Weekend Duty Lawyer Pool

Legal Aid WA; Perth; On-site; AUD 100,000 - 163,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Weekend penalty rates

Flexi-time

Job summary

Legal Aid WA's Criminal Law Division is seeking criminal lawyers (SCL 1/2 or SCL 3/4) to provide weekend duty lawyer services at Northbridge Police Complex and Perth Children's Court.

Pool includes permanent, fixed-term, full-time and part-time vacancies over 12 months from the date of recruitment; part-time 2-4 days/week with at least one weekend per fortnight. On weekdays you will handle duty lawyer services, legal advice and task work, with direct client contact.

Qualifications

• Qualified criminal lawyers with SCL 1/2 or SCL 3/4.
• Willing to commit to regular weekend work.
• Experience in duty lawyer services and client contact.

Responsibilities

• Provide weekend duty lawyer services at Northbridge Police Complex or Perth Children's Court.
• Undertake duty lawyer services, legal advice, and case work related to criminal matters.
• Interview clients, obtain instructions, and appear in court on the clients' behalf.

Skills

Duty lawyer experience

Criminal law knowledge

Client advocacy

Education

PSCA 2024 SCL 1/2 or SCL 3/4

Job description

Legal Aid WA's Criminal Law Division is seeking criminal lawyers (SCL 1/2 or SCL 3/4) to provide weekend duty lawyer services at Northbridge Police Complex and Perth Children's Court.

Applicants must be willing to commit to regular weekend work, with a minimum of one Saturday or Sunday per fortnight.

Pool Ref LA26621

PSCA 2024 SCL 1 or 2 and SCL 3/4, $99,939 to $162,635 gross per annum + super + benefits

This pool recruitment process will be used to fill permanent, fixed term, full-time and part-time vacancies that may arise over a period of 12 months from the date of finalisation of the recruitment process. Fixed term appointments may be made with the possibility of extension/s and/or permanency.

We're looking for solicitors on a part-time (2-4 days per week) or full-time (5 days per week) basis, with a minimum of one Saturday or Sunday per fortnight as part of your regular roster.

On weekdays you will undertake a range of legal work such as duty lawyer services, legal advice and legal task services, and case work in relation to criminal law matters. These duties involve direct contact with clients at Legal Aid WA offices, courts, prisons, detention centres, hospitals and other outreach locations.

• SCL 1 or 2 work is majority duty lawyer work and discrete legal service delivery,
• SCL 3 or 4 would be focussed on casework with some duty lawyer service delivery.

On weekends, you will provide duty lawyer services at either the Northbridge Police Complex or the Perth Children's Court. You will interview accused persons who are under arrest in custody, take instructions and provide legal advice, and then appear for them in court.

When rostered at Northbridge you will provide in-person assistance to adults.

At Perth Children's Court you will assist adults in regional police lock-ups and children in detention and regional lockups, conducting interviews by telephone and representing persons appearing via videolink.

Weekend shifts may commence as early as 7am and conclude when all clients have appeared in court and urgent follow up has been completed. Weekend penalty rates apply and hours worked over a standard 7.5 hour work day accrue as flexi-time unless otherwise agreed.

We're looking for applicants who:

• are strong advocates driven by the desire to deliver the best possible outcome for every client;
• are passionate about social justice and can work effectively with clients in crisis, including those experiencing family violence or entrenched disadvantage;
• possess high level communication and interpersonal skills to manage clients who may present with drug or alcohol issues, mental illness or impairment; and
• are able to work autonomously and as part of a team in high pressure situations that might be time sensitive.