Paralegal, Self Representation Law

Justice Connect; Sydney; On-site; AUD 79,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Salary packaging

Learning & development

5 weeks annual leave

Annual leave loading

EAP support

Free flu vaccinations

Job summary

Justice Connect is seeking a Paralegal in Self-Representation Law to support intake, client engagement, clinic coordination, and data management. You will work across multiple practice areas and court environments to improve access to justice.

The role requires organised, detail-focused individuals who stay calm under pressure and enjoy helping clients, lawyers, and stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Experience in providing high-quality administrative support in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to engage with diverse clients and stakeholders with professionalism.
• Strong attention to detail and deadline discipline.

Responsibilities

• Provide strong admin support to pro bono and staff lawyers, operating the case management system.
• Maintain timely communications with help-seekers, lawyers, caseworkers and stakeholders.
• Deliver timely services that improve access to justice for self-represented litigants.
• Coordinate clinic bookings with courts, volunteers, and pro bono partners.
• Maintain accurate client records, including conflict checks and file notes.
• Collect, analyse, and report service delivery data.

Education

Bachelor of Laws/JD

Paralegal qualification

Tools

Microsoft Dynamics 365

Job description

Our team

Justice Connect believes in a world where 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.

Our Self-Representation Law program supports people who are navigating the legal system without a lawyer. Across three services, the Domestic Building Legal Service, Federal Self-Representation Service, and Victorian Self-Representation Service, we help people understand legal processes, prepare their arguments and documents, and present their case as effectively as possible.

As our Paralegal, Self-Representation Law, you will play a key role in keeping our legal services running smoothly and responsively, supporting intake, client engagement, clinic coordination, and data management. You will do well in this role if you are organised, detail-focused, and calm under pressure, and if you enjoy being the person who helps help-seekers, lawyers, and stakeholders get what they need. This role is a great opportunity to work across multiple legal practice areas and court environments while contributing to work that directly improves access to justice.

Our ideal candidate

You will 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 the 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 prioritise competing demands and meet deadlines under pressure.
• Experience with the management, collection, analysis, and reporting of accurate and current data.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Laws or Juris Doctor qualification, or currently in the final two years of one of these qualifications; or
• A paralegal qualification (for example, Diploma of Paralegal Services or Associate Degree of Law (Paralegal Studies)).

Expertise that would further support our team:

• Experience working or volunteering in the legal assistance sector.
• Skills using CRM and case management platforms (Microsoft Dynamics 365 preferred).

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 will work to:

• Provide strong administrative support to pro bono lawyers and staff lawyers, 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 with help-seekers, pro bono lawyers, caseworkers, and other key stakeholders.
• Play an active role in delivering timely and professional services that improve access to the justice system for people representing themselves.
• Coordinate clinic bookings for Self-Representation Law's legal clinics, including liaising with courts, volunteers, and pro bono partners.
• Maintain accurate records and files, including gathering information about clients' legal matters, conflict checking, recording file notes, and collating, analysing, and reporting service delivery data.

A week in this role

If you were here last week, you would have:

• Assisted multiple help-seekers and their caseworkers, conducted intakes, and made referrals for their legal issues.
• Managed the clinic email inboxes daily, responded to help-seekers, and directed appropriate matters to lawyers in the team.
• Participated in a weekly team meeting to discuss operational, practice management, team, and stakeholder developments.
• Participated in weekly operations meetings with other paralegals and lawyers to coordinate intake, triage, and service decisions.
• Ensured accurate data entry across Self-Representation Law's services.
• Contributed to Justice Connect's work in increasing access to legal support and progressing social justice.

What we offer

If you want your next role to have purpose, support your growth, and help you build meaningful connections, Justice Connect is the place to work.

We are committed to creating an environment where people thrive. Our benefits include:

• A flexible hybrid working model (minimum 40% in-office across the month)
• Salary packaging to make part of your income tax-free
• Ongoing learning and development opportunities: face-to-face, online, and on demand
• 5 weeks annual leave, leave loading
• Gifted leave between Christmas and New Year over the end-of-year closure period
• 15 days paid personal leave per calendar year
• 10 days paid study leave per calendar year
• 5 days paid, and 5 days unpaid cultural leave per calendar year
• Access to Employee Assistance Program (EAP) support for you and your immediate family
• Free flu vaccinations
• An inclusive and diverse culture that values continuous improvement, innovation, and sustainability

Salary

$79,428.45 per annum + 12% superannuation + 17.5% annual leave loading

As a not-for-profit, Justice Connect is able to offer salary packaging, which allows you to enjoy part of your salary tax-free, increasing your take-home pay.

• Up to $15,900 per year on everyday living costs, including rent, mortgage, groceries, bills and personal loan repayments
• Up to $2,650 per year on meals and entertainment

Our salary packaging partner, Smart, will assist successful candidates in setting up and managing their arrangements.

Important role information

• Reports to: Principal Lawyer
• Collaborates with: Lawyers and Paralegals
• Location: Level 5, 175 Liverpool Street, Sydney (hybrid working model, 40% time in the office across the month)
• Employment type: Full time, ongoing
• Hours: 37.5 hours per week (1 FTE)

Justice Connect is committed to building a team that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. We actively encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and people of all genders and sexual orientations. If you need any adjustments to the recruitment process, please let us know.