ABOUT RAILS

The Refugee and Immigration Legal Service (RAILS) is a community legal centre based in South Brisbane. For over 40 years, RAILS has provided free legal assistance and education in immigration and refugee law to people in Queensland.

RAILS assists some of the most vulnerable people in our community, predominantly refugees, asylum seekers and people who have experienced family violence. RAILS strives to empower them and help them find and remain in safety.

RAILS is a member of Community Legal Centres Australia and is registered as a Charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for Profit Commission.

ABOUT THE POSITION

• Job Title: Senior Solicitor (unrestricted practicing certificate required, post admission experience five years plus preferred)
• Hours: Full-time preferred, 4 or 4.5 days/week considered
• Salary: Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award, Level 6: From $102,504 plus additional 11% superannuation
• Responsible to: Legal Practice Director
• Direct reports: up to 4 FTE lawyers (SCHADS 4-6), paralegals, legal volunteers, law students
• Work arrangements: in person from RAILS office in South Brisbane. WFH for part of the working week is an option

RAILS is seeking 3 senior solicitors on their unrestricted practicing certificates.

Immigration law experience is preferred with in-depth knowledge and experience representing clients in the following areas highly desirable:

• Family violence provisions in the Migration Regulations (Department and Tribunal level)

• Onshore protection (Department and Tribunal level) including complex matters; and

• Judicial review of Migration and Refugee matters.

RAILS’ requires a dedicated, flexible and positive professional who enjoys providing high quality legal services to migrants, refugees and asylum seekers and who is able to effectively communicate with people who are culturally and linguistically diverse and who experience several layers of disadvantage.

Reporting to a Legal Practice Director, a Senior Solicitor is responsible for providing legal advice and representation to clients in at least one of the listed core areas as well as supervising up to 4 FTE lawyers as a Nominated Person.

This role is of fundamental importance to the delivery of excellent legal services by RAILS and contributes to positively changing clients’ lives.

REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS

• An attractive remuneration package from $102,504.00 with an additional 11% superannuation;
• Flexible working arrangements;
• Generous leave entitlements (paid parental leave, cultural and special leave provisions; portable long service leave) including additional paid leave over end of year shut down; and
• Attractive no cost salary sacrifice options.

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

RAILS is committed to being a culturally safe and inclusive organisation and has policies in place to create and maintain appropriate work practices and a respectful work environment. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and otherwise culturally and linguistically diverse people are encouraged to apply for this role.

Please let us know if you would like us to share our Cultural Safety for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People Policy with you before applying for this role by emailing [email protected] using the subject line: Senior Immigration Solicitors enquiry via EthicalJobs, with Attention Susan Hogarth: Senior Solicitor position in the subject line.

If you are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander or otherwise culturally and linguistically diverse and would like to speak to us about the role requirements and your application before applying, please email [email protected] with Attention Susan Hogarth: Senior solicitor position in the subject field.

This recruitment process is strictly confidential and information about your application will not be shared with anyone outside of the organisation.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Mandatory pre-requisites:

• Current Queensland unrestricted practising certificate;
• Significant experience in, and understanding of, delivering immigration and refugee legal services in the legal assistance sector including to people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities;
• Strong verbal and written communication skills;
• Developed knowledge and understanding of the community legal assistance sector, the wider community and the socio-political environment in which RAILS operates.

Essential criteria:

• Demonstrated, high-level knowledge and experience in the law, policy and practice relating to one or more of the following practice areas:
  • Protection visas (Department and/or Tribunal)
  • Protection visas (Judicial Review)
  • Family Violence (Family violence provisions in the Migration Regulations-Department and Tribunal)
  • Refugee Family Reunion
  • Visa Cancellation
• Demonstrated commitment to the mission and values of RAILS;
• Demonstrated supervision and people management skills including in managing and developing performance of more junior solicitors and paralegals as well as in ensuring that staff are and feel valued and supported in relation to their work (which can be both legally challenging and emotionally complex);
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and constructively with colleagues, including through times of change and uncertainty;
• Personal resilience, adaptability and ability to meet the challenges of the legal assistance sector including frequent change and uncertainty;
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain effective relationships with RAILS’ pro bono partners and other stakeholders.

Desirable criteria:

• Demonstrated experience and knowledge of funding and reporting requirements in the legal assistance sector, and
• 5 years post qualification experience in immigration and refugee law

Any questions about this position should be directed to [email protected] including Attention Susan Hogarth: Senior solicitor position in the subject line. Susan Hogarth, Legal Practice Director (Protection), will be the contact person and will be available to discuss further details about these positions as required.

A position description is attached.