| Salary | CiLO 5.4 ($136,214) |
| FTE | Full-time |
| Location | Darwin, Katherine, or Alice Springs |
| Commencement | Immediately (Negotiable) |
| Positions | 1 |
| Reports to | Deputy Managing Lawyer |
| Applications close | Monday, 12th May 2024 |
About NAAJA:
Be a part of one of Australia’s most dynamic, diverse, and challenging legal practices. NAAJA provides legal aid for Indigenous people in the Northern Territory, with offices in Darwin, Palmerston, Katherine, Tennant Creek, and Alice Springs.
We are a leading Australian legal service and have received both National and Northern Territory human rights awards for our work. We are committed to providing quality representation for our clients and bringing about long-term change in the justice system. Our staff are motivated, dedicated and do work that matters.
- Salary packaging options
- 6 weeks annual leave per year with leave loading
- Annual airfare
Position Overview:
NAAJA’s civil law practice is an extremely busy and diverse one, with practice areas including police accountability, child protection, adult guardianship, consumer, discrimination, tenancy, social security and victims of crime assistance claims.
The Coronial Inquests Practice Group Consultant will provide leadership and supervision of the newly established Coronial Inquests Practice Group, whilst also sitting in and conducting matters in another practice group (Housing and Social Security, Police and Prison Accountability, Child Protection) and general civil law matters.
The work requires high levels of motivation, energy and a commitment to professional excellence.
Duties:
- Lead the Coronial Inquests Practice Group. Duties include, but are not limited to:
a. Supervising the Coronial Inquests Practice Group
b. Leading high level litigation, primarily coronial inquests and related matters.
c. Mentor the Coronial Inquest Senior Lawyer and delegate as appropriate
d. Providing on going mentoring and supervision support to practice group members across all three offices.
e. Providing an induction to all new lawyers, interns and staff on issues relating to the practice group.
f. Chairing bi-monthly strategy meetings
g. Co-ordinating bi-annual CPD
h. Updating and maintaining precedent systems.
i. Coordinating stakeholder relationships and developing advocacy strategies. - Provide advice to NAAJA clients on civil law issues. This includes conducting advice clinics in urban and remote areas.
- Undertake litigation and other casework in civil law in accordance with NAAJA’s priorities and guidelines as directed by the Managing Civil Lawyer and Deputy Managing Civil Lawyer.
- Provide support to the Managing and Deputy Managing Civil Lawyers in guiding and supervising NAAJA staff, training and induction of new and existing staff, the development and implementation of Civil Section policies and procedures.
- Provide support to the Managing Civil Lawyer and Deputy Managing Civil Lawyer when required.
- Provide support to the Darwin, Katherine and Alice Springs offices as agreed with the Managing Civil Lawyer including but not limited to providing supervision support, attending remote trips and providing occasional presence in the regional offices.
- Availability to travel to remote communities and stay overnight for up to 4 nights, to attend and conduct with remote civil advice clinics when required.
- Represent the Civil Section at internal meetings and represent the Civil Section and/or NAAJA at meetings with external agencies with a focus on Coronial Inquests.
- Attend team and staff meetings as required.
- Identify policy/law reform issues of relevance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Northern Territory. Contribute to policy discussions and assist with the preparation of written submissions with a focus on the practice area agreed with the Managing Lawyer.
- Liaise with other NAAJA staff, government officers and community-based organisations as required.
- Provide reports about casework and other operations undertaken as required.
- Other duties as required.
Key Selection Criteria:
- Eligibility for Admission as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory and the High Court of Australia.
- 4+ Years post-admission experience in civil law, with demonstrated experience in coronial inquests.
- Demonstrated ability to undertake civil litigation and casework and provide civil law advice with limited supervision.
- Proven ability to mentor and/or supervise legal and non-legal staff.
- Ability to undertake overnight travel to, and to work in, all NAAJA Offices and remote Aboriginal communities.
- Ability to identify policy/law reform issues of relevance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Northern Territory, including an awareness of current issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and understanding of their aspirations.
- Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills including effective cross cultural communication skills, and willingness to work with cultural and language interpreters.
- Demonstrated ability to work constructively with a diverse team of legal and non-legal staff to achieve NAAJA’s goals.
- Well-developed time management skills including ability to meet deadlines and manage a diverse legal practice.
- Current drivers licence.
- Satisfactory criminal history check and no history of disqualification from employment by a legal practice
Appointment subject to:
- Rights within Australia.
- National Criminal history check
- Valid NT Drivers Licence
- Ochre Card
- Eligibility for Admission as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory and the High Court of Australia.
Considerations:
- This position requires you to apply for a Working with Children Clearance/Ochre Card prior to your employment commencement date and send us receipt of payment. This will be at your own cost.
- Six-month probation period.
- Non-smoking working environment.
- The contact details of at least two referees are required.
- Evidence of qualification attainment will be required.
How to Apply:
Applicants for this position must address the selection criteria in their written application, which should be sent to Recruitment@naaja.org.au. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are strongly encouraged to apply.