AddressPosition title: Intake & Referral Officer
Level: Band 2 Pay Point 1
Reports to: Assistant Principal Solicitor, or as delegated
Staff Management: Volunteers
Type/Hours: Part-time, up to 35 hours per week, from Monday to Friday between the hours of 8am and 8pm, hours and days to be agreed between you and the Assistant Principal Solicitor
Marrickville Legal Centre offers free legal advice and assistance to the community of the inner-west, south-west, southern suburbs of Sydney, and beyond. There are over 2 million people living in our key catchment: that’s 30 percent of Sydney’s total population.
Marrickville Legal Centre solicitors provide access to justice through the provision of legal services, law reform and community legal education, particularly for people who are disadvantaged by their social and economic circumstances.
The Intake & Referral Officer is the first point of contact for people in need of the Centre’s services. The position supports the work of the Centre by coordinating and supervising our volunteers working on our reception to provide appropriate information, legal and non-legal referrals, and arranging appointments for members of the community seeking our assistance.
The essential skills of the role are set out in the below Position Description. This position is for up to 35 hours per week on a part time, permanent basis.
Position Description
Essential skills:
- Prior experience working in a CLC or equivalent not for profit organisation – good to have.
- Legal experience in various legal practice areas.
- Ability to manage customer expectations.
- Ability to supervise and train volunteers.
- Experience in client and or customer facing roles.
- Penultimate LLB or GDLP – good to have.
- Sound judgment and outstanding analytical and contractual skills.
- Proactive and independent attitude and result oriented approach.
- Flexible, adaptable, able to challenge the status quo, and the ability to work as a team to deliver the best possible outcome for the community.
Roles and Responsibilities
Case work responsibilities:
- Oversee the Centre’s response to initial inquiries for assistance from members of the public, including:
- Making an initial assessment of legal and non-legal issues presented by people making initial inquiries of the Centre;
- Identifying issues in relation to which the Centre is able to provide assistance;
- Providing basic information in relation to simple legal and tenancy issues which do not require an appointment, using template information sheets developed by Centre solicitors and tenancy advocates; o Making appropriate service appointments;
- Making appropriate referrals for individuals seeking assistance beyond the scope of that provided by the Centre; and
- Ensuring that all relevant data is entered into the Centre’s systems, critically information and referral data that will form your service deliverables.
- Ensuring that conflict of interest checks are made in accordance with Professional Indemnity Insurance requirements and Risk Management Guidelines.
- Supervise MLC volunteers undertaking the tasks outlined above.
- Oversee the Centre’s legal and non-legal information resources including ensuring that legal information pamphlets, brochures, and resources available for distribution to members of the public presenting at reception are kept in stock and up to date.
- Assist the Operations Officer with the oversight of the provision of all office supplies and staff amenities, including ensuring adequate stock levels of cleaning products and other critical office supplies.
- To manage the workload independently and efficiently.
- To work closely with the Principal Solicitor and Assistant Principal Solicitor to ensure alignment of priorities, case management and appropriate resourcing of such pipelines.
- Working cooperatively within a team, exchanging information, and supporting other members of staff in relation to the above tasks.
Customer, stakeholder and advocacy responsibilities:
Collaborating and engaging with external legal and community services providers to ensure access to the Centre’s services.
Operational responsibilities:
Assist the Communications & Strategic Partnerships Manager with:
- The recruitment, training, and rostering of volunteers, including updating training materials.
Assist the Operations Officer to provide general administrative and IT support to staff working at the Centre, including but not limited to:
- Filing and archiving;
- Daily mail-in and mail-out;
- Monitoring office and stationery supplies;
- Data entry and ensuring that data is accurate and up to date, and
- Conduct volunteer’s skills assessments every 3 months
Work, Health & Safety (WH&S):
- Comply with the WH&S Policy and applicable regulatory and organisational WH&S rules and requirements.
- Participate in WH&S training programs and take personal responsibility for own safety
