Paralegal

Women’s Legal Service Queensland (WLSQ) provides high quality legal and social support services to women, specialising in the areas of family law, domestic violence, child protection, financial abuse legal protection and sexual assault though our counselling notes protect program. The Service is committed to the creation of a society in which every woman:

• Is safe from violence;
• Is able to tell her story, have it heard and respected; and
• Receives a fair and just outcome from legal and social welfare systems.

Paralegals provide specialised administrative and secretarial support that enables the efficient and effective delivery of legal services to our clients.

Key Responsibilities:

Provide paralegal and administrative support to Solicitors across the Service. This includes but is not limited to:

• Assisting with managing client relationships and handling client enquiries.
• Confirming appointments with clients and preparing related paperwork.
• Word processing, preparing and editing documents such as letters, file notes, Commonwealth and State court documents, briefs to counsel and other documents.
• Creating and managing precedent documents.
• Calendar and email management including monitoring and responding to emails and ensuring an effective bring-up system is in place.
• Performing administrative tasks associated with managing hardcopy and electronic files including opening and closing files, data entry, filing, file movement register and archiving.
• Managing administrative arrangements to support court appearances.
• Managing emails and saving them and relevant documents to the hard copy and electronic file.
• Managing and responding to referrals to the service and scheduling appointments as required.
• Assisting clients who arrive without an appointment, booking appointments as required and making relevant referrals.
• Managing and conducting conflict checks.
• Approaching all clients and work associated with the service with professionalism, compassion and confidentiality.
• Entering data into the Client Relationship Management program.
• Other general administration and organisational tasks as required.

Manage the administrative processes associated with Continuing Legal Education (CLE) work, including:

• Assisting with scheduling CLE’s ensuring that all the relevant information is booked and recorded (e.g. location/venue, number of attendees, key contact details, AV hire, catering etc.).
• Preparing CLE material for all attendees including relevant WLSQ specific pamphlets / information sheets etc.
• Organising travel and accommodation as required.

Undertake general clerical duties including:

• Being a back up for Administration from time to time.
• Copying, faxing, scanning, filing and shredding.
• Word processing and Dictaphone work.
• Updating WLSQ client databases and records.
• Contributing to the development and maintenance of the statistical records of WLSQ, including Attorney General data reporting.
• Assisting with maintaining WLSQ administrative systems.
• Provide administrative support to the CEO, Practice Directors and Team Leader as required.
• Foster professional and respectful relationships with staff, service providers and stakeholders.
• Work with and support other Paralegals across the Service as and when required.
• Contribute to a collaborative team culture for staff and volunteers which is professional, productive, supportive and consistent with WLSQ values and feminist principles.
• Any other tasks as requested by the Team Leader or Practice Director.

Please note, the staff the incumbent provides paralegal support to is to be determined by the Team Leader and is subject to change at any time for any reason.

Skills and Capabilities:

• Well developed and effective interpersonal and communication skills, both written and oral, including the ability to make appropriate client referrals, and communicate sensitively and appropriately with vulnerable and disadvantaged clients who may be experiencing trauma.
• Ability to respond to all queries and maintain relationships with relevant stakeholders.
• High level of administrative, organisational and time management skills including the ability to work independently and as a member of a team.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills with the ability to prioritise work and meet deadlines.
• High level of initiative to work proactively, anticipating solicitor needs and providing support as required.
• High level of attention to detail and accuracy in ensuring required processes are followed and in preparing and reviewing legal documents.
• High level of computer literacy including demonstrated experience with MS Word, MS Excel, MS Outlook, database programs and office equipment.
• Sound knowledge of DV, family law and child protection processes.
• Sound knowledge and understanding of legal and social issues affecting women from a range of different cultural and socio-economic backgrounds, and a commitment to working for a community organisation within a feminist framework in a manner consistent with the mission, purpose and values of WLSQ.
• It is a genuine occupational requirement for this position that the incumbent be a woman (Section 25 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 (Qld).