ABOUT Lawright | Homelessness law

LawRight’s Community & Health Justice Partnerships | Homelessness Law implements a best-practice, outreach-based, trauma-informed assistance model to address legal issues pushing people into homelessness.

Recognising the benefits of integrated, holistic legal assistance, our staff lawyers are fully embedded in 8 frontline homelessness, community, and health agencies in both Brisbane and Cairns. Staff work collaboratively with frontline workers, healthcare professionals, and pro bono lawyers to resolve legal issues connected to a person’s housing, health, money, and experience of violence.

We scale the impact of our frontline, client centred work by advocating for better laws and policies through targeted projects.

ABOUT THE ROLE

This role will support the coordination and management of Homelessness Law’s Stable Futures for Young Queenslanders project, which includes our Health Justice Partnerships at Brisbane Youth Service and the Mater Young Adult Health Centre. Stable Futures collaboratively addresses legal issues pushing children and young people into homelessness, including consumer credit and debt disputes, access to victim support, fines and infringement matters, and housing and tenancy concerns.

The Paralegal will work closely with Senior Lawyer, Kate Adnams, who leads our work supporting young people avoid homelessness.

Key Duties

• Support the successful implementation of Homelessness Law's Stable Futures project, including by:
  • Undertaking general administrative duties to support LawRight and Homelessness Law operations, including answering phones and responding to enquiries from prospective clients, community support workers, volunteer lawyers and other stakeholders.
  • Undertaking legal research, attend client appointments, and complete file work to support the Senior Lawyer responsible for Stable Futures.
  • Attending Brisbane Youth Service and Mater Young Adult Health Centre to support the Senior Lawyer or pro bono lawyers during client appointments.
  • Maintaining client and service records, including by running conflict checks, managing client records, filing, maintaining client database and casework spreadsheets, and file review processes.
  • Developing general knowledge of Homelessness Law's areas of law.
  • Support the Senior Lawyer to develop and maintain legal precedents and other resources.
  • Assisting as required in systemic advocacy, law reform, stakeholder engagement and community legal education projects, events, and promotions.
  • Assisting with the coordination and training of pro bono lawyers, student volunteers and non-legal frontline workers.
  • Attend LawRight staff meetings and training as directed.
  • Participate in the general activities of LawRight and assist with the general running of LawRight offices, including with incoming telephone calls, emails, and correspondence.
  • Undertake other tasks as requested.

The paralegal role is suitable for a law student or experienced paralegal.

SKILLS AND CAPABILITIES

• Experience working in a legal service that assists marginalised clients, with the delivery of services in an outreach location an advantage.
• Knowledge of the legal issues faced by people experiencing vulnerability and disadvantage, with an understanding of the issues impacting homelessness.
• High level spoken and written communication skills.
• High level organisational and computer skills.

REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS

• $77,485 per annum, plus super and attractive salary packaging options ($46,491per annum at 0.6 FTE)
• 5 weeks of annual leave per annum plus leave loading as well as additional paid leave during the Christmas closure
• Part-time staff work a 7.25 hour days and we offer flexible working arrangements with the ability to work from home on agreed days

Questions about the role and applications can be directed to [email protected] using the subject line: Paralegal- Community & Health Justice Partnerships - Homelessness Law enquiry via EthicalJobs.

A position description is attached.

LawRight encourages First Nations applicants, people from diverse backgrounds, and people with disabilities to apply and seeks to be an inclusive and welcoming employer.