Organisation : knowmore
Location : Melbourne (Melbourne )
Work type : Full-time
Sector : Community Support Services
Salary type : Annual Package
Application closing date : 21 Jun, 2019
About the organisation
knowmore is currently expanding to meet the higher than expected demands on our obligation to deliver legal support services to assist survivors of institutional child sexual abuse to access redress under the National Redress Scheme.
knowmore is a nation-wide, free and independent community legal centre providing legal information, advice, representation and referrals, education and systemic advocacy for victims and survivors of child abuse. Our vision is a community that is accountable to survivors and free of child abuse. Our mission is to facilitate access to justice for victims and survivors of child abuse, and to work with survivors and their supporters to stop child abuse.
Our service was initially established in 2013 to assist people who were engaging with the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (‘the Royal Commission’). knowmore was established by and operates as a program of the National Association of Community Legal Centres (NACLC), with funding from the Australian Government, represented by the Attorney-General’s Department. knowmore also receives funding under a grant from the Financial Counselling Foundation.
From 1 July 2018 NACLC has been funded to operate knowmore to deliver legal support services to assist survivors of institutional child sexual abuse to access redress under the National Redress Scheme. knowmore assists survivors by providing information and advice about the options available to them, including claims under the NRS, access to compensation through other schemes or common law rights and claims.
knowmore uses a multidisciplinary model bringing together intake officers, lawyers, social workers and counsellors, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander engagement advisors and financial counsellors to provide trauma-informed, client-centred and culturally safe legal assistance to clients. Services are provided through a national phone line and face-to-face services in key locations, supported by a comprehensive program of outreach and community engagement across Australia. knowmore currently has offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.
About the role
knowmore’s lawyers will provide high quality legal services to clients in a culturally safe and appropriate manner within a trauma informed and multi-disciplinary framework.
This role delivers front line legal services and reports directly to either a Managing Lawyer or a Senior Lawyer in the relevant knowmore office, depending on the size of the legal team. This role works collaboratively as a member of the national legal team and within knowmore’s multi-disciplinary model, working alongside other teams delivering intake, social work and cultural support services to clients. At times the role will also work with other partner services to support clients.
The role will advise clients who are survivors of child sexual abuse about redress and compensation options, including redress claims under the National Redress Scheme, and acting for clients making such claims. Lawyers will also contribute to knowmore’s policy and law reform work and prepare and deliver community legal education and participate in other community engagement activities, working cooperatively and collaboratively with other staff and service providers.
Guided by the organisation’s service plan, the role will involve intrastate and interstate travel to deliver services to clients on an outreach basis, and to undertake community engagement activities. Accordingly, a current drivers’ license is highly desirable, along with the ability and willingness to travel, including to remote and regional locations for up to a week at a time, and to work out of hours.
Duties and responsibilities
- Providing high-quality legal information, advice, representation and referral services to clients who are survivors of child sexual abuse, through telephone and face to face services
- Contributing as a professional member of a national legal practice; complying with the rules and requirements of relevant legal profession legislation and the Community Legal Centre Risk Management Guide.
- Working cooperatively and collaboratively, both within knowmore’s multi-disciplinary model of teams of legal and non-legal staff, and with external service providers, to ensure client’s legal and other needs are identified and actioned in a consistent, effective and timely way.
- Manage a significant caseload of client matters ensuring all service standards and timelines are met
- Ensure all relevant service data is accurately recorded.
- Making referrals, including warm referrals, to other service providers where appropriate.
- Undertaking legal research and drafting to support knowmore’s contributions to law reform and policy and procedural initiatives relating to its client group.
- Contribute to the preparation and delivery of community legal education and other engagement activities and materials.
- Undertaking and participating in the development and delivery of ongoing training and professional development activities for knowmore staff and service partners.
- Contribute to the day-to-day supervision and co-ordination of the activities of volunteers and pro bono providers.
- Proactively manage own self-care and workload.
- Act as a Senior Lawyer if required.
- Undertake other duties and projects as directed.
How to apply
Applications not allowed for this job listing.
Please quote in application: Lawyer – Melbourne via Pro Bono Australia.
Sector: #Community_Support_Services
