About the Role

Legal Caseworker Volunteers assist our staff solicitors in providing advice and assistance to people seeking asylum at all stages of the refugee determination process. In return, we provide an energetic and engaging workplace with ongoing training and development opportunities.

Program: Human Rights Law

The Human Rights Law Program is an accredited community legal center 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 (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

• Under supervision of solicitors, working in a busy legal clinic to deliver high-quality refugee law advice and casework at all stages of the refugee determination process (including Department, Tribunal, Federal Circuit Court and Ministerial Intervention requests).

• Undertake casework on files as instructed, including preparing protection visa applications, statutory declarations, Freedom of Information requests, case summaries and chronologies, legal submissions.

• Complete paralegal tasks for clients such as drafting correspondence, taking accurate messages, booking in clients and completing Department of Immigration forms.

• Assist with overall file management, including maintaining neat files, writing comprehensive file notes and other administrative duties as necessary.

• Undertake legal research including country of origin information, human rights reports and relevant case law or Tribunal matters.

What We're Looking For

We're looking for qualified legal professionals with a wide range of experience in the sector to support our Legal team. We need people with a minimum of 2 years of experience volunteering or employed as a Paralegal and qualified solicitors or barristers with a current Victorian practicing certificate (or eligible to apply for a Victorian practicing certificate).

• Experience working directly with clients in a legal setting.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills including the capacity to work with vulnerable clients with the assistance of phone or onsite interpreters and/or with other professionals such as caseworkers and counselors.

• 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.

• Excellent organisation, 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.

• Proficiency and experience using online legal platforms as well as Microsoft Office Suite.

• Ability to provide at least a 12-month commitment to the position.

About Us

The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) is the largest aid, employment, health, and advocacy organisation for people seeking asylum in Australia. The ASRC provides a range of direct services as well as participating in law reform, campaigning, and lobbying. The human rights of people seeking asylum and refugees are at the foundation of all we do and the workforce makes it happen, doing the work to bring the vision and purpose to life. Our organisational values are: Welcoming, Authentic, Courageous, Collaborative. For more information email volunteer@asrc.org.au