• Classification: Level 3
• Remuneration: $78,969 per annum (pro rata), inclusive of superannuation, plus attractive salary packaging options
• Type: Part-time - 28 hours per week

An opportunity to make a difference

This part time (4 days pw) paralegal role works in our Queensland Retirement Villages and Parks Advice Service (QRVPAS), which sits within the Financial Rights and Housing Security Team and under the larger Human Rights and Civil Law Practice. The overarching purpose of the role is to provide administrative and paralegal support to the QRVPAS lawyers and social workers with a focus on:

• Triaging clients who call seeking assistance from the service before they are booked in to speak with a lawyer and providing information and referral where appropriate;
• Providing community education support.

Caxton Legal Centre represents the interests of people who are disadvantaged or on a low income when they come into contact with the law. We do this by strategically advocating to government, providing legal advice and social work services, publishing legal information and building community awareness about the issues faced by the people we help.

Caxton is an independent, non-profit, non-government community legal centre. We are committed to achieving the best outcomes for people who are on a low income or otherwise disadvantaged by working with partners from the community, government, university and private sectors.

We are seeking to interview and appoint swiftly, and would encourage suitable and interested applicants to apply as soon as possible.

Key accountabilities

• Provide triage support, information and referrals for the QRVPAS team.
• Conduct legal research, take instructions from clients, maintain accurate file notes and records of interview, draft correspondence, undertake legal tasks, prepare briefs to counsel, file court documents.
• Undertake administrative tasks including processing client intake forms, conflict checking, entering data into the CLASS system, filing and photocopying.
• Provide community education support including assisting with preparing CLE resources, attending CLE sessions and providing legal information.

Key challenges

• Performing multiple tasks with accuracy under time pressure.
• Working with clients with complex social and legal issues, including housing insecurity issues. QRVPAS clients include:
  • older people on limited fixed incomes;
  • those facing unaffordable increases in park or village fees and charges;
  • people at risk of significant capital loss from unreasonable contract terms;
  • people facing eviction, relocation or homelessness;
  • those with low literacy levels (including digital literacy) and/or limited capacity to understand legal process or represent themselves;
  • those who may be vulnerable due to poor health, disability, mobility difficulties and/or communication challenges;
  • culturally and linguistically diverse clients with limited English language skills.
• Providing advice to clients who may have an impairment or be culturally or linguistically diverse.

Essential requirements

• A good level of computer literacy and competency in major administration software packages such as Microsoft (Outlook, Excel, Word), SharePoint and CLASS.
• Good organisational and time management skills.
• Ability to appropriately deal with sensitive and highly confidential information with a high level of tact, discretion and judgement.
• Strong communication skills, particularly in obtaining information from clients.
• Ability to identify legal issues and provide appropriate information and referrals.

Prior experience in community legal practice will be highly regarded. The ability to start immediately will also be highly regarded.

WHY CAXTON LEGAL?

Caxton Legal Centre has played a central part in Queensland’s legal landscape over the past 40 years, leading the state’s first Stolen Wages case, successfully representing well over 100 victims of the 2011 floods, and paving the way for multidisciplinary service delivery to people experiencing elder abuse.

We are an engaged, passionate and talented group of lawyers, social workers, and administrative staff with whom you are encouraged to collaborate with and learn from in order to meet our client’s needs.

Our full-time staff enjoy a 35-hour working week paid at the full-time Award rate, with time off in lieu if additional approved hours are worked. Paid Christmas leave is provided during the office shut-down period to New Years in addition to four weeks paid annual leave.

Caxton is currently experiencing significant growth and change across many of its programs; these roles represent investments into the future of our service delivery and capabilities across South-East Queensland.

If you are interested in joining a team who are highly committed to social justice and value diversity and human rights, please submit your cover letter addressing the key accountabilities and essential requirements along with your CV below, to Damian Kelleher, COO.

A position description is attached.