ROMA COMMUNITY LEGAL SERVICE INC.,

Position Description

Position Title:  Full Time Solicitor

VISION: the Roma Community Legal Service aims to offer an effective and efficient  service to clients throughout regional, rural and remote western Queensland through services and self – empowerment.

VALUES:  Roma Community Legal Service promotes collaborative working relationships with government and community sectors at local, regional and national levels.  

-         The Roma Community Legal Service Inc values accessibility, equity,

objectiveness, confidentially, reliability, fairness, accuracy, tolerance, knowledge and transparent processes.

-         We support, respond to and lead initiatives within the community

-         We seek to place our energies and resources at the service of those who are most disadvantaged due to isolation, distance, gender, race, disability, age and other

-         We are independent

-         We are accountable to our clients and those from whom we receive funding

-         We work to develop the capacity of the disadvantaged people, and our communities in regional, rural and remote Queensland in the understanding that all people have the right and opportunity to develop their potential through legal empowerment

-         We value and seek the passion and commitment of those within our communities to assist us in our work

-         We act ethically

-         We deserve just and fair work/employment priorities

-         We meet reporting  requirements of our funding bodies in a timely and transparent manner

-         We offer an accessible and visible service

-         We believe all people should have access to justice and legal representation regardless of location and status, and to basic human rights

MISSION:  To offer free legal advice, information and referral to those unable to afford the costs of a private solicitor across regional, rural and remote western Queensland communities

OBJECTIVES:

1. Legal Services:  to provide and meet the unmet legal needs of Roma and Far Western Queensland through a variety of legal service provisions
2. Corporate Services:  To provide direction and leadership for the centre
3. Community Education:  To empower members of the community to help themselves through education and information using, radio, newspapers and youth activities as the medium
4. Miscellaneous Services:  To encourage, assist and educate (in matters of family law), the community to retain control/self management in issues relating to the children in family breakdown situations by offering a safe, friendly accessible service rather than litigation in all circumstances.

SERVICE DELIVERY AREA:   Roma and Far Western Queensland

DESCRIPTION OF CENTRE:  The Roma Community Legal Service is a non-profit incorporated body offering generalist services in areas of Criminal, Civil and Family law.  The service commenced as a volunteer legal service in 1987 and commenced as a service offering one full time managerial position in 1991 with a retained visiting solicitor.  Volunteers have been a part of the history of the service since 1987 and they continue to play a vital role in the operation of the day to day service.   The service operated out of a small room in the early days progressing onto a larger room and then to its present location of a house situated on the corner of Arthur and Station Streets in Roma.  This better suits the operations of the service as it offers privacy and accessibility in a small town.  The services offers court support and representation, Friends of the Watchhouse service, community legal education, child contact and supervised contact, family, civil and criminal law, mediation and video conferencing.

ABOUT ROMA:                        Entry into Champagne Country

Roma is a historic, vibrant inland Queensland town where the newcomer can enjoy a relaxed atmosphere and experience great western hospitality.  Roma’s population is approximately 6,900 and services people in the immediate surrounding regions.  This of course will change with the new amalgamations of shires.  Roma is positioned on the junction of the Warrego Highway and the Carnarvon Highway - gateway to the west, east, north and south.  It is approximately six hours drive from Brisbane and four hours from Toowoomba to the east – a convenient days drive.  Places as it is Roma is an obvious launching point to the Carnarvon Ranges, the NSW and Central Queensland Gemfields, the Darling Downs and the western regions.  The town has a full range of facilities including a cinema, a large indoor Sporting/Convention complex, Olympic sized swimming pool and award winning winery, racing facilities, adequate motel and caravan parks, sporting clubs service clubs, two radio stations, an impressive cultural centre, plentiful shopping and many areas of historical significance. Roma is situated on a large oil and gas basin.  Roma offers several fights to and from Brisbane each week and a bus service. 

If you are wanting to experience star filled night skies and clear blue skies by day and you would like to live in a relatively safe environment where you can still walk without your shoes on, have a keen interest in community activities and to gain some experience of simply living in a developing country town… this could be for you.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Classification:  Full time solicitor

                          Hours – 8.30am – 5.00pm

Reports To:   Manager

Also works closely with: Staff and volunteers

Conditions:  6 months probation

                     4 weeks annual leave

                     15 days sick leave

                     Superannuation at 9%

                     Salary sacrificing on rental available

                     TOIL on a one/one basis

                     Guided by the SACS award

Competencies and Experience Essential:

Unrestricted Principal Practicing Certificate

Good knowledge of all areas of the law

Work environment:

The position is based at the Roma Community Legal Service Inc., 96 Arthur Street, Roma Qld.  The Service has a supportive team environment and offices are reverse cycle air conditioned for your comfort. 

