First Step Legal Practice Administrator

42 Carlisle St, St Kilda, Vic. 3182
Phone (03) 9537 3177
Fax (03) 9537 0133
The First Step Program Ltd
ABN 51 093 661 995

**Posi%on Descrip%on**
**Posi%on details**

**The Organisa%on**
**First Step Legal (FSL) operates as a Health Jus3ce Partnership (HJP) within First Step, a not for profit**
mental health and addic3on clinic in St Kilda. FSL is a unique Community Legal Centre providing pro
bono, legal advice and representa3on to among the most marginalised in the community. Whist FSL is
embedded within First Step, FSL operates within three addi3onal offsite health jus3ce partnerships
- Windana Therapeu3c Community, Star Health (FV Team) and Alfred Health (St Kilda Road Clinic).

FSL prac3ces predominantly in criminal law, family law and family violence maNers. Assistance is also
provided with infringement, debt, VOCAT and other maNers on an ad hoc basis. FSL comprises a small,
recently expanded team comprising Director of Legal Services, Prac3ce Manager, Principal Lawyer,
criminal lawyer, family lawyers, a legal case manager, legal administrator, social worker and several
volunteer paralegals.

FSL’s vision is to increase access to jus3ce for clients struggling with mental health and addic3on issues, to
enable them to access supports to rebuild and improve their lives and to achieve legal and court
outcomes suppor3ve of their con3nued recovery and rehabilita3on in the community. FSL also works to
champion HJPs and therapeu3c, compassionate legal prac3ce via law reform and advocacy opportuni3es.

**Posi0on Title**:FSL Prac3ce Administrator

**Purpose**:The Prac3ce Administrator role will provide high level prac3ce administra3on for
the First Step Legal Team within a unique Health Jus3ce Partnership (HJP),
including embedding effec3ve Ac#on Step systems for Triage, Case Prac3ce, Audit
and Data Extrac3on) and other ac3vi3es to support our Mul3-site HJP evalua3on
and accredita3on to help ensure that First Step Legal (FSL) achieves its purpose,
vision and strategic priori3es to provide excep3onal service delivery to vulnerable
and marginalised individuals.

**Classifica0on**:SCHADS Award, Level 4.2

**Reports to**:FSL Prac3ce Manager

**Loca0on**:St Kilda with WFH or outreach loca3ons as agreed or per any COVID19
requirements

funding

**Hours**:Flexible part-3me 0.6 FTE (22.8 hrs per/week)

**Proba0onary period**:A six-month proba3onary period applies

FSL aims to embody a methodology of prac3ce which values:

- Delivering excellence in the provision of our legal services to clients within a framework of

compassionate legal prac3ce
- Ensuring clients are well-informed about the process and conduct of their legal maNers
- Assis3ng clients who are genuinely engaged or wan3ng to be engaged in treatment, recovery and
- therapeu3c interven3ons that will support their ongoing wellbeing
- Giving clients agency in decisions regarding their treatment that best support them and their needs
- Working hard to achieve legal outcomes that will support ongoing recovery and rehabilita3on.

**Funding Sources**
FSL receives funding from a variety of sources including philanthropic, corporate, government and quasi
- government sources. This includes Victorian Legal Services Board (VLSB) project funding and more
recently, 3 year Community Legal Services Program (CSLP) funding, administered through Victoria Legal
Aid.

**The Role in Context**
You will provide high level Prac3ce Administra3on support for FSL including in rela3on to all four health
jus3ce partnerships which are designed to enable FSL to directly help clients with legal issues in various
seengs, suppor3ng them to rebuild and restore their lives. Addi3onally, FSL is currently undertaking an
HJP Evalua3on in conjunc3on with Melbourne University as well as transi3oning to _Ac#on Step_, a new
document management system and ensure compliance with new CLSP funding grant guidelines.

Work will be conducted in line with any COVID-19 restric3ons and safety.

**Key Responsibili%es**

**Key Responsibility Areas**

**Prac0ce Administra0on**:

- The Prac3ce Administrator role will provide high level prac3ce administra3on for the First Step Legal

Team within a unique Health Jus3ce Partnership (HJP), including:

- Establishing _Ac#onStep_ data management system protocols for Triage, Case Prac3ce, Audit

and Data Extrac3on) to support our mul3-site HJP evalua3on.
- Extrac3ng data, providing data insights and maintaining a flow of client stories to support

report prepara3on, acquiNals, Board updates, FSL annual update reports and upda3ng the
FSL webpage.
- Maintaining up to date policies and procedures and engaging with annual cross check and
audit to support con3nuing FSL accredita3on.
- Helping to source new funding opportuni3es, working with the FSL Director and FS
Philanthropy Manager.
- Internal and external stakeholder engagement for the purposes of smooth FSL opera3ons
including ensuring effec3ve triage, case prac3ce and follow up day-to-day systems. This
may include co