Paralegal opportunity with a FOI focus
**Your new company**
Our client is a reputable federal government department.
**Your new role**
Working with a collaborative in-house legal team, you will assist the lawyers by carrying out the following duties:
- Supporting the Freedom of Information (FOI) of the agency by receiving, assessing, and processing requests in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 1982 within specific statutory timeframes
- Checking FOI mailbox for new requests and correspondence relating to existing requests;
- Considering and dealing appropriately with correspondence relating to existing requests, including saving it in records management system;
- Creating electronic record of any current requests, saving request in records management system, and adding requests to FOI log;
- Determining whether consultations with third parties is required and issuing associated correspondence;
- Monitoring cases where review rights may be exercised and sending out documents as required from the FOI mailbox;
- Liaising with internal stakeholders;
- Preparing FOI decision to send to applicant, and any other associated correspondence with third parties
**What you'll need to succeed**
- No prior experience in Freedom of Information is required;
- Tertiary qualifications in governance/compliance/legal or business-related discipline or in the process of obtaining such qualifications;
- Organising, prioritising, monitoring and reporting on work in the context of competing priorities;
- Communicating confidently and presenting messages in a clear, concise and articulate manner;
- Researching, analysing and problem solving;
- Analysing information and data to make decisions and provide recommendations for review or clearance by senior staff;
- Maintaining and filing records in accordance with information management processes and security requirements;
- Demonstrated advanced word processing and computer skills including Microsoft Office suite; and
- Excellent oral and written communication skills with particular attention to detail and proofreading ability.
**What you need to do now**
If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion on your career.
2839865
📌 Paralegal
🏢 Hays
📍 Sydney