DUTY STATEMENT

Key Responsibilities and Duties include:

1.  Day to Day Service Delivery

1. To provide legal information, advice and referral to clients and record same in the appropriate manner on the appropriate form as per the Service Agreement;
2. Ensure that the majority of advice sessions with clients is time managed appropriately;
3. Have computer skills sufficient that he/she is able to search the websites for quick and straightforward advice on matters;
4. Be mindful of conflict of interest checks are completed prior to seeing a client;

      5.   Provide to the client a summary in writing of the advice if necessary;

      6.   Refer to other services/agencies where and when appropriate and receive such      

            referrals from those agencies;

7. Supervise the updating of all legal information and resources;
8. To assist, encourage the Paralegal with her studies and skills;

2.  Ongoing Professional Service Standards:

1. Ensure he/she keeps well abreast of any developments in the law, especially Family Law by utilising the web and in house resources;
2. Be prepared to have advices checked quarterly by another Solicitor under the QAILS Crosschecks requirements;
3. Identify potential clients for the service
4. Ensure clients have access to other appropriate agencies
5. Provide clients with free legal advice and information of the service and other assistance appropriately available to meet clients needs
6. Network with other agencies
7. Assist client to access grants of legal aid when appropriate
8. Represent clients in court matters

3.  Communication:

1. Attend and participate in team meetings and area planning and development as appropriate

4.  Community Education:

1. Provide communities with accurate information of the service and other assistance available
2. When directed by the Manager utilise all forms of media and advertising in order to inform and educate the various communities of changes and issues relating to criminal, civil and family law matters
3. encourage community participation to make the legal system more equitable and accessible to all
4. When required and as directed by the Manager educate the elderly, students, unemployed and community as and when directed in matters of the law
5. Seek legal and social changes to injustices and inequalities in the law and society relating to regional, rural and remote living issues

5.  Compliance – In undertaking the duties referred to, the solicitor shall comply with the following:

1. The Service Agreement entered into between Roma CLC, Legal Aid Queensland and the Commonwealth;
2. The National Risk Management Guide produced by the national Association of Community Legal Centres;
3. The rules of professional conduct and the rules for the holding of an appropriate practicing certificate as set by the Queensland Law Society;
4. The Policy and Procedures Manual of the Roma Community Legal Service Incorporated

6.  Other Duties:

1. To observe work place health and safety standards
2. Observe /maintain appropriate Access and Equity principles in all dealings on behalf of the centre
3. Liaise with government and non-government agencies where/when directed
4. Acquire and maintain  knowledge of relevant legislation, government and non-government services and program and best practices in the field
5. Attend and participate in relevant professional activities as funding allows
6. Regularly discuss, inform and advise Manager/Paralegal of new updates/changes to legislation that may be implemented into the best practices of the Roma Community Legal Service
7. To assist in the overall presentation and cleaning of the building
8. Other duties as directed by the Management or Manager of RCLS

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

1. Ability to Work as a team
2. Time Management
3. Project management – simultaneously
4. Communication and Interpersonal skills
5. Productivity
6. Ability to think laterally
7. Leadership

Personal attributes:

1. Positive attitude
2. Dynamic
3. Approachable
4. Professional manner and appearance
5. Commitment and dependability
6. Ability to be a Team Player
7. Self motivation
8. Flexibility

 SELECTION CRITERIA

The selection criteria must be addressed as follows:

Selection Criteria No 1:

Possession of an unrestricted Principal Practicing Certificate or demonstrated ability to obtain the necessary certificate – a copy to be enclosed with your application

Selection Criteria No 2:

Evidence of at least three years unsupervised legal practice

Selection Criteria No 3:

Demonstrated knowledge of civil, criminal and family law

(a)    demonstrated experience in dealing with/and knowledge of up to date Family law issues

(b)    knowledge/ experience in dealing with Callover court related issues and a demonstrated knowledge/experience of Children's Court issues – to include your experiences of dealing with the Department of Communities and Child Safety

(c)    Demonstrated ability to deal with a wide cross section of civil law issues

Selection Criteria No 4:

             (a) An ability to demonstrate an understanding of lifestyle living in Western

 Queensland

             (b) Demonstrated experience in working for a community based organisation

Selection Criteria No 5:

    A proven capacity to work within a team structure

Selection Criteria No 6:

    Proven capacity to recognise and utilise client base

Selection Criteria No 7:

   Demonstrated capacity/ ability to deliver community legal education in    

   order to empower the community – this includes the ability to construct and 

   maintain Power Point displays

Selection Criteria No 8:

Demonstrated:

(a)    Knowledge of computers and computer programs

(b)    Ability to access and use the internet as a source of knowledge