Legal Services Commission of South Australia
JOB AND PERSON SPECIFICATIONS
Title of Position: Para Legal Adviser / Administrative Unit: Access ServicesClassification Code: ASO4 / Branch:
Stream Code: ASO / Section: Elizabeth
Career Group Code: / Occupant:
Discipline Code:
Type of Position: Full Time
Ongoing
/ Temporary / Term: Up to 12 months
/ Other
Job and Person Specifications Approval
All excluding senior positions
...... …/…/…
Director or Deputy Director
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JOB SPECIFICATION
1.Summary of the broad purpose of the position in relation to organisation goals(Its expected outcome and how it is achieved).
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The incumbent will be responsible to the Manager of Access Services through the Team Leader, to provide advice to members of the public requiring assistance with most types of legal problems across the practice areas of Family, Criminal and Civil law including advice on Administrative Law.
The purposeof this position is to enable the incumbent to help people to find solutions to legal problems. The organisational goal is to assist clients to achieve outcomes.
Applicants for the position will need to demonstrate an ability to interview members of the public who require assistance, and to then take appropriate steps as required, such as providing advice, referring clients to private legal practitioners or other agencies, assisting them with applications for legal assistance, or mediating for them with other agencies. It is also expected that the successful applicant will assist less experienced advisers as requested;participate as an adviser with the Legal Services Commission Telephone Advice Line;contribute to Community Legal Education programs run by the Legal Services Commission (LSC)and assist in Law Reform programs as required.
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2.Reporting/Working Relationships(To whom the person reports, staff for whom person is responsible, and other significant connections and working relationships within the organisation).
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Responsible to the Manager Access Services through the Team Leader, with some liaison with members of the other programs and offices of the LSC as required.
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3.Special Conditions(Such as non-metropolitan location, travel requirements, frequent overtime, etc).
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- The position islocated at theElizabethoffice of LSC confirmation will be subject to satisfactory completion of a probationary period.
- The occupant may be temporarily re-located to the Adelaideoffice or such other of the metropolitan regional offices of the LSC as directed by the Manager.
- A driver’s licence is essential.
- Some out of hours work may be necessary.
- Some occasional country travel involving overnight absence may be required.
- The successful applicant/s must be prepared to submit to a Police Records Check.
- The LSC operates a smoke-free environment.
4.Statement of Key Outcomes and Associated Activities(Group into major areas of responsibility/activity and list in descending order of importance).
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- Advise clients who attend at the LSC offices about their legal issues, identifying options and explaining consequences in a clear and unambiguous manner.
- Advise clients through the Telephone Advice Line about their legal issues, identifying options and explaining consequences in a clear and unambiguous manner.
- Refer clients requiring the assistance of other agencies or specialist services to those agencies or services, advising of the nature of assistance so available.
- Assist clients where appropriate to make applications for legal aid.
- Assist clients to negotiate with other agencies or act as mediator on behalf of clients in appropriate situations.
- Assist clients to draft simple documents or correspondence in appropriate circumstances and particularly where a grant of legal aid is not available or unlikely.
- Prepare accurate notes on the legal problems presented by clients, and document the issue(s) or actions arising.
- Advise clients of how to lodge proceedings and represent themselves before Courts and Tribunals where legal representation is not available.
- Maintain accurate statistical and narrative information concerning personal advice attendances, telephone advice statistics and other data as required.
- Attend Continuing Legal Education sessions or other such training programs as are required by the LSC.
- Assist with the Community Legal Education program to research topics and projects and assist with the development of educational and training material.
- Assist with policy submissions as appropriate.
- Present information sessions for various community services and agencies.
- Assist with Law Reform programs as directed.
- Perform such other duties consistent with the classification for this position and the summary of duties herein, as may be directed from time to time.
The incumbent is expected to work in a manner consistent with the Code of Conduct for the South Australian Public Sector Employees.
The incumbent is responsible and accountable for working in a safe manner and taking reasonable care to protect his/her own health, safety and welfare and the health, safety and welfare of others at work by complying with OHS&W and EEO legislation policies and practices.
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Acknowledged by Occupant ...... …/…/…
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PERSON SPECIFICATION
ESSENTIAL MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS (Those characteristics considered absolutely necessary).
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1.Educational/Vocational Qualifications(Include only those listed in Commissioner’s Determination No 27 as an essential qualification for the specified classification group).
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Recognised degree in Law.
Admitted to the Supreme Court of South Australia or eligible for admission to practise law in South Australia.
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2.Personal Abilities/Aptitudes/Skills(Related to the job description, and expressed in a way which allows objective assessment).
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Ability to -
- confidently provide accurate and concise advice by assessing problems logically, thoroughly and reliably with due skill and diligence.
- relate well to members of the public by engendering trust, confidence, openness and frankness.
-utilise highly developed inter-personal skills.
-research quickly and accurately such matters as require research.
-organise and retrieve information to assist with client's legal problems.
-work as part of a team.
-communicate clearly in correspondence, by telephone and in an interview situation.
- work with the information technologies similar to those used at the LSC.
-motivate self and others.
-respect the rights and preserve the confidence and dignity of all clients.
-understand, appreciate and be sensitive to cultural and ethnic differences.
-relate to other members of the LSC staff.
-relate effectively to government and non-government agencies, other professional organisations and legal practitioners.
-work effectively under pressure
Initiative and ability to work under limited supervision.
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3.Experience(Including community experience).
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Experience :-
-in professional service delivery, preferably with special needs groups in the community.
-in the provision of legal advice to the public, legal research, the preparation of legal documents and the justice system generally.
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4.Knowledge
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Knowledge of :-
- the law and legal procedures in South Australia, particularly as they might relate to clients of the LSC.
-community resources.
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DESIRABLE CHARACTERISTICS
(To distinguish between applicants who have met all essential requirements).
1.Personal Abilities/Aptitude/Skills
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-A strong commitment to equality and access to justice for all persons.
-Public speaking skills.
-Word processing skills.
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2.Experience
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Experience in the provision of legal advice to the public in a legal practice, including a Community Legal Centre.
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3.Knowledge
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Knowledge of:-
-the organisation, procedures and operation of the LSC.
-information technologies with respect to service provision.
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4.Educational/Vocational Qualifications(Considered to be useful in carrying out the responsibilities of the position).
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-Ability to speak a second language as well as English.
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