Legal Practice Manager (Principal Lawyer)

Summary about this job

Detail information about job Legal Practice Manager (Principal Lawyer). Terms and conditions vacancy

THE ORGANISATION

The Northern Community Legal Centre (NCLC) is a not-for-profit community legal centre which operates in one of the fastest growing areas of Melbourne, and has a significant catchment including the Moreland, Hume and Mitchell Shire Local Government Areas. The NCLC operates from a central office located in Broadmeadows with outreach clinics to other service areas.

NCLC seeks to make our services accessible to all the community by providing legal advice, education and referrals. However, NCLC recognises that there are members of our community who suffer serious disadvantage. To this end NCLC has prioritized the following groups, which have the least resources and ability to access legal assistance; newly arrived and refugees; survivors/victims of family violence, young people, people with mental health issues, and elderly people suffering abuse and have aligned our service delivery accordingly.

POSITION OBJECTIVE

The Legal Practice Manager (Principal Lawyer) is responsible for providing leadership, management and oversight across the Legal Services, the legal practice and a number of key projects. The Legal Practice Manager also manages and guides the strategic advocacy, law reform and policy initiatives of NCLC. As a recently formed, and dynamic organisation working in highly diverse community the LPM also engages with key partners and services across the North Western region and beyond. This position is a key leader across the organisation with two other Managers (Community Development and Administration) and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The position is responsible for all aspects of the legal practice and the management of a team of currently 7 community and specialist lawyers providing a range of community legal services to clients The focus of the position is on developing and managing the legal practice and providing support and supervision to the legal staff and legal volunteers as well as being a key identifier of systemic legal issues and innovative responses.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership and Strategic Direction

• Provide leadership and strategic direction to the organisation in conjunction with the managers and CEO.
• Ensure services are consistent with NCLC’s mission, aims and objectives, strategic goals and policy guidelines.
• Support, guide and foster an environment of continuous improvement, best practice and innovation.
• Encourage strong multi-disciplinary and cross-program collaboration internally and externally.
• Identify and provide strategic advice on emerging issues and opportunities across the catchment that support the Centre’s plans and objectives.
• Motivate and guide staff in the implementation of systems, services, and processes that are effective, transparent and well documented.
• Ensure ongoing evaluation of policies and programs

Legal Practice

• Undertake the role of ‘Responsible Person’ as defined in the ‘Risk Management and CLC Practice’ guide published by the National Association of Community Legal Centre’s and ensure that legal services operate within the Centre’s guidelines and in accordance with professional legal practice, including government and professional indemnity insurance requirements.
• Monitor and develop supervision, support and mentoring approaches for relevant legal and other staff (including volunteers and volunteer teams) in their practice, ensuring that information, advice and casework services provided are appropriate, efficient and effective.
• Be responsible for the performance management of the legal staff and legal volunteers, including development of performance management and professional development plans, performance reviews and performance related procedures.
• Participate in the review, advertising, selection, induction and training of legal staff and legal volunteers. 
• Develop and implement specific service initiatives, projects and process improvements in consultation with the CEO and relevant Managers.
• Provide some advice and casework to clients, including at the Intervention Order Support Service at Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court.
• Oversee supervision and support of volunteer lawyers, ensuring lawyers appointed and services delivered are of the highest quality and integrated with the Centre’s practice.
• Regularly evaluate legal process, procedures, and file management and information systems, implementing improvements as required.
• Develop, implement and evaluate a client triage process to ensure that resources are focused towards providing legal services to the most disadvantaged and vulnerable members of the community.
• Coordinate effective and efficient outreach and night service programs, and review and allocate all night service files completed by volunteer lawyers to staff lawyers.
• Manage the NCLC trust account where such an account is opened at the direction of the Committee.

Community Development, Legal Education and Law Reform

• Encourage and foster the interaction and integration of legal assistance with the Centre’s community development work.
• Participate in community development, partnership, education and law reform projects.
• Support the Centre to strengthen networks, engaging the support and involvement from a range of individuals and organisations e.g. court staff, legal practitioners, community agencies, volunteers.
• Oversee that community legal education materials are legally accurate (pursuant to the Risk Management Guidelines), effective and highly accessible.
• Represent the Centre in a variety of forums.

KEY SELECTION CRITERIA

1. Eligible to hold an unrestricted Principal legal practising certificate in Victoria.
2. At least five years’ legal practice experience, including well developed technical ability to supervision of lawyers and other staff.
3. A demonstrated capacity to think and respond strategically and innovatively within and outside of the legal context and exercise a high level of judgement.
4. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and ability to produce high quality written and verbal reports.
5. Demonstrated ability in project development and management recognising the relationship between the legal practice and community development, including the ability to engage with stakeholders and key personnel.
6. Highly developed organisational skills and the ability to work under pressure and manage competing demands.
7. Highly developed knowledge and understanding of legal and related issues within the community and legal assistance service frameworks, relevant government policy and initiatives for communities experiencing vulnerability and disadvantage.

Desirable Knowledge and Skills

• Community language or experience working with people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) /Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds.
• Experience working within the community sector.

Personal Attributes

• Ability to contribute to a positive working environment.
• Team orientation.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Discretion and professionalism.

Applicants are required to submit a resume and covering letter addressing the key selection criteria to [email protected], using the subject line Legal Practice Manager by close of business Friday 27 July 2018. Applications that do no address the key selection criteria will not be considered.

Attractive salary packaging available.

For more information, please contact Jenni Smith, CEO on 03 9310 4376.