Management Committee Member (voluntary)

Expressions of Interest

Expression of interest
Classification: General member
Type: Voluntary
Closing date: 14 June 2023

An opportunity to make a difference

Caxton Legal Centre Inc. is Queensland’s oldest non-profit, community-based legal service and is staffed by 71 staff members and approximately 200 volunteer lawyers and law students.

Caxton’s vision is for a just and inclusive Queensland. Delivering 13 programs funded by various State and Federal Government Departments, Caxton aims to redress inequalities within the legal system through free legal advice and casework, social work supports, legal education, systemic advocacy and law reform activities. Caxton approaches people and its work in the community with a commitment to accountability and responsibility, compassion and empathy, respect, integrity and collaboration.

Caxton is an incorporated association that has 10 Management Committee Members with backgrounds in law, finance and business.

Caxton is currently in a growth phase, significantly increasing the number of staff and the reach of our programs. The Management Committee and Executive Management Team have recently undertaken a strategic planning process and are developing a visionary plan that will see Caxton sustainably continue to service our clients for the next decade and beyond.

Skills and experience

Caxton is seeking Expressions of Interest from prospective professionals and community members interested in joining the Management Committee to fill a vacancy and complement the balance of skills and experience of existing Committee members.

You will offer, on a voluntary basis, a variety of leadership skills and personal/cultural characteristics that will support Caxton to continue to promote and protect the human rights of all Queenslanders.

This is an exciting voluntary role for someone who understands the social issues that impact our client group and is looking for an opportunity to shape the ongoing work of a vital community legal centre in the heart of the Brisbane.

The committee is looking to diversify the professional backgrounds and experience of its members and so while we are looking for someone with a strong commitment to legal assistance services, it is not necessary to have legal training and experience.

We are particularly keen to hear from people with digital strategy and capability, and/or strategic communication skills, who also have a desire to be part of Caxton’s reconciliation journey with Queensland’s First Nations peoples, and who shares Caxton’s values of accountability and responsibility, compassion and empathy, respect, integrity and collaboration.

In particular, applicants who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, are from CALD backgrounds, and applicants with disability are encouraged to submit an Expression of Interest.

How to submit your Expression of Interest

Please submit a one-page cover letter outlining your relevant experience and why you are interested in the position together with your CV to lisa@caxton.org.au. To organise a confidential discussion with our President, Dan Rogers, or CEO, Cybele Koning, please contact Executive Assistant, Lisa Gunders at lisa@caxton.org.au

Expressions of interest close 14 June 2023.

Lawyers – Civil Law

Classification: Level 5 – full time
Remuneration: $98 081 to $102 525 (inclusive of super) plus attractive salary packaging options
Type: multiple full-time contracts until June 2024

An opportunity to make a difference

Caxton Legal Centre provides legal assistance and social work supports to promote and protect the human rights of people who experience financial and other disadvantage. Working within a human-rights-practice framework, our lawyers and social workers consider themselves human-rights practitioners and apply the Human Rights Act Queensland within their particular areas of law to help clients realise their rights. Caxton provides challenging work for lawyers passionate about social justice in a highly supportive environment to produce outcomes as a team.

Caxton has multiple full-time civil lawyer positions available within our:

  • multidisciplinary legal and social work programs to provide legal services to older clients whose rights to independence, autonomy and a life free from abuse are diminished by family members
  • family law and domestic violence court-based and community-based legal services for people who experience domestic violence or are the perpetrator of domestic violence and/or who have family law issues, including advocacy where police have misidentified the perpetrator of violence or failed to respond to situations of violence.

Please indicate in your application which of the above positions you are interested in applying for. Multiple indications are acceptable.

Key accountabilities
  • Apply and strengthen existing knowledge of relevant areas of law to deliver legal advice and casework as directed by the practice director.
  • Work collaboratively with social workers to provide a holistic, client-centred service to diverse clients within a human-rights framework.
  • Deliver community education, engage in sector development and networking, contribute to law and policy reform.
Essential requirements
  • demonstrated experience in the relevant areas of civil law such s civil litigation, contracts, consumer debt and credit, or guardianship and administration
  • demonstrated ability to rapidly acquire knowledge of other areas of civil law
  • Bachelor of Laws
  • eligible for admission as a legal practitioner of the Supreme Court of Queensland
  • current unrestricted practising certificate

For more information about this role please refer to the position description. If you are interested to join a team that is highly committed to social justice and values diversity and human rights, please forward your resume and cover letter addressing the key accountabilities and essential requirements to damian.kelleher@caxton.org.au with the following subject line: [your surname], [your first name]: Lawyer – Civil Law application. Due to the high volume of applications, only those successful in gaining an interview will be contacted.