An exciting opportunity has arisen to join one of Australia’s most successful public interest and social justice organisations. In the face of rising levels of unmet legal need, Justice Connect designs and delivers high impact interventions to increase access to legal support and progress social justice. 

Role purpose

Extend the reach of Justice Connect’s Seniors Law services into the Murrumbidgee Local Health District, to support older people identified as experiencing or at risk of elder abuse. Lead and deliver an engagement strategy, provision of direct legal assistance and building capacity of health staff to respond to elder abuse. Further Justice Connect’s multi-channel approach to delivering legal help, including trialling the use of telelaw to deliver elder abuse legal services across all health partner local health districts. Work closely with health teams, local community support organisations, older clients, pro bono firms and evaluators to deliver improved legal and health outcomes for older people experiencing or at risk of abuse.

Key responsibilities 

• Develop and deliver an engagement strategy to reach more older people from the MLHD who may be at risk of or experiencing elder abuse, with support from the Projects Manager.
• Develop strategies to be visible—specifically within the health services and to engage with health professionals, such as attending case conference meetings with multi-disciplinary teams, aimed at supporting staff to identify potential legal issues and appropriate referral pathways.
• Conduct intensive legal triage with clients experiencing, or at risk of, elder abuse and other legal issues associated with ageing both at the MLHD and through Sydney-based HJPs.
• Continue to develop Justice Connect’s telelaw program and deliver telelaw services where appropriate considering the needs and circumstances of the client.
• Provide targeted legal advice and discrete casework on-site at all NSW health services as required — as well as at outreach locations in the community — and appropriate information, referrals and resources for older people.
• Oversee referrals to pro bono firms, including providing guidance to pro bono lawyers and responding to clients.
• Provide secondary consultations on a range of legal issues to build capacity and assist developing strong relationships with health professionals
• Escalate risk and legal practice management issues to the Manager.
• Identify casework trends and systemic problems impacting on older people and engage in various initiatives — including projects, law reform and advocacy activities — to address these problems.
• Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with key stakeholders, in particular, health professionals, pro bono lawyers, evaluators, other community services, networks and funders.
• Develop resources and deliver education promoting the legal rights of older people tailored for health professionals, pro bono lawyers and community members.
• Collect data to assist with monitoring and evaluation.
• Participate in working groups and committees focused on the legal rights of older people.
• Actively participate in promotion activities, including by representing Justice Connect in a range of public forums, delivering presentations and contributing to internal and external publications.
• Assist with the governance, fundraising, reporting and evaluation requirements of the program including reports for the Justice Connect Board and funders.
• Together with other Managers and Heads, help to ensure that Justice Connect promotes staff wellbeing, diversity, cultural competency and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Peoples’ right to self-determination.
• Contribute to program and organisation-wide projects
• Contributing to Justice Connect’s Reconciliation Action Plan activities.
• Assist with program evaluation
• Perform other duties as directed and necessary to the proper performance of the role.

Selection criteria 

Qualifications

• Admitted or eligible for admission as a legal practitioner in NSW and hold an unrestricted practising certificate  
• Ideally, a holder of a NSW driver’s licence

Experience

• Two years’ post admission legal practice experience, with a demonstrated understanding of areas of law arising in the context of elder abuse and issues associated with ageing
• Experience working, volunteering or participating in the community sector
• Experience in stakeholder engagement, community development and project management desirable
• The following areas of expertise and skills considered an advantage: elder abuse; family violence; health justice partnerships; advocacy; project management

Knowledge, skills & attributes

• An interest in issues affecting older people, and sound knowledge of legal issues that commonly arise in the context of ageing and family violence
• Sound understanding of legal professional obligations while working remotely in a non-legal setting and a demonstrated ability to comply with these obligations
• High levels of motivation, drive, flexibility and a commitment to deliver a client-centred service
• High level of communication and negotiation skills with a demonstrated ability to use those skills to build relationships with diverse stakeholders and clients
• Public speaking skills to present at conferences and deliver professional development and community education
• Excellent legal research skills and ability to give accurate and practical advice
• Demonstrated ability to work independently as well as collaboratively within multi-disciplinary teams
• Strong attention to detail and organisational skills
• Demonstrated ability to stay focussed under pressure and appropriately prioritise competing demands
• Sound computer skills within a legal practice environment

Employee benefits

Justice Connect offers employment benefits including salary packaging (making part of your salary tax-free), flexible working arrangements, above award annual leave provisions and opportunities for professional development. Justice Connect is an organisation that strives to show leadership, operate sustainably and demonstrate our effectiveness. You will be rewarded with a workplace culture that is professional, committed, collaborative and creative and where you can make a real difference through your work.

Important information

For further information about Justice Connect and its work please visit www.justiceconnect.org.au or contact Lee Archer, Manager – Projects,  Seniors Law, 0432 469 959 [email protected] using the subject line: Lawyer - Seniors Law NSW enquiry via EthicalJobs.

We know our team and our organisation is stronger with a diversity of backgrounds and experience, including lived experience of the issues we work on. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people of colour, people from culturally and linguistically diverse and refugee backgrounds, people with diverse religious beliefs, gender diverse people, LGBTIQ+ people and people living with a disability are strongly encouraged to apply.

Interviews for the position will most likely be held on in the following week.