Criminal Practice Manager

The central object of the Movement is to assist Aboriginal persons (especially those Aboriginal persons who are detained in custody or imprisoned) to relieve their poverty, the consequences of their dispossession and social misfortune and to assist further in removing destitution and helplessness amongst Aboriginal people through the use of the legal system of the State of South Australia and the Commonwealth of Australia. (Please refer to ALRM Intranet for more core ALRM Objectives),

Key Responsibilities 

Under the direction of and through delegations from the Principal Legal Officer (PLO), the Criminal Practice Manager:

• Leads and manages criminal legal and support staff who provide or support the delivery of legal services, including staff working in regional offices.
• Is responsible for the smooth and efficient conduct of the criminal legal practice and professional service aspects of ALRM’s criminal legal casework and duty solicitor services.
• Is responsible for the smooth and efficient conduct of the Criminal Section in the consistent achievement of key performance indicators under the NLAP contract, 
• Assists the CEO and PLO in negotiations and dealing with government over all matters relevant to the work of the section that arise under the NLAP contract.
• Provides supervision, support and assistance to legal practitioners and administrative support staff engaged in the provision of criminal legal advice and representation services.
• Provides support and assistance to Aboriginal Field Officers engaged in the provision of services.
• Establishes, implements, reviews and manages systems, ensuring ALRM uphold professional standards and work practices to ensure the quality-of-service delivery to Aboriginal people of South Australia.
• Through the PLO, provides timely advice to the Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement Board and Chief Executive Officer on matters affecting the efficient delivery of criminal law legal advice and representation to the clients of Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement, including through the provision of formal reports and other relevant activities.
• Is responsible for the day-to-day management and allocation of resources for criminal legal casework and duty solicitor work, including the scheduling and allocation of professional and other staff to criminal matters, the selection and management of alternate legal service providers and the management and monitoring of criminal casework activities and the general performance of the section.
• Takes responsibility for the professional conduct of all criminal legal staff including the review of staff performance and in line training and development requirements.
• Exercises the power, delegated by the PLO, for the assessment, acceptance and conduct of legal casework assistance, in collaboration with the members of the Briefing committee and the Chief Executive Officer.
• Represents the Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement Board at relevant professional forums and other conferences or meetings.  To ensure that Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement effectively operates as part of the network of legal services available to meet the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and as an effective member of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services network.
• Provides high quality, professional and culturally appropriate legal advice, representation, information and education in relation to to criminal law matters generally.
• Provides leadership and support to the staff of the criminal section, and lawyers operating from within regional offices, including where appropriate, fostering a climate of continuous improvement, learning and development.
• Co-ordinates and manages continuous development in the criminal section and supervises the professional development of each practitioner.
• Performs staff appraisals and performance management, where appropriate.
• Is a member of the Briefing Committee. 
• Is jointly responsible with the PLO and civil Practice Manager for the operation of the ALRM law practice   Trust Account in accordance with the Rules prescribed from time to time through the Legal Practitioners Act and regulations.
• Is a member of the Senior Management Team – attends and participate in meetings and is proactive in the creation and implementation of annual service plans and strategic plans to further the interests and purpose of the organization. Under the delegation of the PLO to implements policy and procedure to effect Board resolutions when required.  Contributes positively to organisational management and support operations towards the achievement of organisational goals.
• Under the election for the PLO understands and applies ALRM and Attorney General’s Department Policies and guidelines as they relate to the provision of legal aid services to clients.  Assists the Principal Legal Officer and Chief Executive Officer in meeting accountability responsibilities to ALRM’s funding bodies and in the development of funding submissions and proposals.
• Liaises with other legal service providers, Federal and State Authorities and other agencies as required.
• Performs such other duties commensurate with the functions of ALRM and this classification, as may be required.
• Models politeness and professional courtesy in communication with clients, major stakeholders of ALRM and the general public.
• Encourages and sustain a cooperative, “can do” work environment built within an ethos of legal professionalism.
• Supports and works with people from diverse backgrounds and value systems and subject to cultural difference and special needs.
• Carries out weekly conferences with the Civil Practice Manager to ensure that new clients granted or to be granted legal aid, are not in conflict with each other, such that a conflict of interest may arise in the ALRM law practice. In the event that a conflict of interest arises, the criminal and civil Practice Managers together will manage that conflict of interest, generally by the referral of the new criminal client to another service provider. 

Essential Criteria

• Admitted or eligible for admission as a legal practitioner of the Supreme Court of South Australia and as a practitioner of the High Court of Australia.
• Knowledge and experience in the application of the South Australian Legal Practitioner’s Conduct Rules 2022 and the ability to engender knowledge and awareness of the conduct rules and appropriate legal practice in the criminal legal team.
• Minimum of 7 years’ experience as a legal practitioner. Demonstrated experience in the conduct of a criminal and human rights legal practice.
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of the impact of colonisation and the Australian legal system on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their communities and the requirements for effective professional client representation.
• Capacity to manage the provision of legal casework, including higher court work, and to manage legal casework briefed to other service providers.
• Demonstrated experience as a legal practitioner in providing legal advice and representation in relation to criminal matters.
• Capacity to work as a member of a senior management team.
• Demonstrated commitment to efficient and effective culturally appropriate legal services.
• Demonstrated experience in the management of costs related to the provision of in-house and briefed out legal services.
• Capacity to work as a member of a senior management team.
• Demonstrated commitment to efficient and effective culturally appropriate legal services.
• Demonstrated experience in the management of costs related to the provision of in-house and briefed out legal services.
• Highly developed and effective interpersonal communication, negotiation, strategic and business planning skills.
• Demonstrated capacity to work effectively in an Aboriginal organisation demonstrating respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and Cultures.
• Commitment to delivering culturally appropriate services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients.                                                                
• Demonstrated ability to work with and exhibit high-level organisational and administrative skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to efficient and effective service delivery with a client-centred focus.
• Ability to manage and balance priorities in an environment of high workloads and varied casework and to implement policies and practices of continuous improvement in efficient service delivery.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office packages.
• Ability in the practical use of office equipment and office systems.
• Ability to work collaboratively and share decision making.
• Ability to demonstrate respect, approachability and where necessary, to mediate.
• Ability to demonstrate consistency and to model exemplary leadership qualities and behavior.

Desirable Criteria

• Demonstrated knowledge of Equal Opportunity, Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare standards.
• A sound understanding of the objectives of Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement, its services and clients.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the diversity of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people.
• Knowledge and understanding of the Organisation’s Core Values (Code of Conduct) and the Employee Conduct Policy.
• Experience in managing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as staff members.
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• Please direct applications of a one-page covering letter and with a Curriculum Vitae by the close of business Tuesday 26th March 2024 to: 

 Julie Batt

                HR ADVISER

                Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement

                321-325 King William St

                Adelaide SA 5000

                Email: ******@alrm.org.au