• Full-Time.
  
• Salary dependent on experience  
  
• + Additional Leave & Salary Sacrifice
  
• Flexible working arrangements are available. 
• 12 Month Contract

Who we are.

Community Legal Centers (CLCs) across Australia provide access to justice to the most vulnerable and disadvantaged members of our community. Our Centre has over 30 years of experience as a CLC and provides free legal assistance and community legal education to people living and working in the Hunter region.

Hunter CLC’s Generalist team provides legal assistance in; ADVO & APVO, employment, consumer, traffic, fines & penalties, credit & debt, motor vehicle accident, coronial matters, missing persons & victims services.

The Hunter CLC is based in our Newcastle office, our Centre operates 9-5 Monday to Friday with flexible working hours and working-from-home arrangements available. Periodic travel will also be required to provide court duty, outreach, and community legal education services.

About the role

Under the supervision of the Civil team's Senior Solicitor, the purpose of the role is to provide high-quality legal advice to clients generated from the Centre's Free Legal Helpline, Duty services, outreaches, and referrals. This role would ideally suit a graduate or junior solicitor with a keen interest in pursuing a career in Civil law with a desire to work in the community and NFP sector. The successful candidate will be mentored by the Civil Law team in providing advice to clients on a wide range of civil law issues and minor criminal matters . The majority of Hunter CLC’s client work will be via telephone advice with the aim of equipping clients to self-represent. The role will also require providing AVO duty services as required, legal assistance as part of outreach clinics, and Community Legal Education.

To be successful in the role the candidate needs to be able to communicate with a range of clients, many of whom come from disadvantaged backgrounds, may have a disability or behavioral issues, and are likely to be in distress. Our solicitors need to be comfortable explaining complex legal concepts in a way that’s easy for clients to understand. 

Hunter CLC's Solicitors are also expected to complete relevant periodic training to maintain professional competence and keep updated with changes in the law and Hunter CLC’s policies, systems, guidelines, and practices.

Community engagement and policy development are also important parts of the role.

ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Provide relevant, considered, independent, balanced and professional generalist law advice in a relatable manner.
• Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislation, case law and court procedures.
• Research, prepare and provide legal advice to facilitate client’s self-representation and on occasion provide ongoing representation and/or prepare briefs for counsel and attend to instructing counsel.
• Ensure all policies and practices are ethical and comply with the Hunter CLC’s policies and workplace health and safety legislation and promote the establishment of equal employment and access in accordance with agreed policy.
• Maintain all files in an orderly and professional manner, including the recording of all data for statistical purposes.
• Ensure the lawful achievement of Hunter CLC’s core objectives to the highest standards of probity and efficiency, and with due reference to the interests of all stakeholders.

YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

To be successful in this position you will need to demonstrate:

• A passion for social justice.
• Legal qualifications and a NSW Practicing Certificate (or be able to obtain one immediately).
• Up-to-date knowledge of general Law in NSW, including practice and procedure.
• Proven capacity to identify and understand legal issues facing socially and economically disadvantaged people in the Hunter region.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and time management skills.
• Computer literacy and capacity to generate legal correspondence.
• Current valid NSW Driver’s license and a willingness to drive their own comprehensively insured vehicle in metro and country locations, travel and stay overnight (strongly desirable).
• Experience in a CLC environment (is desirable but not essential).

Please click Apply Now to submit your application.

Please contact Hunter CLC if you have any questions 02 4040 9121 or email [email protected], using the subject line: Graduate / Junior Solicitor - Civil Law enquiry via EthicalJobs, but do not send applications to this email.