Solicitor/Senior Solicitor & Clinical Educator (Student Legal)

SUMMARY 

• Full-time and part-time applications will be considered, as will flexibility, secondment and/or job-share. 
• Must have at least 3 years post-admission experience within Australia. Experience in Tasmania is desirable. Would suit a Tasmanian lawyer or a lawyer seeking a move to Hobart.  
• Will play a significant role in access to justice for students at the University of Tasmania and in mentoring the next generation of Tasmanian lawyers. 
• Work from the University of Tasmania in Hobart (TUSA Office), and remotely as part of Youth Law Australia’s national practice. 
• Fixed-term contract with strong possibility of extension. 
• Negotiable salary. 

ABOUT THE ROLE 

YLA is recruiting a Solicitor/Senior Solicitor to manage the TUSA Student Legal Service, an independent legal service providing free and confidential generalist legal advice and assistance within the service’s terms of reference. The solicitor will also work with the UTAS School of Law to provide clinical legal education experience to law students. The position is funded by the Tasmanian University Student Association and the University of Tasmania jointly. 

In this role you will be: 

• Improving access to justice for University of Tasmania students, and helping to solve their legal problems to make a positive difference in their lives and to help them remain engaged in study and work 
• Shaping the next generation of Tasmania’s lawyers, including through teaching the practices of good, ethical and public-interest lawyering 
• Working alongside dedicated solicitors and committed children’s rights advocates 
• Using technology to facilitate access to justice 
• Supporting YLA to lead a national network of student legal services. 

The Solicitor will report to and work under the supervision of YLA’s Principal Solicitors and will work closely with YLA’s Director, fellow solicitors, pro bono solicitors, law student volunteers, interns and trainees to provide in-person, online and phone-based legal information, advice and assistance. 

YLA provides close supervision and a trauma informed and supportive team environment. Salary is negotiable and above award salary is available. The role is equivalent to a level 6 or 7 of the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry award, depending on the candidate’s skills and experience. Salary packaging is also available. 

Because YLA’s practice is paperless and delivered via YLA’s bespoke technology platform, collaboration, support and supervision occurs within an Australia-wide online network of lawyers and law student volunteers.  

ABOUT YOU 

The Solicitor should have a commitment to the rights of children, young people and students or human rights more broadly, dedication to enhancing access to justice, and a passion for teaching and mentoring law students and young lawyers. 

Interested Solicitors should also have a moderate to high level of technological proficiency and be comfortable working across and learning to use multiple digital platforms, including soft phone, email and online case management systems. 

We strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples for all positions. 

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Provide timely and accurate verbal and written legal information, advice and assistance in a range of civil, administrative, criminal, and family law contexts. Emerging specialisations include education law, administrative law and migration law. The successful applicant will receive training in relevant areas of law. In some cases, the Solicitor will provide ongoing support, assistance, casework and legal representation to vulnerable students. 
• Work closely and collaboratively with the student advocates to support their work with students. 
• Manage the day-to-day operations of the TUSA Student Legal Service, and work towards the growth of the practice. 
• Support the delivery and supervision of quality legal work experience for a team of UTAS law student volunteers and interns.  
• Assist in maintaining and developing relationships with University stakeholders, pro bono providers, legal centres, youth organisations, referral agencies and other professional bodies in Tasmania. 
• Assist with reporting to funding bodies, partners and the Board. 
• Help ensure YLA’s legal practice and risk management requirements are met and maintain accurate records, files, accountabilities and reporting. 

DESIRABLE CRITERIA 

• Must have, or be eligible for, an unrestricted practicing certificate in an Australian jurisdiction and have at least 3 years of post-admission experience within Australia. Experience in Tasmania will be highly regarded. 
• Experience providing generalist legal services, or a demonstrated capability to develop a broad knowledge of and practice in the law (this role may suit a lawyer with experience as an employee or volunteer in a community legal centre or Aboriginal Legal Service, at Legal Aid, or in another not-for-profit organisation). 
• Demonstrated ability to work without close supervision, set priorities, organise and manage own workloads and meet deadlines. Experience signing off on legal advice and managing own caseload is desirable. Provision of efficient, timely and accurate legal advice services is essential. 
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders, and an ability to support, supervise and train junior lawyers and student volunteers, interns and practical legal trainees.