Legal Secretary/administrative Assistant

_**Salary Offering: $63,543.48 - $70,174.10 plus 11% Superannuation**_
- **Additional Benefits**:_
- 17.5% Leave Loading
- 5 extra days leave on top of 20 days annual leave
- Only required to work 35 hours per week, any extra hours worked will be calculated as your Time In Lieu (TOIL) - which you may use as additional leave hours
- Access to company vehicles for any work-related trips
- Salary packaging is available via Maxxia
- **Office Locations: 273 High Street, Preston, Vic, 3072**_
- **This role is full-time fixed term for 12 months**_
- **This position may require regional and very occasional interstate travel.**_

**OVERVIEW OF THE ROLE**:
As legal secretary for VALS regional hub, you will be responsible in providing high quality secretarial / administrative support services to the Criminal and Aboriginal Families Practice Leads.

You will undertake reception function and act as a liaison and coordination point for office management. This includes in arranging stationery and supplies, liaison with local tradespeople and the VALS office manager and ensuring the adequacy of VALS approaches to good workplace health and safety.
- **Key Responsibilities**:_
- Provide a reception function within the VALS Preston office
- Undertake all secretarial tasks and associated file management tasks as provided by solicitors to support ongoing file management of clients in Criminal and Aboriginal Families Law Practice.
- Prepare documentation for briefing Counsel or other professionals as directed, including photocopying, collating and arranging delivery.
- Receive phone calls on behalf of individual solicitors and follow up enquiries or record messages for action by solicitor.
- Assist in arranging appointments for clients or making contact with clients directly.
- Undertake filing of reports and other documentation on behalf of clients.
- Update data base and electronic files as required.
- Participate in the processing of ingoing and outgoing mail for the organisation.
- Keep up to date with relevant procedures by attending professional education programs and maintain an understanding of issues impacting the justice system and members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community.
- Arranging stationary orders and office equipment when necessary.
- Liaison with local tradespeople and the Office Manager, as required, to ensure a good working environment e.g., calling out and supervising any emergency repair work, ensuring the effectiveness of the digital technology environment, conducting any emergency evacuation drills.
- As directed, undertake other duties which are incidental and peripheral to the main tasks, provided that such duties are reasonably within the employee’s skills, competence and training.

**KEY SELECTION CRITERIA**:

- Secretarial or similar experience preferred but not essential.
- Advanced skills in the use of MS Office Software (particularly MS Word, Excel, E-mail - word proficient to 80 words per minute) to a legal practice, or similar, and the capacity to quickly acquire competency in the use of VALS’ client data base.
- Professional and courteous phone manner and interpersonal skills and the capacity to communicate effectively with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members, who may be experiencing stress and anxiety due to their legal needs, and other team members and partners
- Knowledge or a willingness to learn about the legal issues faced by members of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Victoria, with a commitment to the principles and values of the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service

**MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS**:
On offer of this position, you must provide:

- Copy of your current **Employee Working with Children Card**.
- You will be required to complete a current **Criminal History Police Check**.
- Up to date **vaccination certificate **or **valid medical exemption**:

- **Proof of rights to work in Australia**, i.e., a copy of an Australian Passport, Birth Certificate, or Immigration VISA documentation
- **Current valid Victorian Driver’s Licence**:

- Copies of **any certificates or degrees** relevant to this role
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**HOW TO APPLY**:

- A **covering letter** outlining who you are and why you are suited to this position.
- Your **resume** detailing your education and professional experience and two referees.

**Please note**:

- **Additional Benefits**:_
- 17.5% Leave Loading
- 5 extra days leave on top of 20 days annual leave
- Only required to work 35 hours per week, any extra hours worked will be calculated as your Time In Lieu (TOIL) - which you may use as additional leave hours
- Access to company vehicles for any work-related trips
- Salary packaging of up to $15,900+ per FBT available via Maxxia

**OVERVIEW OF THE ROLE**:
As legal secretary for VALS regional hub, you will be responsible in providing high quality secretarial / administrative support services to the Criminal and Aboriginal Families Practice Leads.

You will under