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Legal Associate

Job No: FedCourt139
Location: Cairns

Classification: APS level 4
Salary: $63,794 - $69,264 per annum pro-rata, plus superannuation
Job Type: Non-ongoing, Part-time for a period of 12 months with possible extensions. Days/Hours will be negotiated with the judge.
Position #: 1395
Reports to: Judicial Services Team Leader

Overview of Agency
The Federal Court of Australia (the Entity) is a non-Corporate listed entity for the purposes of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (PGPA Act) and a statutory agency for the purposes of the Public Service Act 1999. The Entity supports the operations of the Federal Court of Australia (FCA), Family Court of Australia (FCoA), the Federal Circuit Court of Australia (FCC) and the National Native Title Tribunal (NNTT). The FCA, FCoA and FCC are Chapter III Courts under the Australian Constitution and continue to operate as individual judicial jurisdictions.

Court Jurisdiction
The Family Court of Australia, through its specialist judges and staff, assists Australians to resolve their most complex legal family disputes. The Family Court is a superior court of record established by Parliament in 1975 under Chapter 3 of the Constitution.

The purpose of the Court, as Australia’s superior court in family law, is to:

  • determine cases with the most complex law, facts and parties 
  • cover specialised areas in family law, and 
  • provide national coverage as the appellate court in family law matters. 

The Court maintains registries in all Australian states and territories except Western Australia.

Purpose of Position
Legal associates assist with researching cases, points of law, preparing matters for hearing including other related matters for first instance judges and of the Court. Legal associates are responsible for providing assistance to judicial officers during court hearings and other administrative support to judges, as required. In addition, legal associates perform court support duties, when required.

Legal associates primarily provide assistance to two designated judges but may be asked to assist other judges if the need arises. Some travel may be required.

Important Functions
The person appointed to this position is expected to carry out his or her duties so as to:

  • satisfy all relevant statutory obligations
  • satisfy the Australian Public Service Values and Code of Conduct
  • contribute to and support achievement of the Court’s Strategic and Business Plans
  • operate within the Court’s policies and procedural guide lines, and
  • support and contribute to the Court’s Service Charter

Key Responsibilities and Duties
The occupant of this position:

  • provides research assistance to judicial officers
  • assists judicial officers with the management of cases and, if required, enters data into the Court’s case management system
  • assists with the preparation of matters for both the Court and the Judge, with the Judge’s judgment writing as required including head notes, catch wording, and editing in line with the Court’s judgments publication standards
  • undertakes judicial associate and client service (court officer) duties, if required, and provides assistance by updating chambers loose leaf series, and
  • assists with the general operation of chambers, when required.

Reporting Relationships
A legal associate reports to the Regional Coordinating Judge (or in some cases the Case Management Judge) initially through the Team Leader Judicial Support/Court Services Manager for general administrative matters and day to day operations with the Principal Registrar responsible for professional development and training.

Eligibility
Employment with the Court is subject to the conditions prescribed in the Public Service Act 1999, and the following:

  • Australian citizenship – the successful applicant must hold Australian citizenship;
  • Security and character clearance – the successful applicant must satisfy a Police Records Check, and may also be required to complete security clearances during the course of their employment;
  • Health clearance – the successful applicant may be required to complete a health declaration or attend a medical assessment to confirm their fitness for duty.

Interested candidates who have received a redundancy benefit from an APS agency are welcome to apply, but note that they cannot be engaged until their redundancy benefit period has expired.

Qualifications
It is a mandatory that candidates have completed (or near completed) a qualification in law with a strong academic record and have completed the family law subject.

Selection Criteria

  1. Ability to undertake research (including on-line research) and prepare reports and written correspondence.
  2. Sound organisational skills including the ability to manage priorities, meet deadlines and work effectively under pressure in a team environment.
  3. Well-developed interpersonal skills including tact, discretion, initiative and the ability to communicate effectively with members of the judiciary, the legal profession, the public and other court staff.
  4. Ability to operate computer-based equipment and associated word processing and other software.
  5. Knowledge, or ability to acquire knowledge, of Family Court functions, the organisation, practices, procedures and terminology.

How to Apply
To be considered you will need to upload a comprehensive statement of claims against the selection criteria, attach your transcripts and an up to date resume by 11:55pm AEDT on 20 December 2018.

For more information contact Sandy Giarrusso, Registry Services Team Leader, by phone: 07 4052 5507 or email sandy.giarrusso@familycourt.gov.au

Please note due to the Christmas break, applicants should not expect to hear anything until early January 2019.

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