Paralegal, Family Law

Objective

The Paralegal, Family Law will work within the Centre's Family Law team to support the Family Law Continuity Program in the delivery of client services, including Family Law litigation, primarily to clients impacted by family violence. 

The paralegal role will work between the Frankston and Bentleigh offices on a rostered basis. 

Organisational Context 
Peninsula Community Legal Centre (PCLC) is one of 49 community legal centres in Victoria. It operates across six local government area in the south east of Melbourne – Cardinia, Casey, Frankston, Glen Eira, Kingston and Mornington Peninsula. PCLC is headquartered in Frankston and has branch offices in Bentleigh, Cranbourne, Frankston North and Rosebud.

PCLC works to empower and support disadvantaged community members of the South Eastern and Westernport region to use the law and legal system to protect and advance their rights and broaden their awareness of their responsibilities. PCLC offers general legal advice and casework services, specialist Family Law, tenancy, family violence, rooming house and social work programs, and is active in community legal education and law reform work.

PCLC Vision & Values 
Vision
Delivering justice for our community – Promoting and protecting human rights and equality before the law

Values
• Fairness
• Empowerment
• Accessibility
• Respect
• Integrity
• Independence
• Quality

Mission
PCLC will:
• Empower and support disadvantaged and vulnerable people in our community to address their legal needs
• Engage and build an ever strengthening and capable legal practice
• Foster and maintain a network of support for the vulnerable and disadvantaged within our community
• Support families in the provision of services that champion child welfare and safety in the eyes of the law
• Deliver a legal service that builds our community toward building one free from violence

Objectives
 • Deliver high quality and holistic community legal services, ensuring equity, fairness and justice for all
• Actively engage in systemic advocacy, to promote and enhance human rights and ensure access to justice
• Proactively develop the organisation and its employees to effectively respond to changing community needs
• Innovatively and responsively address increasingly complex legal and social issues impacting upon our community
• Demonstrate leadership within our community and the legal assistance sector

Job Description 

1. Support the Family Law Continuity Team in the delivery of client services to those experiencing family violence within the FV2FL funding model.  
2. Work collaboratively with the Family Law Continuity team to allocate referrals and undertake follow up liaison with clients.
3. Undertake general administrative duties, including the preparation of files.
4. Assist in the drafting of correspondence, applications, and document responses.
5. Develop and maintain up-to-date knowledge of relevant information, resources, and referral options for clients.
6. Undertake legal research.
7. Participate in regular team meetings.
8. Assist with collection of data and preparation of reports and other accountability requirements.
9. Ensure that all work is conducted within the requirements of the Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Act 2014, the Centre’s professional indemnity insurance and the Centre’s policies and procedures.
10. Liaise with relevant organisations and workers.
11. Liaise with and report to the Practice Manager, Family Law on a regular basis.

Selection Criteria 

• Tertiary qualifications or undertaking tertiary study in a relevant field such as law, community services, or social work.
• Highly developed organizational and administrative skills and the ability to work under pressure and manage competing priorities.
•  Understanding of family violence and the challenges impacting vulnerable    community members when accessing the family violence and Family Law systems.
•  Demonstrated knowledge of and commitment to social justice principles,    understanding of   the legal assistance sector and a commitment to PCLC ‘s vision  and values.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Knowledge of the law and legal system, relevant legislation, legal terminology and court procedures relating to Family Law.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Client Management & Data Systems such as Actionstep, Outlook & Excel
• Holds a current Victorian Driver’s Licence and has access to a reliable and comprehensively insured vehicle.