Paralegal

Under the direction of Homeless Law’s Lawyer, Senior Lawyers and Principal Lawyer, and working closely with all Homeless Law staff, the Paralegal ensures the effective and efficient coordination of Homeless Law enquiries and service delivery, including legal casework files. The Paralegal also plays an active role in the provision of timely and professional services, so that access to the justice system is improved through pro bono legal assistance for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

Important role information

The position reports to the Homeless Law Lawyer.

Employment is full time (37.5 hours per week) fixed term for 12 months.  

The salary for this role is $75,109.65 base per annum, plus 12% superannuation, annual leave loading, generous salary packaging options and additional leave benefits. 

This role is based at our Melbourne CBD office with 40% of the month in the workplace with hybrid working arrangements. 

Our Team

Justice Connect believes in a world in which legal support is within everyone’s reach. In the face of rising levels of unmet legal need, our 2028 strategy sees us put people first, innovating to build our communities' skills, knowledge, and confidence, and grow access to legal support.

Justice Connect’s Homeless Law is Victoria’s specialist free legal service for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Since 2001, our Homeless Law team has worked closely with pro bono lawyers to increase access to specialised legal support for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

Our tailored Homeless Law services, which focus on preventing and ending homelessness, are outreach-based and client-centred, and don’t just focus on legal needs. Homeless Law has integrated staff social workers and collaborates with community sector partners to ensure that clients’ needs are holistically addressed. Homeless Law also prioritises advocating for better laws and policies through evidence-based strategic engagement and advocacy, which is focused on stopping homelessness before it starts and preventing the criminalisation of homelessness.

Our ideal candidate

You'll bring to the team experience in the following areas:

- Experience in a comparable role, particularly providing high quality administrative support in a fast-paced environment.

- Experience working with a diverse range of clients and stakeholders, including help-seekers experiencing challenging circumstances and complex vulnerabilities.

- High-quality interpersonal skills, with demonstrated ability to build relationships and communicate with a range of internal and external stakeholders in a professional and respectful manner.

- Excellent attention to detail with the ability to multi-task, prioritize competing demands and meet deadlines under pressure.

- Experience with the management, collection, analysis and reporting of accurate and current data.

- Confidence using organizational software applications and technology.

Candidates will need to demonstrate commitment to Justice Connect's vision, strategy and values.

What you will achieve in the role

In this role, you’ll work to:

- Provide strong administrative support to pro bono lawyers, staff lawyers, and social workers with a focus on the operation of Justice Connect’s case management platform, Microsoft Dynamics 365.

- Ensure professional and timely communication by phone and email to Homeless Law’s help seekers as well as pro bono lawyers, caseworkers and other key stakeholders.

- Play an active role in the provision of timely and professional services, so that access to the justice system is improved through pro bono legal assistance for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

- Effectively and efficiently coordinate clinic bookings for Homeless Law’s outreach legal clinics.

- Ensure the maintenance of accurate records and files, including gathering information about clients’ legal matters, conflict checking, recording file notes and the collation, analysis and reporting of Homeless Law’s service delivery data.

A week in this role

If you were here last week, you would have:

- Speak to multiple help seekers and their caseworkers via phone and email and conduct intake for their legal issues.

- Attend a daily triage meeting with other legal administrators, lawyers and student volunteers to identify legal issues and ensure clients can get legal assistance through one of our pro bono legal clinics.

- Ensure accurate data entry across Homeless Law’s service, including by supporting Homeless Law’s volunteers to create and populate legal files.

- Attend an internal meeting about the connection between our integrated legal and social work service delivery, digital innovation, law reform and advocacy work.

- Attend a weekly social catch-up with the team online.

How to Apply

Please upload your resume and a cover letter which outlines your skills and experience that will help you achieve success in this role.  

For further information contact Sally Kenyon, Acting Principal Lawyer, Homeless Law via email Sally.Kenyon@justiceconnect.org.au

Applications close 5pm 14th November.  

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