Knowmore is a nation-wide independent community legal centre providing free legal information, advice, representation and referrals, financial counselling, support and systemic advocacy for victims and survivors of child sexual abuse. Since 2022 our service has expanded to provide legal advice and financial counselling for people applying to the Territories Stolen Generations Redress Scheme, financial counselling for people applying to the Victorian Stolen Generations Reparations Package and free legal advice for survivors of child sexual abuse that are not eligible to apply to the National Redress Scheme. We continue to provide free legal advice, support and financial counselling in relation to the National Redress Scheme.

Knowmore uses a multidisciplinary model bringing together lawyers, intake officers, social workers and counsellors, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander engagement advisors and financial counsellors to provide trauma-informed, client-centred and culturally safe legal assistance to clients. Services are provided through a national phone line and face-to-face services in key locations, supported by a comprehensive program of outreach and community engagement across Australia. Knowmore currently has offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Darwin.

About the Role

The Senior Lawyer will provide high quality legal services to clients in a culturally safe and appropriate manner within a trauma informed and multi-disciplinary framework.

This role delivers front line legal services and casework assistance and reports directly to the Managing Lawyer in the relevant Knowmore office and assists that role in providing support, mentoring and professional supervision to other lawyers in the legal team.

The role works collaboratively as a member of the national legal team and within knowmore’s multi-disciplinary model, working alongside other teams delivering intake, social work and cultural support services to clients. At times the role will also work with other partner services to support clients.

The role will advise clients who are survivors of child sexual abuse about redress and compensation options, including redress claims under the National Redress Scheme, and acting for clients making such claims.

Senior Lawyers will manage a significant caseload, including more complex matters. Senior Lawyers will also contribute to Knowmore’s policy and law reform work and prepare and deliver community legal education and participate in other community engagement activities, working cooperatively and collaboratively with other staff and service providers.

Guided by the organisation’s service plan, the role will involve intrastate and interstate travel to deliver services to clients on an outreach basis, and to undertake community engagement activities. Accordingly, a current drivers’ licence is highly desirable, along with the ability and willingness to travel, including to remote and regional locations for up to a week at a time, and to work out of hours.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide high quality advice and representation to clients in relation to the legal issues arising from their experience of sexual abuse, including in relation to their redress options, undertaking a significant caseload and working with clients with complex needs.
• Support the Managing Lawyer to lead knowmore’s service delivery to clients in a local office and to work co-operatively with knowmore’s other teams to ensure clients’ legal and related needs are identified and actioned in an effective and consistent way and all timelines are met.
• Contribute as a professional member of a national legal practice; ensuring compliance by self and supervised legal staff with professional and corporate responsibilities including the rules and requirements of relevant legal profession legislation and the Community Legal Centre Risk Management Guide.
• Assist the Managing Lawyer in conducting regular file reviews and monitoring and contributing to the development and continuous improvement of service delivery standards, policies and precedents.
• Ensure all relevant service data is recorded.
• Support the development of effective working relationships and referral arrangements with other service providers.
• Undertake legal research and drafting to support knowmore’s contributions to law reform and policy and procedural initiatives relating to its client group, including through the identification of issues arising from practice.
• Assist in the preparation and delivery of community legal education and other engagement activities and materials, working cooperatively and collaboratively with non-legal service providers and other staff and external partners to raise awareness and provide information about knowmore’s services and common issues facing the client group.
• Assist in the day-to-day supervision and coordination of the activities of volunteers and pro bono providers.
• Proactively manage own self-care and workload, and model a commitment to self-care and resilience.
• Act as the Managing Lawyer when required from time to time.
• Undertake other duties and projects as directed.

KNOWMORE’S APPROACH:

Our Lawyers work closely with our Social Workers and Counsellors, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Engagement Advisers and Financial Counsellors to ensure our clients needs are met. You can confidently focus on providing trauma-informed legal services knowing that these other teams are providing these additional support and advice. Our work is underpinned by our values of respect, teamwork, courage, integrity and innovation.

WHAT WE OFFER:

We know that in working with people who have experienced trauma it is important that our workplaces and employment conditions are also trauma informed.

Our workplaces provide time out spaces for our people to take a break and re-charge. There are couches, puzzles and always food!

We provide the following benefits:

• General leave entitlements, with shut down between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day without deduction from your annual leave
• 17.5% leave loading on annual leave
• Not-for-Profit salary packaging options through our provider including general expense, parking, novated lease, and meals and entertainment programs
• Flexible working arrangements, including hybrid arrangements of 2 days working from home, pro-rated for part time (following a qualifying period during probation and assessment of the home office environment)
• Access to paid regular external supervision, in addition to regular work supervision
• Generous professional training and development opportunities in addition to our core training requirements
• Access to EAP
• Additional 0.5% superannuation on top of the guaranteed rate

WHAT OUR STAFF SAY ABOUT US:

“Knowmore has the benefits of working at a community legal centre without the downside of low funding/lack of resources/lack of processes or minimal administrative support. You're able to engage in very meaningful work for very vulnerable clients you have direct regular contact with. Despite the focus of legal work being narrow compared to other CLC's that advise on a breadth of legal issues, there is a surprising amount of variability within advising and representing clients who participate in the scheme.”

“Highly supportive, safe, collegial and relaxed environment”

“No billable hours”

“No overtime or unpaid work/great work life balance”

“Being a lawyer without the chronic stress that typically comes with being a lawyer”

“The strength and resilience of our clients is incredibly empowering. I am grateful every day for the opportunity to support them on their healing journey and advocate for justice.”

“Meaningful, dynamic, supportive”

“The work we do has real and meaningful purpose and impacts. It is very rewarding as a lawyer to work towards a bigger goal, that is not financial in motive. Hearing feedback that we have made a positive change in a client’s life, even a small change, is very fulfilling.”

“The legal team is extremely supportive and working in a multidisciplinary team is invaluable.”

“The work done at knowmore is fulfilling in the sense that you know at the end of the day, all your hours and energy are going into making just that little bit of positive difference in someone's life. This is made even better from the workplace culture which prioritises mental wellbeing.”

“I think the flexibility that is offered at knowmore in terms of remote work and flex is second to none and a huge draw/retention factor”

Your application must include a cover letter outlining why you are applying for this position and a resume outlining your skills, experience and qualifications.

All of our staff are required to undergo a National Police Records Check prior to employment and have an employment Working with Children Check.

We strongly encourage applications from people with lived experience of diversity to apply. This includes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people from multicultural backgrounds, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and individuals with diverse abilities and experiences. Your unique perspective is valued here.

How to Apply

Further Information about Knowmore is available at knowmore.org.au.

If this sounds like an opportunity you would be interested, please click the "Apply Now" button.

Your application must include:

A cover letter outlining why you are applying for this position and your responses to the key selection criteria (maximum of four pages)

A resume with your skills, experience and qualificationsThere is no application closing date but interviews may be conducted as applications are received.

The role will be required to satisfactorily complete a National Police Records Check and Working with Children

Due to the volume of anticipated applications, only successful applicants will be contacted. Interviews will be conducted as applications are received.

Agencies please note: This recruitment assignment is being managed directly by Knowmore. We do not require extra assistance at this time

MEET AUNTY GLENDRA

Aunty Glendra Stubbs is a Wiradjuri woman and an Elder in Residence at Knowmore. She has been supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients since Knowmore began in 2013. In this video, Aunty Glendra shares her story about working at Knowmore and supporting her clients on their journey.

See the video below.