About us
QAI’s mission is to promote, protect and defend, through advocacy, the fundamental needs and rights and lives of the most vulnerable people with disability in Queensland.
QAI is a specialist community legal service and disability advocacy organisation dedicated to the promotion, protection and defence of the fundamental needs and rights and lives of the most vulnerable people with disability in Queensland.
QAI provides legal services in mental health and human rights law and non-legal advocacy in NDIS appeals and decision support, education, Disability Royal Commission and criminal justice matters. We also publish and educate in our fields of expertise to empower clients and their supports to self-advocate, and consider law reform and challenging systems as one of our primary purposes.
About the role
QAI is looking for a Graduate Solicitor to join our Mental Health Legal Service (MHLS) on a full-time basis. This role would suit a self-starter with initiative, who possesses high attention to detail and strong organisational skills and enjoys working in fast paced environments.
QAI offers competitive remuneration under the SCHADS Award, with remuneration commensurate with experience and includes advantageous salary sacrifice and flexible working arrangement options.
The position reports to and is supervised by the Principal Solicitors.
The functions of the role include:
- provide administrative support for QAI’s MHLS;
- open client files, including performing intake and taking initial client instructions, entry into the client management database, preparation of hard copy and electronic files and opening file correspondence;
- manage the MHLS solicitors’ calendars, including booking client advice appointments and court or tribunal matters;
- manage QAI’s casual solicitor matters, including preparing briefs and liaising with clients and relevant stakeholders;
- finalise and close client files, including liaising with the client and assistance with the preparation of final correspondence;
- provide information and referral in relation to enquiries for assistance;
- perform legal and practical research;
- prepare submissions, court documents and correspondence under the supervision of the Principal Solicitors and MHLS solicitors;
- provide extended assistance to clients within the scope of QAI’s individual advocacy services as required;
- keep and maintain QAI databases, client files and records in accordance with requirements of the Legal Profession Act, the National Association of Community Legal Centre’s Risk Management Guide and QAI’s Policies and procedures and in accordance with KPI’s established for QAI’s MHLS;
- participate in casework file reviews meetings;
- represent clients before the Mental Health Review Tribunal;
- provide via various means (in person, by telephone, email, mail, video conference etc) legal information, advice and advocacy to people with disability in various areas of law, in particular matters arising under the Disability Services Act 2006, the Mental Health Act 2016, the Forensic Disability Act 2011 and the Human Rights Act 2019 (Qld);
- provide via various means (where appropriate and resources permit) legal information, advice and advocacy support to services working with clients of MHLS, including the provision of community legal education events and material;
- participate in staff meetings, planning workshops and other meetings in connection with the operation of individual advocacy services and QAI;
- general office teamwork and assistance; and
- carry out any additional duties within the scope of the position as directed by the Principal Solicitors.
Selection Criteria
The successful applicant will be an admitted Solicitor with a current Queensland Practising Certificate or eligibility for one with experience as a paralegal, administrator or experience in a similar role who is able to meet the following selection criteria:
Essential
- Strong commitment to human rights, social justice and diversity.
- Experience as a paralegal, or experience in office administration in a legal environment.
- Strong computer competency and proficient in the use of Microsoft office including, word, excel and outlook.
- Attention to detail and highly developed organisational skills to identify priorities, manage workload, and maintain records within a resource-poor community legal service.
- Excellent interpersonal & verbal communication skills including the ability to communicate sensitively with clients and other people from diverse backgrounds.
- Excellent written skills, including ability to convey information in simple English.
- Good knowledge of the welfare and/or disability sector/s with understanding of what makes people vulnerable.
- Ability to work independently or collaboratively as part of a small team to achieve positive outcomes.
- Ability to work non-confrontationally, yet reason and argue assertively on important issues on behalf of people with disability.
- Ability to work with supervision and within organisational policy.
- Ability to exercise initiative and judgment within the sphere of work to plan, coordinate, implement and evaluate work in a strategic way.
- Current driver’s licence as travel is required as part of this role.
- It is a requirement that all practitioners appearing in the MHRT meet the Department of Health Vaccine Preventable Disease (VPD) screening requirements.
Desirable
- Experience at a community legal centre in a similar role and/or CLASS.
- Experience working with people with mental health impairments or disability.
- Knowledge of the Mental Health Act 2016 (Qld), Human Rights Act 2019 (QLD) Guardianship and Administration Act 2000 (Qld), and related legislation.
Please submit your resume and cover letter addressing the key capabilities and mandatory requirements in the Position Description and any questions addressed to the Principal Solicitors, Carly Dennis and Emma Phillips at QAI, Tel: 3844 4200 and/or email qai@qai.org.au using the subject line: MHLS Solicitor enquiry.
Applications for this position close, 5pm Monday 7th June 2021. Applications after this date may be considered.