Solicitor, Professional Support Unit

About the role

The Law Society of New South Wales is currently looking for a full time permanent Solicitor to join our Professional Support Unit.

The Solicitor, Professional Support will assist NSW legal practitioners navigate Australia’s anti-money laundering and counter terrorism financing (AML/CTF) regime, as well as guide them on their ethical and other regulatory obligations under the Legal Profession Uniform Law and related legislation (the Uniform Law). You will work within the Professional Support Unit (PSU) to provide, among other things, specific guidance to practitioners on their obligations under AML/CTF legislation.

You will assist NSW legal practitioners with:

1. the management of their legal practice(s) to promote compliance with the Uniform Law and other relevant legislation.
2. strengthening their legal practice to minimise exposure to complaints and inadvertent breaches to relevant legislation, including the AML/CTF Act.
3. understanding their ethical obligations under the common law and the Uniform Law, including the Conduct and Practice Rules;
4. compliance with rules and legislation relating to costs.

While the Solicitor will focus on regulatory compliance matters, including any compliance requirements under anti-money laundering legislation, they will also be expected to work across all four areas of the PSU (namely AML/CTF, costs, ethics and regulatory compliance).

What you/'ll be doing

- Assist practitioners with regulatory, ethical and costs issues, including answering email and telephone enquiries.
- Create educational resources, including contributing regular articles, focussing on regulatory updates, cases and emerging regulatory and ethical issues for the Law Society’s various publications.
- Present continuing education seminars for the profession on issues in relation to regulatory compliance (including anti-money laundering). From time to time, you may also be required to present on issues and matters related to ethics, costs and general legal practice management.
- Review standards and requirements established for legal practices to promote compliance with the Uniform Law and other relevant legislation
- Manage the content of the Law Society’s web-based information services relating to regulatory compliance, ethics and costs.
- Provide secretariat support for the various committees managed by the PSU, including, in particular, the AML/CTF Reference Group, AML/CTF Compliance Officers Reference Group, and the Costs and Ethics Committees of the Law Society, as may be required.
- Undertake research on a range of matters relevant to regulatory compliance (including money laundering), ethics and costs to assist in the development of practical and educational resources for legal practitioners.
- Develop seminars and information resources to respond to emerging trends in relation to regulatory issues, including anti-money laundering and supports for new principals of legal practices.
- Liaise with other teams within the Law Society, including Licensing and Registry, Investigations, External Interventions and Access to Justice, to ensure guidance provided to practitioners is consistent across the Law Society.
- Liaise with other external stakeholder such as Lawcover and other regulators, particularly the Designated Local Regulatory Authorities, on wider policy issues to promote consistency, particularly among the Uniform jurisdictions.
- Assist the Team Leader, Professional Support Unit and Head of Regulatory Policy and Strategy with ad hoc project work and initiatives as required, particularly in relation to policy issues relating to the Uniform Law and other regulatory changes affecting the legal profession.
- Provide the Head of Regulatory Policy and Strategy and Director of Legal Regulation with legal advice from time to time as required, in the areas of regulatory compliance (including anti-money laundering), costs and ethics.

About you

- Tertiary qualifications in law and current practising certificate.
- Practice experience and a sound knowledge in regulatory compliance and anti-money laundering legislation or policy principles.
- Good public speaking skills.
- Experience with creating educational resources, such as presentation slides.
- Demonstrates a high level of professional and technical knowledge of the legislative procedures and the legal profession and regularly keeps abreast of recent developments in this area.
- Working knowledge of all relevant legislation.
- Familiarity with AML/CTF legislation and regulatory frameworks; Sound understanding of legal practice management (including costs or ethics) and compliance auditing and/or of Quality and ‘Best Practice’ management principles (based upon training or experience) or relevant practice experience (desirable).
- Demonstrated ability to provide effective, clear and concise communication.
- Ability to create a suite of educational resources, including articles, checklists, alerts, presentations and workshops
- Highly developed interpersonal, presentation and influencing skills.
- The ability to work as part of a small team of solicitors.
- Strong prioritising and organisational skills.
- Computer skills including word-processing, email and internet applications.
- Displays initiative.
- Displays a commitment to quality client service, values the supplying of accurate and timely information and relates to people from diverse backgrounds.

About the team

The Law Society of New South Wales has a statutory obligation to maintain and improve the professional standards of the legal profession in New South Wales. The PSU is one branch of the Society’s Legal Regulation Department and together with the Legal Services Commissioner fulfils this obligation through a number of key activities. The work of the Legal Regulation Department encompasses six major areas: complaints, prosecution, intervention, compliance and disclosure, education and support. The PSU provides confidential guidance and education to NSW legal practitioners on their ethical and regulatory obligations under the Uniform Law, and the AML/CTF Act. The aim of PSU is to help ensure solicitors are competent and supported to maintain high ethical and professional standards in their provision of legal services.

The Department and the Unit maintains close professional relationships with other professional bodies and regulatory agencies such as the Office of the Legal Services Commissioner.

To apply

The Law Society of New South Wales is committed to building and maintaining a respectful and inclusive workplace, appointing the best person for the role and supporting diversity.

Applications must contain a CV and cover letter that outlines your key experience and motivations for this role.

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