Description:
The incumbent is also responsible for assisting criminal duty counsel services by providing direct client service and administrative support, including client and surety interviews, triaging client needs and referring clients to appropriate services and resources and speaking to adjournments. The incumbent requires knowledge of certificate and roster management processes for the Central East district and organization.
Reporting to: Manager, District Operations
Key accountabilities
- Interview clients to gather information about case, field telephone calls from clients, and assist the lawyer manager with client queries, referrals, requests for information etc.;
- Assessment of the client needs to determine the appropriate service for the client, including the early identification of vulnerable clients so that the appropriate service and referrals can be made
- Carry out initial intake of clients, including administering the financial and legal eligibility tests.
- Complete applications or certificate management for vulnerable clients as needed
- Assist clients and lawyers on the phone and/or in-person by providing general information, including the status of applications, appeals or referrals.
- May require to assist with the drafting and preparation of variation applications for support, noncomplex family applications for custody, access, and support and any other documents required by the Family Law Rules, under the direct supervision of lawyer;
- Maintaining tickler systems, interviewing criminal clients and potential sureties as support for staff lawyers, ability to interview criminal clients with mental health issues for intake purposes;
- Familiarity and competence with proper maintenance of client data base, computer information databases such as Legal Files and Divorcemate, conflict of interest systems, file tickler systems, and basic principles of family law;
- Check for conflicts, assign files to duty counsel and schedule document preparation appointments in family law matters.
- Address matters in court (remote or in-person)
- Input client data in PeopleSoft through Service Integration.
- Liaise with private bar lawyers and other appropriate court stakeholders.
- Perform office administration tasks such as data input, ordering supplies, maintaining files, scheduling per diem duty counsel and other tasks as assigned
- Perform other duties as required. Required skills & experience
- Familiarity with financial eligibility, certificate coverage and tariff guidelines;
- Travel will be required
Required skills & experience
- Excellent communication, interpersonal and interview skills.
- Ability to exercise sound judgment in interacting with clients, lawyers and other agencies, especially in stressful situations.
- Sound knowledge of LAO guidelines, policies and procedures.
- Excellent drafting and word processing skills, some familiarity with family law software programs, such as Divorcemate and Legal Files;
Ability to effectively identify the needs of the clients, in order to refer them to the appropriate services
- Ability and willingness to learn and adapt to new or modified policies and procedures.
- Good understanding of family and criminal court processes and the rules and practice directions for all levels of court serviced by duty counsel;