Norton Rose Fulbright is a global legal practice. We provide the world's pre-eminent corporations and financial institutions with a full business law service. We have more than 4,000 lawyers based in over 58 offices across Europe, the United States, Canada, Latin America, Asia, Australia, Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia.
In 2021, NRF employed its first national pro bono partner, Chris Owen, who is based in our Perth office. In the last four years, Chris has established a top-tier national pro bono legal practice group as part of our firm's focus on increasing our contribution to the community, building stronger client relationships, and enabling our lawyers to develop their legal skills. The practice has won a number of awards for its work.
Chris also serves as Chair of NRF Australia's Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) work. In this capacity, he leads the team providing ESG advice to commercial clients, as well as directing the internal ESG initiatives within NRF.
The Opportunity
NRF has a new opportunity for a National Pro Bono Coordinator to join our dynamic national team, with the role to be based in any of our Sydney, Melbourne Brisbane or Perth offices. As part of the pro bono team, you will help support NRF's national and global pro bono strategy. You will assist the team with coordinating pro bono matters and projects (including legal clinics), managing events, supporting pro bono team operations, and collaborating with stakeholders across Australia and globally.
Broadly this will involve:
Pro bono matter intake and ongoing matter and clinic management:
* Assessing requests for pro bono assistance in line with our pro bono strategy, and placing matters within the firm (with the oversight of a senior member of the team as needed and for complex matters).
* Handling matter openings, conflict checks, Anti-Money Laundering processes, and engagement letters.
* Handling follow-up work on pro bono files (such as internal file budgets and disbursements).
* Managing our pro bono legal clinics, and running the clinics with our internal volunteer lawyers by rostering volunteers to a clinic based on present capacity, informing clinic hosts as needed, and booking and invoicing interpreters if needed.
* Liaising with our pro bono clients in relation to the clinics.
Client Service
* Liaising directly with pro bono and commercial clients (internal and external) by managing calls, taking and forwarding messages, dealing with enquiries by directing them to the appropriate area to ensure client expectations are met in a timely manner.
* Providing general administrative assistance, including photocopying, faxing and scanning of documents; and sorting and distributing internal mail.
* Preparing bundles, indexes and filing Court documents (for contentious matters only).
Calendar, Mailbox & Travel Management
* Assisting the team with calendar management in an accurate and timely manner by ensuring sent/received appointments are accepted or declined, clashes are discussed, and travel time is considered.
* Organising domestic and international travel arrangements for partners and all members of the pro bono team, in line with firm guidelines.
Practice & Financial Management
* Opening and maintaining updates to physical/electronic files, adhering to conflict checking and records management processes as part of the matter management process, including assisting to draft pro bono engagement letters.
* Managing billing for, and payment of, disbursements and other costs.
* Arranging financial information for, and completion of, external pro bono reports which need to provide details about the matters we undertake to external stakeholders, including to Government.
Business Development & Marketing
* Maintaining contact information in the Client Relationship Management (CRM) system (Interaction) by updating, sharing and syncing Outlook contacts; work with the team to review bounce-back reports and update contact records accordingly.
* Updating Interaction for team events
Events Support
* Assisting the team to organise from inception to completion, in-house staff events in accordance with the How-to guides developed by the Events team.
* Providing logistical and administrative support for standard client seminars held in the local office; and support signature whole-of-office client events as required.
* Assisting with the production of webinars by scheduling rehearsals; testing and pre-event set up; supporting the event by sharing screens / presentation; running polls if required; recording and filing content.
* Coordinating projects with charity partners and legal centres.
About You
To be successful in the role, candidates should be able to demonstrate:
* Prior experience in practice support and/or administrative roles in a professional services firm or corporate environment is preferred.
* Genuine interest in pro bono issues, including access to justice and environmental, social and governance (ESG) topics.
* Strong internal and external stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to communicate professionally with a wide range of clients, including vulnerable individuals, not-for-profits, NGOs, and commercial clients.
* Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including proven ability to draft non-routine correspondence and documentation with high attention to detail.
* Strong initiative and independence, as well as the ability to work effectively as part of a team. Highly effective team player who maintains an enthusiastic, inclusive, positive and proactive approach.
* A client service-oriented focus, ensuring client expectations are met in a timely and professional manner.
* Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced team environment.
* High attention to detail and proficiency in the Microsoft Office Suite, including advanced Outlook and Word, and intermediate Excel and PowerPoint skills.
* Exposure to practice management systems.
* Strong organisational skills, with the ability to promptly manage emails, files and communications.
Norton Rose Fulbright values diversity and strives to create an inclusive environment. We are proud that Norton Rose Fulbright in Australia has been recognised as an Employer of Choice for Gender Equality by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) as well as a gold tier employer for LGBTI Inclusion through the Australian Workplace Equality Index. In 2023 we were re-accredited as a Family Inclusive Workplace and always encourage people to discuss flexible and hybrid work options with us.
We encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates to apply.
Please be aware
in the course of routine work
*some of our lawyers and teams can be exposed to details of trauma. The firm has controls in place including educational and psychological support. Our talent team can provide further details.*