Organisation : Justice Connect
Location : Melbourne
Work type : Full-time
Sector : Law, Justice & Human Rights
Salary type : Annual Package
Application closing date : 12 Jun, 2019
About the organisation
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join one of Australia’s most successful public interest and social justice organisations. Justice Connect is a not-for-profit organisation with a vision of a fair and strong community in which people have a fair chance at a better life, the community sector is strong and vibrant, and legal and social systems are fairer and better.
At Justice Connect, we believe everyone deserves a fair chance at a better life. That’s why we use the law to help people and community groups left behind by an unfair and complicated legal system. Whether it’s a single mother facing homelessness, a local community group struggling with overwhelming regulation or an older person dealing with family violence, real-life problems so often have legal solutions. That’s why we connect people with legal help. We use the power of the law to open up the legal system for those locked out of it, and to change the system where it is broken.
The key to our impact is the passionate commitment of our people. We hold ourselves to the highest standards, driven by a desire to deliver real improvements in the lives of the people and communities we help.
About the role
Not-for-profit Law is Justice Connect’s specialist legal service for not-for-profit community organisations – it is the only service of its kind in Australia. Not-for-profit Law provides free legal assistance (advice, training, resources and self-help tools) to community groups and social enterprises in Victoria, New South Wales, and increasingly across Australia. We also advocate for better laws for the community sector. By ‘helping the helpers’, Not-for-profit Law supports organisations to focus their time and energy on achieving their mission – whether that’s supporting vulnerable people, delivering community services, celebrating diversity or looking after the environment. See www.nfplaw.org.au.
We are looking for a passionate, agile and diligent lawyer to make a vital contribution to our Not-for-profit Law team, as part of our Melbourne-based team.
Role purpose
The Lawyer plays a vital role in delivering a range of legal services to community organisations as a part of the Not-for-profit Law team. Key focus areas of this role are the delivery of practical training and plain language legal advice to volunteer-involving community organisations and social enterprises.
Key responsibilities
- Contribute to Not-for-profit Law’s legal advice services for not-for-profit organisations and social enterprises, including:
– triage enquiries from community groups and social enterprises
– provide not-for-profit organisations with legal advice on common legal issues faced by not-for-profit organisations, including by telephone, and
– facilitate pro bono referrals to Justice Connect member law firms and barristers.
- Deliver legal training (face-to-face and webinars) for not-for-profit organisations and social enterprises on a range of legal and governance topics (some regional and interstate travel required) as well as professional development events for lawyers in relevant areas of law.
- Contribute to the development and revision of plain language resources and self-help tools for community organisations, such as fact sheets, guides, videos and applications.
- Undertake legal research and analysis around relevant policy and law reform issues affecting the not-for-profit/for-purpose sector and provide input into advocacy activities.
- Participate in the promotion of Not-for-profit Law’s services, including contributing to internal and external publications and representing Not-for-profit Law and Justice Connect more broadly in a range of public forums.
- Assist in the induction, training and supervision of Practical Legal Training students and volunteers
- As part of the Justice Connect team, develop and maintain collaborative relationships with key stakeholders and partners, in particular, existing support networks for not-for-profits, Justice Connect member law firms, regulators and funders.
- Assist with governance, reporting and evaluation requirements, including reports for the Justice Connect Board and funder acquittals.
- Contribute to the continuous improvement of Not-for-profit Law as a unique, specialist legal service for the community sector across Australia.
- Contribute to Justice Connect’s Reconciliation Action Plan activities.
This job description outlines the current duties and responsibilities of the position. These will be reviewed on a regular basis with the position holder and are subject to change according to the needs and priorities of Justice Connect and Not-for-profit Law.
Selection criteria
Qualifications
- Australian legal practitioner
- Has (or is eligible to hold) an unsupervised practising certificate in Victoria
- Drivers licence
Technical expertise
- Understanding of legal issues commonly faced by small to medium not-for-profit organisations and social enterprises
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite
Experience
- Experience in delivery of legal or legally-related training or educational programs
- Experience in the delivery of plain language legal advice and information, preferably to community organisations
- Experience in law reform and advocacy
- Project management and/or community engagement experience
- History of volunteer or paid work within a not-for-profit or social enterprise (highly desirable)
Knowledge, skills & attributes
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Highly motivated, diligent, sound judgement
- Able to work autonomously and as a part of a team
- A sense of humour, creativity and commitment to social justice
How to apply
Applications not allowed for this job listing.
Please quote in application: Lawyer, Not-for-profit Law via Pro Bono Australia.
Sector: #Law_Justice_and_Human_Rights
