• Seeking a Paralegal - UMSU Legal Service

• Providing assistance to students seeking legal help from the UMSU Legal Service
• Challenging and rewarding role in student legal work
• Excellent staff benefits

About UMSU

The University of Melbourne Student Union Inc (UMSU) is a dynamic, for-purpose incorporated association, serving as the representative body for all students at the University of Melbourne. Structured around student control of student affairs, UMSU is governed by an elected Students’ Council and twelve committees, chosen by and from the student body.

Located in the heart of the University of Melbourne’s award-winning student precinct, UMSU is a vibrant, creative, and diverse social justice organisation committed to representing and supporting University of Melbourne students. Our offerings include an arts and culture program for emerging student artists in a state-of-the-art theatre, a professional art gallery, and the iconic Rowden White Library. We host events co-designed by students supported by professional staff, and publish multiple student-led publications, including Farrago. Beyond that, UMSU runs a food relief program, oversees volunteer programs, and supports over 200 affiliated student clubs.

Our commitment extends beyond engagement to essential support services, including a food relief program, volunteer opportunities, and a free legal and advocacy service for students. Each of our dedicated student departments, committees, and collectives play a pivotal role in shaping the university experience.

UMSU's overarching goal is to enhance student life at the University of Melbourne. We achieve this by elevating and representing student voices through purposeful engagement and advocacy, offering exceptional programs, services, and opportunities that promote inclusivity and accessibility.

About the Division

The Advocacy & Legal Division encompasses a co-located Community Legal Centre and Student Advocacy Service available to all students of the University of Melbourne.

The UMSU Legal Service is a nationally-accredited community legal centre that provides free and confidential legal help and financial counselling to current University of Melbourne students.

The legal service is staffed by qualified lawyers, and provides assistance on various legal issues, including:

• Renting
• Employment law
• Fines / infringements
• Minor criminal law
• Consumer law
• Car and bike accidents
• Family violence / personal safety
• Discrimination
• Sexual harassment
• Debts

About the role

We are looking for suitably skilled staff (law students, or those with a legal background) to support the delivery of legal and financial counselling assistance by the UMSU Legal Service to students of the University of Melbourne.

The role will commence as soon as possible, on an ongoing basis at 0.6 FTE.

Hybrid flexible working arrangements are available for this role, subject to the needs of the organisation. The UMSU Legal Service offices are located on the University of Melbourne campus in Parkville.

Key responsibilities of the role

Under the supervision of the Principal Lawyer/s:

• Contact clients to assess their legal and financial counselling issues and their eligibility for assistance from the Legal Service.
• Proactively identify issues and appropriate solutions for clients.
• Support with the day-to-day case management of the Legal Service.
• Respond to email advice enquiries using template emails and letters as guided by the Supervising Lawyer/Principal Lawyer.
• Maintain high quality client data and file management in our practice management system and support with administrative tasks as required.
• Running service reports and monitoring service evaluation survey requests, to produce reliable and comprehensive data for reporting purposes.
• Assist with service-specific projects as required (e.g. advocacy and law reform initiatives, developing and delivering community legal information).
• Any other duties that may be required to meet the needs of the Legal Service.

About you

To succeed in this position, you will have:

• Completed or be undertaking a tertiary qualification in law (at least third year) or a relevant field, or at least two years’ experience working in the coordination of support services or delivering paralegal services.

• High-level written and oral communication skills.
• Skills and experience in communicating with young people and vulnerable clients.
• Project management and/or project coordination experience.
• Capacity to take initiative, problem solve and manage competing priorities.
• Demonstrated relationship management skills and ability to work effectively with a range of stakeholders (both internally and externally).
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

In return we offer

• Five weeks annual leave (pro-rata) with 17.5% leave loading.
• 12% employer contribution superannuation.
• Salary packaging options.
• A balanced organisational approach to working remotely and in the office.
• A picturesque and engaging office location on a diverse and centrally-located university campus

This is a part-time (0.6 FTE / 21 hours per week) continuing position with a base salary of $77,565.79 per annum (pro-rata) plus 12% superannuation.

All applicants require:

• A valid Employee Working with Children Check
• A National Police Check
• Verification of unrestricted work rights in Australia, for example, citizenship, passport or birth certificate
• Certified copies of qualifications
• To be available to work on campus as required

First Nations people, women, people of all ages, with disabilities and culturally and linguistically diverse people across all gender spectrums are strongly encouraged to apply.

UMSU is a child safe organisation where we value diversity, embrace difference, and nurture a connected, safe, and respectful community. UMSU is a proud member of the Australian Network for Disability. We are committed to creating and maintaining a diverse, inclusive, and safe volunteer and work environment.

UMSU acknowledges the Wurundjeri people as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands on which we work and pay our respects to Indigenous Elders past, present and emerging. Sovereignty has never been ceded. It always was and always will be, Aboriginal land.

A position description is attached.