Principal Solicitor - Seniors and Mental Health Specialist Legal Services - Cairns
Cairns Community Legal Centre Inc
Job Summary
Cairns Community Legal Centre Inc
* $122,665.13 per annum, plus 17.5% leave loading
* Temporary Maternity Leave Position-12 Months
What We Offer:
Generous Salary range above-Award conditions
35-hour week paid at 38 hours
15 days Personal Leave
Salary packaging options to increase your take-home pay
Additional paid leave over the Christmas shutdown period
About Cairns Community Legal Centre
The Cairns Community Legal Centre is a non-profit, government-funded community organisation, committed to providing free legal and social justice services to a range of disadvantaged clients.
The Centre extends its services across a range of areas of law including guardianship, domestic violence, peace and good behaviour matters, consumer law, credit, debt, motor vehicle property damage, discrimination and human rights, family law, child protection, elder law, criminal and traffic matters.
This work is provided for a diverse range of clients including people with disabilities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, those experiencing domestic or family violence, financial difficulties and homelessness.
You will have demonstrated experience in practice areas relevant to the areas of law offered by the Centre, including but not limited to domestic and family violence, consumer law, mental health, family, and elder law.
About The Role
Based in Cairns, the Principal Solicitor is responsible for driving the strategic direction of our legal and non-legal teams providing advice and casework services across a diverse range of funded programs including Cairns Seniors Legal & Support Service, Seniors Legal & Social Support Services - Cape York & Torres Strait, Mental Health Legal Service, and Mental Health Review Tribunal Service. As a member of the Executive team, and reporting to the CEO, you will:
Lead complex, high-impact casework and strategic litigation
Provide legal supervision and mentoring to staff solicitors, social workers and non-legal staff and volunteers
As the Responsible Person, operate in an environment of continuous improvement, ensuring compliance with all professional and regulatory obligations including the Risk Management Guide
Identify, evaluate, and pursue opportunities for growth aligned with our strategic goals
Build and maintain a positive, respectful, and high-performing team culture
Participate in collaborative decision making with other senior leaders
Develop and maintain relationships with stakeholders including our funders, government departments, the private and community legal sectors
Oversee and contribute to law reform, community legal education, systemic advocacy, and project development in a way that promotes our vision, mission, and values.
The Person
The ability to consider your work through the lens of client impact is essential. You will be eligible to hold an unrestricted Practicing Certificate and have relevant post-admission experience including complex litigation and people management (preferably 3+ years).
Current eligibility for Blue and Yellow Cards (mandatory criminal history screening)
Experience in risk management, compliance and quality assurance in legal practice
Experience in legal strategy, stakeholder engagement, and program development
An adaptable, accountable, strong, and collaborative leadership style
Commitment to trauma-informed, culturally safe, and client-centred practice
Ability to travel within the region as required to outreach clinics.
You will also hold (or be able to hold within an agreed timeframe) a full Queensland driver's licence.
Highly Regarded
Previous experience as a Principal/Practice or Program Manager (3+ years)
Qualifications or experience in community leadership, social justice, or human services
Eligibility to hold a Principal Practising Certificate (not essential in Community Legal)
Selection Criteria
Please provide a response to the criteria below:
* Demonstrated high level of written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills including the ability to:
o a) Work effectively with the Senior Management Team, staff and other stakeholders to achieve results that meet the needs of the Centre and its clients.
o b) Convey complex information to vulnerable clients experiencing disadvantage.
* Highlight your case management experience, including your experience in solving complex legal problems and providing sound and considered guidance in relation to ethical issues.
* You will be responsible for the supervision and management of the Centre's legal and non-legal teams. Please outline any previous supervision, management and leadership experience.
* This role will require you to work and conduct yourself in accordance with the values and behaviours expected of the Centre. Outline your demonstrated ability to meet this requirement.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants are encouraged to apply. Cairns Community Legal Centre Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Recruitment and Retention policy sets out our commitment to:
Fostering a culturally inclusive workplace where people feel welcomed and valued,
Promoting and enhancing cultural safety and respect, and
Promoting permanent career opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander job seekers, including retention.
As part of your employment you will be required to undertake a criminal history check.
Please note that for this vacancy, we will not be considering submissions from Agencies.
Previous applicants need not apply.
To request the position description please email lucy@cclc.org.au using the subject line: Principal Solicitor - Seniors and Mental Health Specialist Legal Services - Cairns enquiry via EthicalJobs.
* $122,665.13 per annum, plus 17.5% leave loading
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