Join Our Team of Family Lawyers

This role can be based in either our Adamstown or Newcastle offices.

With our “People First” outlook, we focus on attracting the right people, developing talent and honestly believe that our employees are the best of the best and we are ideally looking for a dynamic, Senior Career Legal Secretary to join our growing Family Law business, who loves doing great work with great people.

As an organisation our core purpose is to secure the best future
for every client and their family.

We do this by embedding our values into our culture of:

• People First
• Deliver and Demonstrate Excellence
• The Right Reputation
• Uncompromising Professionalism and Integrity

Our ideal candidate will have:

• 3-4 + years experience as a Legal Secretary in Family Law and you will have experience with various Court documents, preparing briefs, e- filing etc
• Legal research including property, finance and company related searches
• Experience using LEAP or similar practice software
• Advanced skills utilising Microsoft Office programs
• Exceptional stakeholder communication skills
• Manage all aspects of monthly billing process, including time recording for fee earners and handling billing queries
• General administration duties, including diary, file and document management.

Benefits and what you get from working with us:

We believe our culture sets us apart from a traditional law firm. We offer opportunities that are relevant to your role and stage of career including:

• Learning and development: we are passionate about providing ongoing learning and development, mentoring and performance coaching.
• Employee incentive scheme: we have an amazing employee incentive scheme that could see you win quarterly cash prizes as well as an all-expenses paid holiday
  Team events including the weekly drinks, end of month drinks, EOFY party, Melbourne Cup, Christmas parties and many more in-between.
• Flexible work arrangements: we understand how important flexible working arrangements are and we work with you to work out what works best for all.
• Health and Wellbeing: we have an employee assistance program where all employees and staff are able to speak to psychologists 24/7 either by phone, skype or in person. This program also extends to employees’ immediate family.
• Extra rewards: cash bonus for successful recruitment referrals and the opportunity to work in Grade A offices.
• A diverse and inclusive place to work: we celebrate the diversity of our people, and we welcome applications from everyone.

To apply please email your resume with covering letter with the subject line “Senior Legal Secretary” to [email protected]

Please note that only successful candidates will be contacted.

We are looking for someone who has spent the majority of their post admission experience practising in Family Law, has the ability to conduct matters autonomously, possesses excellent client management skills and who has a passion to develop and innovate the way Family Law services are delivered.

We have a mix of property and parenting matters, and we do not accept Legal Aid matters.

You are perfect for this role if you:

We are looking for a bright, professional and competent lawyer to join our supportive team.

To be successful in this role you will also need:

• at least 3 years PAE
• the ability to demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication skills
• the ability to build and maintain positive client, team member and referral relationships
• to be able to work autonomously and as part of a team with the ability to manage a case load and time record work.
• the ability to prioritise and organise work, be resourceful with initiative and drive to comply with time constraints and deadlines.
• familiarity with the Family Law Act and Rules, Federal Circuit Court Rules and other relevant Legislation.

Specialist Accreditation or a desire to obtain Specialist Accreditation in Family Law will be an advantage.

We are looking for bright and motivated professionals to join our team and be a part of the driving force behind the success of our Sydney office.

You will work as part of a team to service our clients in Sydney and interstate and will be supported by a strong brand, comprehensive marketing strategy, experienced team and mentoring from Senior Lawyers and Directors.

Ideally you have spent the majority of your career to date in Family Law, have an established reputation in Sydney within Family Law and have existing referral relationships.

Specialist Accreditation or a desire to obtain Specialist Accreditation in Family Law is highly desirable.

To be successful in this role you will also need:

• at least 3 years PAE,
• experience in family law property and parenting matters,
• experience in advocacy in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia,
• a strong desire to grow your practice and be a contributor to the firm’s success,
• to be able to work autonomously and as part of a team with the ability to manage a case load and time record work,
• the ability to prioritise and organise work, be resourceful, show initiative and drive,
  experience managing people,
• to deliver an exceptional client experience, and
• the ability to build and maintain positive client, team member and referral relationships.

We are looking for someone that has a genuine interest and passion for Family Law. You may have had some experience in another Law Firm, but have decided that Family Law is for you.

You will be working with our Family Law team, supporting a Senior Legal Secretary and experienced Solicitors’ on the ground in Sydney as well as an amazing wider team of Solicitors and support in Newcastle.

You will be responsible for:

• providing proactive legal support to Solicitors’ and Senior Legal Secretary
• document preparation
• liaising with clients
• client billing
• answering and transfer of calls
• general administration duties.

To successfully undertake the duties of this position you will possess:

• Ideally some experience in a law firm, preferably in Family Law,
• 1 year experience in an office environment,
• Accuracy and a minimum typing speed of 60wpm,
• Proficiency in the Microsoft Office Suite,
• Advanced organisational skills,
• Exceptional attention to detail,
• Friendly phone manner,
• Positive disposition,
• Eager to learn and quick to pick up new skills.

Company Overview

Roberts Legal Services Group Pty Limited operates 2 specialist boutique legal practices, namely, Roberts Crosbie Mortensen Lawyers, a specialist business and litigation practice, and Delaney Roberts Specialist Family Lawyers. Whilst we operate under separate brands, our staff predominantly utilise the same systems and processes and we socialise across both practices.

