Judicial Registrar

Federal Court of Australia; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Federal Court of Australia in Melbourne, VIC, is seeking a Judicial Registrar to undertake statutory duties, perform delegated judicial functions, and conduct mediations where accredited. The role involves case management, mentoring of legal staff, and contributing to national Court initiatives in a collaborative environment.

The position requires admission to practice in Australia, with more than two years post-admission experience, and strong analytical and communication skills to support

Qualifications

• Two years post admission experience in legal practice or a legal environment.
• Knowledge of the jurisdiction and procedures of the Court (Victoria District Registry).
• Excellent analytical and legal skills; ability to evaluate large volumes of information and make sound judgments under pressure.
• Ability to manage multiple responsibilities, prioritise, and work autonomously.
• Strong written and oral communication, with ability to collaborate with internal and external stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Undertake the statutory duties and functions of a Judicial Registrar under the Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 and related instruments.
• Perform delegated judicial functions and conduct mediations (once accredited).
• Manage matters and provide guidance to legal support staff; support national Court work initiatives.
• Engage with judges collaboratively at a local level and contribute to practice development and procedure improvements.
• Perform other duties as required or directed from time to time.

Education

Admission to practice in Australia

Job description

Federal Court of Australia - Melbourne VIC

The Judicial Registrar position plays an important role within the reformed structure of the FCA and is responsible for:

• undertaking the functions of a Judicial Registrar, which may include:
  • performing the statutory duties, powers and functions of a registrar pursuant to the Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) and other legislative instruments, as required;
  • performing delegated judicial functions;
  • conducting mediations (once accredited);
  • undertaking case management of matters; and
  • engaging with judges collaboratively at a local level.
• performing a management and mentoring role for legal support staff as required;
• supporting the organisation and management of the Court’s work nationally, which may include through the allocation of Court work or the development of practice and procedure to support such work; and
• performing other duties as required or directed from time to time.

Position Overview

The Judicial Registrar position plays an important role within the reformed structure of the FCA and is responsible for:

• undertaking the functions of a Judicial Registrar, which may include:
  • performing the statutory duties, powers and functions of a registrar pursuant to the Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) and other legislative instruments, as required;
  • performing delegated judicial functions;
  • conducting mediations (once accredited);
  • undertaking case management of matters; and
  • engaging with judges collaboratively at a local level.
• performing a management and mentoring role for legal support staff as required;
• supporting the organisation and management of the Court’s work nationally, which may include through the allocation of Court work or the development of practice and procedure to support such work; and
• performing other duties as required or directed from time to time.

The key duties of the position include:

This role is junior to other Judicial Registrar roles in the Victoria District Registry. In performing the statutory duties, powers and functions of a registrar, it has a particular focus on determining applications for substituted service, conducting the return of subpoena list, determining costs quantification applications and acting as duty registrar from time to time.

The role also has a focus on performing project work in relation to a range of Court initiatives.

Key Relationships

• Judges: engage with judges collaboratively to identify and perform critical work in support of judges. In addition, support National Coordinating Judges in the management of NPAs as required.
• Deputy Principal Registrar and District Registrar: liaise with about work and workload, including development opportunities.
• Judicial Registrars and legal support staff: work collaboratively with colleagues and legal support staff, providing support and guidance as required.
• Legal profession and Court users:liaise with key external stakeholders in areas of Judicial Registrar practice.

Eligibility

Formal Qualifications

This position may require the occupant to perform statutory legal functions, including conducting mediations and case management. Therefore, legal qualifications and admission as a practitioner of the High Court and/or the Supreme Court of a State or Territory of Australia is essential.

It is desirable for the applicant to:

• have experience in civil litigation (including exposure to high level case management) in superior courts of Australia; and
• be accredited as a mediator with experience in conducting mediations.

In addition, given the project work requirements of the role, it is desirable for the applicant to have knowledge of the internal practices and procedures of the FCA.

Selection Criteria

• More than two years post admission experience in legal practice or a legal environment.
• Knowledge, or the ability to acquire such knowledge quickly, of the jurisdiction and practices and procedures of the Court.
• Excellent analytical and legal skills and demonstrated ability to critically evaluate large volumes of information and make sound judgments in a high pressure environment.
• The ability to manage multiple responsibilities effectively, prioritise matters appropriately, and work autonomously.
• Well developed communication skills, including the ability to work collaboratively and to build and sustain positive relationships with a network of key stakeholders internally and externally.

Eligibility

Employment with the Court is subject to the conditions prescribed in the Public Service Act 1999, and the following:

• Australian citizenship – the successful applicant must hold Australian citizenship.
• Security and character clearance – the successful applicant must satisfy a Police Records Check and may also be required to complete security clearances during the course of their employment.
• Successful applicants engaged into the APS will be subject to a probation period.

Interested applicants who have received a redundancy benefit from an APS agency are welcome to apply but cannot be engaged until their redundancy benefit period has expired.

Diversity and inclusion

The Federal Court of Australia is committed to supporting an inclusive and diverse workforce and welcomes and encourages applications from People with Disability, First Nations peoples, LGBTIQA+ people, people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds, mature age workers, as well as young workers and supporting an inter-generational workforce and supporting gender equity and families.

The Federal Court of Australia will provide reasonable adjustments for candidates to participate equitably in the recruitment process and discuss workplace adjustments to fulfil the inherent requirements of the role.

Applications close: Friday 06 November at 11:30 pm (AEDT)

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are strongly encouraged to apply

Getting to know the Federal Court of Australia

The Chief Executive Officer and Principal Registrar of the Federal Court, together with officers and staff identified under the Federal Court of Australia Act 1976, the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia Act 2021 and the Native Title Act 1993, constitute a single Statutory Agency for the purposes of the Public Service Act 1999. Employees are engaged to work in support of the following courts or tribunal:

• Federal Court of Australia,
• Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, and
• National Native Title Tribunal.

Employees are covered by the Federal Court of Australia Enterprise Agreement 2024-2027. The Federal Court and the Federal Circuit and Family Court each maintain a distinct statutory identity, with separate functions and judicial independence.