderate incomes who are experiencing financial difficulty.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

This is a full-time position (part-time hours can be negotiated) in a small legal team. The Solicitor is required to have a high level of technical, communication, and legal research skills.

The Solicitor provides advice, casework, and representation services in core areas of consumer law, including consumer credit law, Australian Consumer Law and fair trading, financial abuse and other areas within the centre’s expertise.

The Solicitor supports the work of Care Financial Counselling through provision of information or advice as needed. The Solicitor participates in community legal education, policy development, submission drafting, and stakeholder engagement activities.

The Solicitor participates in community legal education, policy development, submission drafting, and stakeholder engagement activities.

The Solicitor is required to undertake file management in accordance with the Centre’s Risk Management Guide.

As with all of Care’s employment contracts, the position is reliant on continued funding availability.

Responsibilities

• Provide information, legal advice and undertake casework services for clients.
• Represent clients in the ACAT and Courts where appropriate.
• Provide workers advice to financial counsellors.
• Identify systemic industry practices of concern arising out of direct client work and contribute to policy advocacy activities of Care Consumer Law.
• Assist in the provision of community and staff legal education and the preparation of law reform submissions as required.
• Undertake administrative tasks with other staff members.
• Level 6 duty only: supervise law students/volunteers/paralegals.
• Other duties as reasonably directed.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Essential

• Hold a current practicing certificate in the ACT or be eligible to hold a practising certificate in the ACT with a minimum 12 months post admission experience.
• Legal practice experience, including providing advice to clients, undertaking casework, and representation and duty services in courts and tribunals.
• Knowledge of (or capacity to acquire) consumer credit law, Australian Consumer Law, insurance, contracts, and bankruptcy law.
• Awareness of and demonstrated skills in communicating with and advocating for disadvantaged and vulnerable clients.
• Demonstrated ability to work with Aboriginal and Torres Islander clients and clients from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and a commitment to culturally safe practices.
• Effective written and oral communication and negotiation skills.
• Demonstrated organisational, time management and administrative skills including proven ability to work independently and within a multi-disciplinary team.
• Values consistent with Care’s mission and strategic direction, including a commitment to social justice and to assisting low income and vulnerable consumers to enforce their rights.

Desirable

• Experience working in a similar role in a community legal centre or community-based environment.
• Experience in supporting people with lived experience of mental health or family violence.

More Information

For more information about this role please contact the Principal Solicitor at [email protected] using the subject line: Solicitor enquiry via EthicalJobs.

A position description is attached.