Legal Practitioner / Clinical Teacher (Practice Program) - Faculty of Business and Law

ROLE DESCRIPTION

The Legal Practitioner/Clinical Teacher will teach in the Newcastle Law School's LLB and Juris Doctor Programs, Practice Program and the Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice. The Practice Program is a client based practical legal training program for law students with its centrepiece being the University of Newcastle Legal Centre (UNLC). The Legal Practitioner will supervise students on clinical placement and conduct client casework together with teaching into the law programs. The position will involve undertaking research, service and associated work at the Newcastle Law School including enhancing the relationships which the School has with alumni, legal profession and the community.

OVERVIEW OF UNIT/SCHOOL AND POSITION CONTEXT

Newcastle Law School is a leading provider of clinical legal education in Australia. For over two decades the school has delivered high quality experiential legal education and has a deep commitment to teaching which is research driven. Students develop high level skills in fundamental disciplinary knowledge, legal analysis and reasoning, problem solving, research and argumentation techniques. The School has customised legal clinics to increase learning opportunities for students and to assist the community.

ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES AND TYPICAL ACTIVITIES

Clinical Supervision

• Supervise students on clinical placements at the UNLC including during the summer placement period and semesters 1 and 2.
• Provide feedback to and assessment of students on clinical placement.
• Conduct casework meetings with students and deliver skills seminars to students on placement at the UNLC.

Teaching

• Teach into the clinical modules in the Practice Program of the Diploma of Legal Practice.
• Teach into the undergraduate and Juris Doctor law programs.
• Design and update clinical course curriculum in the LLB (Hons) and Juris Doctor degree programs.
• Marking of student assessments.

Casework

• Manage a client caseload, provide high level advice to students and clients at clinics at the UNLC and Law on the Beach, deliver detailed legal advice and representation including court appearances to clients of the UNLC, conduct a legal practice in a specialist or specific area, undertake law reform work and draft submissions to government inquiries, commitment to public interest advocacy and undertaking work of a public interest type.

Administrative

• Perform a range of administrative functions and roles including the general administration and running of the UNLC, compliance with University of Newcastle policies and procedures and Code of Conduct, preparation of funding submissions and reports

Community Legal Education seminars

• Deliver seminars to community groups and professional organisations Develop key relationships with internal and external stakeholders including the private legal profession and courts and other legal and quasi-legal agencies

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

These are essential for the role and you are required to demonstrate with examples or evidence your ability to meet the essential criteria:

• Hold an undergraduate or postgraduate degree in Law. 
• Admitted to legal practice in NSW or equivalent, hold or eligible to hold a current practising certificate.
• Accredited specialist and/or extensive legal casework experience particularly in Start up, Family and/or Health Law.
• Demonstrated commitment to the ethos of a community legal centre.
• Demonstrated ability and commitment to the delivery of high quality teaching and clinical supervision of students.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and demonstrated legal research and submission writing skills. 
• Ability to undertake own administrative and casework duties and responsibilities including excellent computer based skills
• Excellent organisational skills and outstanding interpersonal and teamwork skills.
• Ability to meet deadlines for student assessment and client timeframes.
• Knowledge of, and experience in adhering to workplace policies and procedures in the areas of work health safety, equity, diversity and promoting a respectful workplace culture.

DESIRABLE CRITERIA

• Experience working in a legal aid or community legal service environment and in public interest advocacy.

CONDITIONS & BENEFITS

Level 9 from $110,645 to $118,548 per annum (pro-rated for part time) plus contributory superannuation with Unisuper, attracting a generous employer contribution of 17%. A range of flexible salary packaging options is also available. Additional information on benefits and conditions of employment is available via these links;

http://www.newcastle.edu.au/about-uon/jobs-at-uon/benefits-at-a-glance
http://www.newcastle.edu.au/about-uon/jobs-at-uon