Work as part of a committed and passionate team Broaden your legal knowledge Provide advice to older people who are at risk of elder abuse Join a dynamic and growing organisation PO Box 16013 Melbourne VIC DX 128 Melbourne Tel +61 3 8636 4400 Fax +61 3 8636 4455 justiceconnect.org.au
Justice Connect provides access to justice through pro bono legal services to people experiencing disadvantage and the community organisations that support them. We also address injustice through law reform, policy work and legal education. Seniors Law is Justice Connect s specialist legal service for older clients experiencing, or at risk of, elder abuse and other legal issues associated with ageing. Seniors Law has 10 years experience designing and delivering legal services in health care settings. In 2017 the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation recognised the value of our work to address elder abuse, awarding our Health Justice Partnership (HJP) with cohealth a VicHealth award for Improving Health Equity. We are currently seeking a Lawyer to play an active role in all aspects of the work of Seniors Law with a focus on being part of our established HJP with cohealth, a rights-based community organisation, operating over various sites in the northern and western suburbs of Melbourne. The Lawyer will have the opportunity to work closely with supportive health teams, older clients, pro bono firms and evaluators. The role presents a unique opportunity to be part of an innovative, multi-disciplinary service for older clients experiencing, or at risk of, elder abuse. The successful applicant will build on the significant work over the past three years embedding the legal service in a health setting, having established relationships with many teams and staff from all levels of the organisation. With high levels of trust between professionals, there is a greater capacity to collaborate to address legal and non-legal issues for older people experiencing elder abuse. The HJP is a highly effective model to address complex elder abuse matters as well as provide opportunities for early intervention. Not only will the successful applicant receive mentoring, training and support from Justice Connect to develop a specialisation working with older people and in HJPs, but they will also feel part of the supportive health teams at cohealth, where they can develop their understanding of the health sector and improve outcomes for clients experiencing significant disadvantage. If you are enthusiastic, driven, organised, enjoy working with older clients as well a broad range of stakeholders and have a minimum of two years post admission experience, we would like to hear from you. This is a fantastic opportunity to join a very committed team who share your vision of a fairer society. Applications close at 9 am, Monday 7 May 2018. Position description, selection criteria and application details are available at www.justiceconnect.org.au/jobs
Position title Position reports to Lawyer, Seniors Law Manager & Principal Lawyer, Seniors Law Salary Pro-rata of $80,956.16 per annum, plus 9.25% superannuation, annual leave loading, & generous salary packaging options 1 Employment Status Hours Location Fixed Term until 15 October 2018, with the possibility of extension subject to funding 0.8 EFT CBD, Footscray, Collingwood, Kensington, within close proximity to public transport Closing Date 9 am, Monday 7 May 2018 Demonstrate leadership in the design and delivery of our established Health Justice Partnership with cohealth a rights-based community organisation working closely with health teams, older clients, pro bono firms and evaluators to deliver an award winning service. Provide secondary consultations on a broad range of legal issues to assist health professionals at cohealth Conduct intensive legal triage with clients experiencing, or at risk of, elder abuse and other legal issues associated with ageing Provide targeted legal advice on site, as well as outreach locations, and appropriate information, referrals and resources for older people Working under supervision, undertake, support and oversee Seniors Law casework and referrals, including providing guidance to pro bono lawyers and responding to legal enquiries from clients Develop and deliver education resources to support health professionals and community members to identify and respond to elder abuse, other legal issues and work with lawyers Collect data to assist with monitoring and evaluation of the HJP program Actively contribute to the ongoing marketing and profiling the HJP Develop strategies to be visible and engage with health professionals, such as attending case conference meetings with multi-disciplinary teams, aimed at supporting staff to identify potential legal issues and appropriate referral pathways 1 As a Public Benevolent Institution (PBI) Justice Connect is able to offer staff generous salary packaging options. The tax savings for a staff member choosing to take full advantage of the salary packaging option mean that their take home salary is more than it would be without access to salary packaging.
Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with key stakeholders of Seniors Law, in particular cohealth staff, pro bono lawyers, evaluators, other community services, networks and funders Actively participate in Seniors Law and cohealth promotion activities, including by representing Seniors Law in a range of public forums, delivering presentations and contributing to internal and external publications Assist with the design and delivery of the pro bono clinic lawyer training program and training and information sessions for other stakeholders in relevant areas of law Prepare and revise plain English web-based resources, such as fact sheets and guides, and maintain legal content on the Seniors Law webpage In consultation with the Seniors Law Manager, participate in working groups and committees about older people and the law Undertake law reform and advocacy activities including submission writing and lobbying decisionmakers Assist the Seniors Law Manager with the governance, fundraising, reporting and evaluation requirements of the program including reports for the Justice Connect Board and external funders Perform other duties as directed and necessary to the proper performance of the role 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 Seniors Law and cohealth. Qualifications Admitted or eligible for admission as a legal practitioner in Victoria Ideally, a holder of a Victorian driver licence Experience Two years post admission legal practice experience, with a demonstrated understanding of areas of law arising in the context of elder abuse and issues associated with ageing Experience working, volunteering or participating in the community sector
Knowledge, skills & attributes Sound knowledge of the legal issues that commonly arise for older people Sound understanding of legal professional obligations while working remotely in a non-legal setting and a demonstrated ability to comply with these obligations Public speaking skills to present at conferences and deliver professional development and community education High level of communication and negotiation skills with a demonstrated ability to use those skills to build relationships with diverse stakeholders and clients Excellent legal research skills and ability to give accurate and practical advice High levels of motivation, drive, flexibility and a commitment to deliver a client-centred service Demonstrated ability to work independently as well as collaboratively within multi-disciplinary teams Strong attention to detail and organisational skills Demonstrated ability to stay focussed under pressure and appropriately prioritise competing demands Sound computer skills within a legal practice environment A commitment to Justice Connects objectives and values Experience working in elder abuse considered an advantage Experience or working knowledge of Health Justice Partnership model Justice Connect offers employment benefits including salary packaging (making part of your salary tax-free), flexible working arrangements, above award annual leave provisions and opportunities for professional development. Justice Connect is an organisation that strives to show leadership, operate sustainably and demonstrate our effectiveness. You will be rewarded with a workplace culture that is professional, committed, collaborative and creative and where you can make a real difference through your work.
For further information about Justice Connect and its work please visit www.justiceconnect.org.au The application process is as follows: Applications should be addressed to Faith Hawthorne, Manager & Principal Lawyer, Seniors Law and should comprise a cover letter, your resume, and a succinct statement outlining your suitability for the role with reference to the selection criteria. Applications should be emailed to hr@justiceconnect.org.au as a single word or PDF file including Lawyer, Seniors Law via the Justice Connect website in the subject line. Applications close at 9 am, Monday 7 May 2018. Shortlisted applicants will be contacted by telephone on or before Monday 14 May 2018. We welcome and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Interviews for the position will be held the week of Monday 14 May 2018.