North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency Ltd

Duty Statement

POSITION: Legal Secretary / Personal Assistant (PA)

LOCATION: Darwin

POSITION OVERVIEW

The North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency Ltd (NAAJA) provides legal aid for Indigenous people in the Top End of the Northern Territory, with offices in Darwin and Katherine.

We are recognised as a leading legal service and in 2010 received the prestigious Law Award from the Australian Human Rights Commission for our work. We are committed to providing quality representation for our clients and bringing about long term change in the justice system through law reform and education.

The Civil Law Section consists of 18 lawyers, including the Managing Solicitor, across our offices in Darwin and Katherine. Support staff including secretarial and client service officers assist in ensuring the provision of effective legal services to our clients. NAAJA’s civil law practice is an extremely busy and diverse one, with practice areas including police accountability, child protection, adult guardianship, consumer, discrimination, tenancy, social security and victims of crime assistance claims. The team also has solicitors who practice in family law.

The Criminal Law Section consists of criminal solicitors working in the areas of youth summary, indictable and appellate crime, supported by administrative and client service staff who play a vital role in ensuring the provision of effective legal services to our clients.

The Law and Justice Projects section delivers a range of innovative and culturally strengthening projects, including our award-winning Throughcare project.

The work requires high levels of motivation, energy and a commitment to professional excellence. Suitably qualified Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are encouraged to apply.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS Practice Manager and Senior Legal Secretary / PA

DUTIES  Provide word processing services to assigned lawyers within specific time frames;

1 2  ensure that all client files are maintained according to legal practice standards;

 register and distribute daily mail for the Criminal Law Section;

 photocopying, faxing and other administrative tasks;

 enter and retrieve client information from the Client Management System;

 answer phone calls/take messages/assist with reception when required;

 ensure correct recording of information about all clients in the CMS;

 other duties as directed.

SELECTION CRITERIA Essential: The skills and personal qualities to act as a CONFIDENTIAL secretary.

 Competent typist (minimum of 50-60 words per minute) with the ability to use a personal computer as both a word processor and filing system.

 Experience in performing general secretarial duties including screening solicitors’ calls, making appointments, receiving information for/from clients and assisting clients.

 Demonstrated highly effective administrative and organisational skills with a sound knowledge and experience in office procedures, including audio typing, reception and file management (manual and computerised).

 Demonstrated ability to work under supervision and as part of a team.

 Knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and an understanding of the law and justice issues affecting Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islander people in contemporary Australian society.

 An ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.

Highly Desirable  An ability to communicate sensitively and effectively with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

 An understanding of the role and function of NAAJA and a general knowledge of the legal process.

 Current NT Drivers Licence.

2 Please note: applicants for this position must address the selection criteria in their written application, which should be sent to [email protected]