About the Role

The Gender Clinic is the only specialist legal service in Australia that provides legal advice and assistance to individuals seeking asylum, who may fear harm in their countries of origin on the basis of their gender, sexuality or experiences of family violence. Casework volunteers work under the supervision of our staff Gender Lawyer to provide legal advice and assistance to our clients at all stages of the refugee status determination process, within a limited assistance model. We provide an energetic and engaging workplace with ongoing training and development opportunities.

The Human Rights Law Program is an accredited community legal centre working within the ASRC to provide free, expert immigration legal advice and representation to people seeking asylum. The Human Rights Law Program comprises a team of full time solicitors (who are also Migration Agents) and works with a large team of volunteers to deliver holistic and innovative legal services. The program also engages in community legal education, law reform, sector capacity building and advocacy.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide administrative support that enables the smooth operation of Gender Clinics, including booking clients into clinics.
• Complete paralegal tasks for Gender Clinic clients such as drafting correspondence, taking accurate messages, pre-filling and completing forms (under the supervision of the Gender Lawyer).
• General administrative support of Gender Clinics, including filing and photocopying, accurate record keeping, receiving and processing mail.
• Carrying out legal research and providing memorandums of advice.
• Conduct short client appointments and communicate with clients by telephone and email (under the supervision of the Gender Lawyer).

Shifts

Depending on day can be done remotely and onsite or onsite only.

This role requires a minimum commitment of 1 shift per week for 12 months. Shifts available:

• Tuesdays 10am-5pm (hybrid)
• Wednesdays 10am-5pm (hybrid)
• Thursdays 10am-5pm (onsite)

What we’re looking for

• Only female-identifying applicants will be considered for this role. This Clinic provides services to vulnerable women and is subject to an exemption under section 28 of the Equal Opportunity Act (2010) (Vic).
• Demonstrated interest in Refugee Law and commitment to protecting the rights of people seeking asylum.
• Ability to work in a culturally appropriate manner in line with ASRC values, and adherence to our responsibilities as a Community Legal Centre.
• Ability to take instructions, accept feedback and implement constructive feedback. Flexible, collaborative attitude and ability to build strong relationships with our staff, volunteers, clients, suppliers and associates.
• Professional phone manner with high-level communication skills, including the confidence to liaise with a range of clients, staff, volunteers, associates and community members.
• Attention to detail, administrative and time management skills, and the capacity to handle ongoing and one-off tasks consistently and competently.
• Technical proficiency in Google and Microsoft systems, formatting documents, preparing letters and learning new systems.
• Previous experience in a legal office is favourable.