Community Lawyer

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Introduction:

The Community Lawyer, Youth will work within the Centre's Crime & Civil legal team to provide high quality and timely legal services on a range of legal issues to young people including secondary school students across the Centre's catchment.

Community Lawyer, Youth (4 days per week) 18-month contract

The Community Lawyer, Youth will provide legal services, including information, advice, minor assistance, casework, representation and referral services along with intake and casework services in youth specific venues as well as in secondary schools as part of our School Lawyer Project.

The School Lawyer Project aims to overcome barriers students face in accessing legal services and build a better understanding of legal rights responsibilities and the legal system. A key role of the position will be improving legal literacy within the school populations and youth agencies conducting community legal education to students, staff, young people and families on a range of social and legal issues.

Organisational Context

Peninsula Community Legal Centre (PCLC) is one of 49 community legal centres in Victoria. It operates across six local government area in the south east of Melbourne - Cardinia, Casey, Frankston, Glen Eira, Kingston and Mornington Peninsula. PCLC is headquartered in Frankston and has branch offices in Bentleigh, Cranbourne and Rosebud.

PCLC works to empower and support disadvantaged community members of the South Eastern and Westernport region to use the law and legal system to protect and advance their rights and broaden their awareness of their responsibilities. PCLC offers general legal advice and casework services, specialist family law, tenancy, family violence, rooming house and social work programs, and is active in community legal education and law reform work.

Description:

Position Duties

• Deliver high quality legal advice and casework, advocacy and representation services in accordance with the PCLC Advice and Casework Guidelines.
• Conduct ongoing casework in accordance with the Centre's Advice and Casework Guidelines and within the caseload/file limit directed from time to time
• Work closely and collaboratively with the school leadership and student welfare team to deliver the School Lawyer Program objectives.
• Maintain an appropriate case management system, including undertaking regular file reviews
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records, including file notes, client and casework data and case studies.
• Develop and maintain up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislation, procedures and practices relevant to the position.
• Develop and maintain up-to-date knowledge of relevant information, resources and referral options for clients.
• Needs to be confident in effectively engaging and communicating with young people within the school and/or youth services environment.
• Liaise with community youth sector partners within an integrated and holistic service delivery model
• Participate in regular supervision and caseworkers' meetings.
• Ensure that all work is conducted within the requirements of the Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Act 2014, the Centre's professional indemnity insurance and the Centre's policies and procedures.
• Liaise with relevant organisations and workers.
• Represent Peninsula Community Legal Centre at relevant community, government and other forums.
• Design and deliver community legal education activities targeted to young people including secondary school students.
• Identify trends and issues arising from legal advice and casework practice.
• Participate in activities which seek to ensure greater legislative and practical protection for PCLC clients, such as submission writing and participation in campaigns.
• Liaise with and report to the Practice Manager, Civil & Crime on a regular basis.
• Assist with collection of data and preparation of reports and other accountability documentation as required.
  
  

Organisational Relationships & Resource Management

Reports to: Practice Manager

Director, Legal Services

CEO

Direct Reports: No reports to this position

Accountability, Authority and Decision Making

• The position reports directly to the Practice Manager.
• All work and conduct is to be performed in accordance with PCLC Policy and Procedures, PCLC Strategic Plan, PCLC Work Plan and PCLC Advice and Casework Guidelines.
• Professional judgement is exercised in the performance of routine tasks and client services.
• Direction is sought prior to engaging in non-routine tasks and client services.
  
  

Selection Criteria

• Possess, or is eligible to possess, a current practicing certificate with two years post admission practice.
• Experience in, or demonstrated capacity to undertake direct legal service delivery, including provision of information, advice and referral services, negotiation and advocacy on behalf of clients, court representation and other legal settings.
• Experience working with young people favourable.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and commitment to social justice principles, understanding of the legal assistance sector and a commitment to PCLC's vision and values.
• Highly developed advocacy skills
• Experience in court representation
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Well -developed organisational skills and ability to work with minimal supervision.
• Competency in using word processing and electronic communication programs.
• Holds a current Victorian Driver's Licence and has access to a reliable and comprehensively insured vehicle.
  
  

Other Relevant Information

• You will be required to travel to PCLC branches, PCLC service locations and Courts. Access to a reliable and comprehensively insured motor vehicle is a requirement.
• Ensure compliance with all Privacy Legislation and treat all information of a personal and sensitive nature concerning the business of PCLC and its clients, in a professional and confidential manner in accordance with PCLC's information and records management procedures.
• Ensure that all PCLC policies, procedures, operational systems, and work practices are implemented and adhered to, with a focus on human resource management, risk management and client service.
• Act in a professional manner while performing duties for and/or representing PCLC in line with the Staff Code of Conduct.
• An attractive remuneration package will be negotiated with the successful applicant. Salary packaging is available.
  
  

PCLC Vision and Values

Vision

A fair and just society where all people have equal access to the law.

Values

Compassion

Empowerment

Integrity

Engagement

Social Justice

In it together

fairness equity respect

quality driven

being community driven

empowering compassionate relationships

Mission

To work with community to deliver tailored legal services that support vulnerable and disadvantaged community members to address their legal needs, through working towards fairer outcomes, to advocate for fair and just laws and through working with our community to deliver preventative legal education.

Focus Goals Activities

• We proudly deliver ethical community legal services ensuring equity and justice for our communities.
• We lead in social justice and advocacy to promote and enhance human rights ensuring access to justice.
• We are the employer of choice in the legal assistance sector.
• We collaborate with community and partners to set the standard for best practice in addressing complex high impact and urgent legal practices.
• We demonstrate leadership within our community and the legal assistance sector.
  
  

Key Strategic Objectives

• Deliver high quality targeted place-based legal services underpinned by a person-centred rights base approach.
• Identify and engage in advocacy for law reforms that have direct benefit to PCLC clients and communities.
• Invest in organisational culture built around the health and wellbeing of our people.
• Partner with community sector and health organisations to address unmet, health-harming legal needs and effect system improvements.
• Build and maintain a strong profile amongst community and the legal assistance sector.
  
  

PCLC acknowledges the traditional Aboriginal owners of country, recognises their continuing connection to land, water and community and pays respect to Elders past and present.

Skills and Experiences:

Application Process

Applications for this role are via the PCLC careers portal located at https://pclc.org.au/careers/

If you are viewing through Seek or Indeed - please click 'Apply' to be taken to the PCLC careers portal.

For more information, please contact the CEO on (03) 9783 3600.

PCLC is committed to creating a diverse and safe environment. We are proud to be an equal opportunity and Child Safe employer. PCLC is committed to building a culture that values diversity and promotes a workplace that welcomes and includes the unique contributions of all people. We encourage applications from individuals of all ages, backgrounds and identities, particularly applicants who identify as being Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, are culturally diverse and or LGBTQIA+. PCLC undertakes a variety of employment screening checks. This includes employment references, Working with Children Checks and Criminal History Checks.Seniority level

• Seniority levelEntry level

Employment type

• Employment typeFull-time

Job function

• Job functionLegal
• IndustriesLegal Services

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