About LawRight | Court and Tribunal Services

LawRight uses strategic pro bono to deliver free assistance in civil law matters to people in Queensland who cannot afford legal help. LawRight’s Court and Tribunal Services (CTS) is a statewide service that assists vulnerable individuals are involved in:

• Enforcement hearings in the Brisbane Magistrates Court;

• Civil proceedings in the District Court, Supreme Court, and Court of Appeal;

• Civil proceedings in the Federal Court and Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia; and

• Civil proceedings in the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal

LawRight’s CTS coordinates pro bono resources to provide unbundled legal assistance, pro bono referrals and mediations, and representation in selected matters.

The State Courts office assists self-represented litigants in civil matters in the Queensland District Court, Supreme Court and Court of Appeal.

The Enforcement Hearing Duty Lawyer service gives advice to and represents debtors at enforcement hearings in the Brisbane Magistrates Court. This service runs on the first and third Wednesday of every month.

About the Role

We are recruiting for a paralegal to support the Enforcement Hearing Duty Lawyer service and the State Courts office on a part-time basis (4 days per week).

The paralegal will work closely with Melinda Willis, who supervises the Enforcement Hearing Duty Lawyer service, and Natalie Morris, the Senior Lawyer of the State Courts office.

This role is suitable for an experienced paralegal, a penultimate- or final-year law student, or a law graduate currently completing Practical Legal Training.

Key Duties

The key duties of the role include:

• Undertaking general reception and administrative duties including day-to-day management of the CTS office.
• Assisting with answering of telephones, including responding to and managing general enquiries and enquiries from prospective clients, volunteer lawyers and other stakeholders.
• Assisting potential clients to complete the intake process including the LawRight application form (if required) and provide necessary documents.
• Undertaking an initial assessment of the eligibility of applicants for assistance.
• Making appointments for clients and liaise with CTS solicitors and volunteer solicitors and barristers as necessary to ensure conflict checks are undertaken and all documents and materials are briefed to the solicitors in a timely manner each week.
• Opening, maintaining and closing client files, and maintaining the client database, with general direction from the supervising Lawyer, Senior Lawyer and CTS Director.
• Developing and maintaining knowledge on the processes and procedures of the jurisdictions in which the CTS office operates, and provide this information to clients and potential clients under the supervision of the CTS solicitors.
• Assisting with legal research and the drafting of correspondence and briefs to volunteer solicitors and barristers as requested.
• Assisting CTS solicitors to manage, operate and otherwise run programs connected to the CTS office, including student programs and duty lawyer schemes.
• Assisting CTS solicitors to organise volunteer support, including liaising with partner law firms and preparing rosters for volunteer solicitors and barristers.
• Assisting with the development and maintenance of legal and other resources for the CTS office under the supervision of the CTS solicitors, including maintaining LawRight’s webpage.
• Assisting with the preparation of training, promotional, and law and policy reform materials.
• Participating in the general activities of LawRight and assist with the general running of the LawRight office.
• Undertaking other tasks as requested.

The paralegal will specifically be required to support the management and operation of the Enforcement Hearing Duty Lawyer service, including by:

• Attending Enforcement Hearings at the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Wednesday mornings to manage client intake, assist volunteer barristers, supervise volunteer students and take file notes;
• Assisting CTS lawyers to draft correspondence to clients;
• Coordinating and managing the volunteer barrister roster;
• Assisting CTS lawyers to recruit and train volunteer students and barristers;
• Maintaining client and service records, including by running conflict checks, managing client records, filing, maintaining the client database and casework spreadsheets, and file review processes; and
• Undertaking other tasks as required.

A full position description is attached.

Skills and Capabilities

• High level spoken and written communication skills
• High level organisational and computer skills
• Experience working in a legal office
• Client/customer service experience, with experience working with marginalised or disadvantaged individuals an advantage
• Knowledge of the legal issues faced by self-represented litigants and people experiencing vulnerability and disadvantage.
• Must be available on Wednesdays.

Remuneration and Benefits

• $83,092 per annum, plus super and attractive salary packaging options ($66,474 per annum at 0.8 FTE)
• 5 weeks of annual leave per annum plus leave loading as well as additional paid leave during the Christmas closure
• Staff work 7.25-hour days and we offer flexible working arrangements with the ability to work from home on agreed days
• Term: Contract to 30 June 2025, with view to extension subject to funding.

Next steps

Click Apply Now to submit your application. 

Any questions about the role can be directed to Melinda Willis, Lawyer, LawRight ([email protected] using the subject line: Paralegal - Enforcement Hearing Duty Lawyer Service enquiry via EthicalJobs).

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