Legal Support Officer

Organisation : Department of Families, Fairness and Housing

Reference : VG / DFFH / CDS / 730446

The Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) works hard to create equal opportunities for all Victorians to live a safe, respected and valued life. Our areas of focus are child protection, housing, disability, the prevention of family violence, multicultural affairs, LGBTIQA+ equality, veterans, women and youth. The work we do benefits thousands of Victorians, particularly those who are disadvantaged and vulnerable. We work in a variety of community-based settings, including people's homes, residential facilities and secure settings across metropolitan, rural and regional Victoria.

We are committed to developing and supporting a workforce that is well equipped and highly motivated. All jobs can be worked flexibly, and we encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and people from diverse backgrounds and abilities.

THE ROLE

The legal support officer role will provide the opportunity for penultimate and final year Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and Juris Doctor students to work in the department's Legal Services Branch. The position will give valuable insight into the role of a leading Victoria Public Service (VPS) department and build capabilities suitable for a legal career in the VPS. The role provides assistance across the business operations and litigation functions of the Central Office teams in the Legal Services Branch.

The functions of the role provide a wide range of administrative and litigation support in the day-to-day operations of the branch. The legal support officer will assist with duties including file and record management, preparation of legal research and paperwork, and triaging correspondence through central inboxes. This role will also involve data entry, matter management support, and report preparation. The legal support officer may also be requested to support the leadership team in relation to various priorities and projects for the department and its ministers.

To succeed in this role, the successful candidate will need to demonstrate they are motivated, demonstrate initiative, enthusiasm, and good judgment, and have excellent written and oral communication skills.

ACCOUNTABILITIES INCLUDE

• Provide administrative support associated with the accurate filing and record management of matters in LEX (Legal Services' internal legal matter management system), TRIM Content Management System, and Microsoft Teams such as data entry, printing, photocopying, and scanning.
• Coordinate and triage requests received by central inboxes by answering queries, providing timely advice, and undertaking general follow-up action as required, including correctly redirecting incoming requests and queries.
• Undertake court file searches, attend to court filing, and conduct basic legal research using online systems as required.

HOW TO APPLY

All VPS employees (and ex-VPS employees with extended access to the Jobs and Skills Exchange website) MUST apply via the Jobs and Skills Exchange portal. Applicants are encouraged to apply online. Attachments can be uploaded in .doc, .docx, .pdf, .txt, or .rtf formats. Applicants are required to submit a CV and Cover Letter (max 2 pages) outlining their suitability to the role in line with the Key Selection Criteria. Applicants must be an Australian Citizen, Permanent Resident or hold a valid work permit or visa. Work eligibility will be checked as part of the recruitment process. Preferred candidates will be required to complete pre-employment screening, including a national police check and misconduct screening.