We have offices in Sydney, Newcastle and Adamstown, with our Adamstown office being the only office that does not house staff from each of our legal practices.

Position Overview

As People & Culture Manager you will be part of the Management Team which includes the Managing Director, Executive Directors, Financial Controller, Marketing & Communications Manager and Practice Manager.

Reporting to the Managing Director and working closely with the Practice Manager, you will play a key role in managing our company’s human resources functions and promoting a positive work culture.

Responsibilities

1. People Strategies
   • Participating in annual and quarterly strategic planning meetings, as directed.
   • Collaborating with the Management Team to support organisational growth and change management efforts.
   • Developing and implementing strategies to create and sustain a culture and reputation as an employer of choice.
   • Establish and coordinate a learning and competency assessment program, to encourage employees to proactively develop their competencies, with the attainment of levels of competency and experiences corresponding to different employee skill levels to be recognised across the firm via a form of Certificate of Attainment.
   • Measure, monitor and evaluate HR metrics and data to drive data driven decision-making and continuous improvement.
   • Identifying opportunities for continuous improvement of business, processes, system and software and implementing changes as directed.
   • Developing and managing strategic employee compensation and benefits packages, and performance incentive schemes.
2. Recruitment & Onboarding
   • Manage the end-to-end recruitment process, including preparation of position descriptions, drafting and promotion of job postings, screening candidates, conducting interviews, making hiring decisions with the Management Team, and drafting offers and Employment Agreements.
   • Leading talent acquisition efforts, including candidate sourcing, interviewing, and selection processes, particularly in relation to Solicitors.
   • Maintain relationships with key recruitment agencies and coordinate recruitment activities with recruitment agencies as directed.
   • Develop and maintain effective forms and questionnaires for initial candidate screening and job interviews.
   • Developing and implementing effective orientation and onboarding programs for new staff, including establishing effective onboarding and learning modules via Employment Hero.
   • Coordinating new employee onboarding to ensure a smooth transition and integration into the firm.
   • Developing and implementing effective processes and procedures to ascertain new employee feedback, and assess and manage new employee performance during probation periods.
3. Employee Relations
   • Proactively managing employee relations and fostering a positive workplace culture.
   • Handling employee relations issues including conflicts, grievances, disciplinary actions, and terminations.
   • Conducting investigations into workplace issues and ensuring compliance with legal and ethical standards.
4. Performance Management
   • Improving and maintaining an effective employee performance review system, including goal setting, performance reviews and feedback mechanisms.
   • Provide coaching and support to employees to help them and their teams achieve their performance objectives.
5. Training & Development
   • Identifying training needs and coordinating the delivery of training programs to enhance employee skills, performance and knowledge.
   • Facilitating professional development opportunities, including legal training, leadership development and other learning initiatives.
   • Coordinate the implementation and delivery of a Graduate Lawyer Development Program, Associate Lawyer Development Program, and Paralegal Development Program.
   • Recommend employee promotions in accordance with the Company’s Career Pathways
6. Culture & Engagement
   • Fostering a positive work culture through employee engagement activities, diversity and inclusion initiatives, and recognition programs.
   • Promoting open communication, collaboration and teamwork within the firm.
   • Maintain the firm’s Employee Assistance Program, consider EAP reports and communicate issues to the Management Team.
   • Coordinating firm-wide end of financial year and Christmas party events.
   • Facilitating regular staff social events and the establishment and maintenance of a Social Committee.
7. Compensation & Benefits
   • Conducting annual salary reviews to ensure pay equity and competitiveness within the legal industry.
   • Maintain accurate records in relation to employee promotions and salary reviews.
   • Optimising and administering the firm’s Legal Legends and other employee incentive programs.
   • Organising staff Christmas gifts and bonuses, organising Easter gifts.
   • Coordinate and manage employee birthday half day leave and work anniversary benefits.
   • Coordinating optional flu shots for staff annually.
8. Policy Development & Compliance
   • Staying current with HR trends and legal changes to ensure compliance and best practices.
   • Developing and updating HR policies and procedures to align with legal requirements and best practices.
   • Manage systems and procedures required for compliance with the Fair Work Act 2009, the Legal Services Award 2010 [MA000116] and any other applicable regulations and Awards.
9. HR Administration
   • Oversee HR administrative tasks including payroll, leave, employee records management, and HR systems maintenance including Employment Hero.
   • Ensure the accuracy, confidentiality and organisation of employee data and information.
   • Organise and maintain HR related data in Sharepoint and Employment Hero.
   • Ensure the effective operation of employee annual leave and personal leave request processes.
   • Maintain the firm’s staff keys register.
   • Coordinate access to available and allocated car parking spaces.
10. Offboarding
    • Conduct exit interviews.
    • Improve and manage offboarding process for departing employees.
    • Maintain accurate records in relation to employee resignations, performance management and terminations.
    • Calculating end of employment adjustments for including for Solicitors practising certificates, Law Society memberships, continuing professional development related expenses, and any other time related bonuses.