JOB DESCRIPTION: COMMUNITY LEGAL HELP COORDINATOR
POSITION: Community Legal Help Coordinator |Kaiārahi Ture a Iwi HOURS OF WORK: 37.5 hours per week (Part time/job share negotiable) RESPONSIBLE TO: To be confirmed STARTING SALARY RANGE: $53,188.00- $61,572.00
Community Law Wellington and Hutt Valley (Community Law) is an incorporated society that provides free legal advice and information to help those who cannot access other legal services. Community Law also provides free legal education and promotes law reform in the interests of its clients. To enhance the capacity of our local NGOs to provide services, we also assist local community groups with legal issues, mainly relating to governance, employment, charitable status and lease issues. Community Law also provides restorative justice services to the Wellington region.
The Community Legal Help Coordinator (CLHC) establishes, fosters and builds connections between the unmet legal need in our community and the pro bono capacity in the legal profession.
The CLCH role is essential to maximising Community Law’s ability to meet the unmet legal needs of community groups, kaupapa Māori groups, charities and vulnerable individuals in our rohe . As part of this role, the CLHC has responsibility for triaging all clients, to ensure that Community Law is meeting unmet legal need in the most efficient and effective way possible.
RESPONSIBILITIES The CLHC, working with the Senior Lawyers, the Services to Māori team and other staff, is responsible for: 1. Community group clients: Capacity building, relationship building, triage and community group client referral (to in-house community lawyers and to pro-bono partners), with a strong emphasis on supporting kaupapa Māori providers. Tracking client outcomes. 2. Pro bono relationships: Developing sustainable and productive pro bono relationships with lawyers and law firms to maximise the provision of free, high quality legal assistance to community groups in Wellington 3. Resource allocation (service delivery): Developing and maintaining a triage process for all free legal help services ensuring that services are continually improved according to their impact in the community. 4. Treaty-based relationships: Assisting to develop relationships and promote working practices consistent with Community Law’s strategic and constitutional goal of Treaty-based operation. 5. First-class volunteer programme: Working with the volunteer coordinators to maintain and develop Community Law’s first-class volunteer programme that nourishes our volunteers and our clients.
1 6. Quality of service delivery: Working with the Senior Lawyers to ensure that Community Law’s wrap- around work (including advocacy, advice, assistance, and representation) meets all regulated requirements and is of high quality. This includes ensuring that appropriate training and quality checking occurs. 7. Accountability and evaluation management: Supporting the establishment of results based accountability reporting on the impact of Community Law’s wrap-around work. Helping to ensure that staff and volunteers are accountable for the quality and effectiveness of their work. 8. External reporting and contract management: Ensuring that Community Law’s reporting requirements are fulfilled. Assisting to maintain the ongoing relationship with the Wellington City Council, and with the legal community and community services sector. 9. Reporting: Reporting regularly to the General Manager on Community Law’s work.
OTHER TASKS
The CLHC will also share responsibility for the successful day-to-day operation of Community Law. This responsibility includes:
Delivering to and accounting for the provision of services under contract with the Wellington City Council. Supporting Community Law’s systems, policies, procedures and daily operations. Contributing to the public image / publicity of Community Law Contributing to Community Law publications, including the annual report. Participating in staff meetings. Participating in activities involving other Community Law Centres.
SKILLS WE SEEK
A commitment to Community Law’s philosophy, including a commitment to te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Work Quality Excellent relationship management skills Ability to communicate legal information in plain language Knowledge of the areas of law dealt with by Community Law Excellent analytical and problem solving skills Excellent oral and written communication skills Ability to work within a community development model Good computer literacy.
Relationships Proven relationship management and influencing skills in a wide range of settings Understanding of and commitment to te Tiriti o Waitangi Sensitivity to Tikanga Māori and Te Reo Māori. Experience in working with community organisations
2 Ability to work with others including staff, management, volunteers and those in the community in a collaborative way sharing expertise and information Good networking skills. Sensitivity to the cultures and languages of New Zealand’s many ethnic groups and the ability to work in a way which is sensitive and appropriate to the needs of these groups.
Self-Management A high level of initiative and motivation. Ability to work under pressure and cope with competing demands. Ability to work without close supervision. Good organising skills.
Qualifications A relevant tertiary qualification is desirable.
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