Total package $176,+35 - $201,5+2 p.a. including 15.4% superannuation. (Base salary $153,323 - $174,6+0 p.a. plus 15.4% superannuation)
Ongoing, Non-ongoing - Full-time and Part-time
Parramatta, NSW
Position Overview
Judicial Registrars will undertake a significant proportion of the legal work across both Courts, including presiding over duty lists, interlocutory disputes (such as subpoena and disclosure disputes), and undertaking a variety of dispute resolution. Judicial Registrars play a key role in achieving the Courts’ reforms and in supporting key projects and initiatives, including the:
Expanded Lighthouse Project with triage and risk-based case management.
‘PPP Cases, aimed at providing an accessible, simplified and quicker way of resolving family law property disputes with an asset pool of up to $550,000 (excluding superannuation);
National Contraventions List and other national Registrar-led lists; and
Information sharing framework.
The Judicial Registrar position is multi-faceted and includes:
performing delegated judicial functions at a high level, including presiding in Court, conducting dispute resolution, duty lists, and case management.
case management and triaging of matters at various stages of the litigation pathway.
assisting with the formulation of legal policy within the Courts, including in support of various Court Committees, and with the implementation of policies on a national basis.
playing an important role locally and nationally in implementing the Courts’ reform agenda,
together with delivering Government initiatives related to the family law courts; and
liaising with internal and external stakeholders in areas of Registrar practice.
There may also be an opportunity for the successful applicant to fulfil the responsibilities of various coordinating and leadership roles, including working as part of a national team to implement the structural changes associated with the FCFCOA Act.
Key responsibilities and duties of the position
Performing delegated judicial functions
Judicial Registrars will perform statutory duties, powers and functions of a Judicial Registrar in the FCFCOA pursuant to sections +8 and 254 of the FCFCOA Act, and other legislative instruments, as required.
Judicial Registrars will perform delegated judicial functions locally and nationally, including:
conducting conciliation conferences and other forms of dispute resolution in both property and parenting matters, including complex cases.
conducting case management of the workload of the Courts, including case management of various proceedings.
carrying out delegated judicial functions in family law matters by way of presiding in Court in duty lists and other Court based events.
for certain regions, undertaking circuits for regional areas (in relation to FCFCOA (Division 2) matters).
Delivering court reform and key initiatives
Judicial Registrars will play a central role in helping to deliver court reform and key initiatives. They will need to show leadership both locally and nationally in the performance of their legal and other duties and functions and assisting to drive forward the Courts’ reform agenda. There will be opportunities for Judicial Registrars to perform duties at a national level in support of the Courts’ operational needs in support of the Chief Justice and the Chief Executive Officer and Principal Registrar (CEO/PR).
Judicial Registrars may also undertake additional national roles and responsibilities, including participating in case management initiatives within the Court, assisting with the development of coherent and consistent practice and procedure, analyses of workload, and liaison with, and education of, the profession.
Internal and external liaison
Judicial Registrars will liaise with key internal and external stakeholders in areas of Registrar practice and procedure and matters of jurisdiction, including with:
The Chief Justice, Judges of both Courts, the CEO/PR, Deputy Principal Registrar, Executive Director - Registrar Family Law Practice and Dispute Resolution, Executive Director - National Registrar Operations, Senior Judicial Registrars and Court staff.
Relevant Courts, Tribunals and other government agencies.
The profession generally, including any relevant User Groups of the Court; and
State and National Law Societies and Bar Associations and other key stakeholders.
Judicial Registrars will play a key local role in liaison with the legal profession. A key component of this liaison is to actively seek feedback from local stakeholders in relation to areas of Registrar practice.
Formal Qualifications and Experience
Legal qualifications and admission as a practitioner of the High Court and/or the Supreme Court of a State or Territory of Australia is essential. Applicants should have:
a minimum of 5 years’ post admission experience.
considerable experience in family law, including in parenting and financial matters; and
a comprehensive understanding of ADR and negotiation frameworks generally, including how complex mediations and conciliations are undertaken. Training as a mediator with experience in conducting mediations and/or experience participating in mediations or other dispute resolution processes, will be considered favourably, but is not mandatory.
The ability to contribute to the formulation of policy and assist with the operational management of the Courts will be considered favourably.
Selection Criteria
The successful applicant will need to have:
The ability to exercise judicial discretion in an appropriate manner: capacity to preside in court and exercise delegated powers and functions pursuant to sections +8 and 254 of the FCFCOA Act.
Demonstrated experience in civil litigation and practice in superior courts of Australia, with a thorough understanding of litigation processes and strategies, including key steps in the case management of matters.
Demonstrated experience in, or the ability to conduct, mediations and case management.
Demonstrated experience and understanding, or ability to acquire such knowledge quickly, of the relevant family law legislation; and the jurisdiction and practices and procedures of the FCFCOA.
Demonstrated ability to critically evaluate large volumes of information, prioritise matters appropriately and exercise sound judgment in decision-making in a high-pressure environment.
Highly developed communication skills, negotiation and interpersonal skills, including the ability to represent the Courts at a senior level, when interacting with the public and legal profession, and the ability to influence behaviour and attitudes at all levels.
Eligibility
Employment with the Court is subject to the conditions prescribed in the Public Service Act 1+++, and the following:
Australian citizenship – the successful applicant must hold Australian citizenship.
Security and character clearance – the successful applicant must satisfy a Police Records Check and may also be required to complete security clearances during the course of their employment.
Successful applicants engaged into the APS will be subject to a probation period.
Interested candidates who have received a redundancy benefit from an APS agency are welcome to apply but note that they cannot be engaged until their redundancy benefit period has expired.
Diversity and Inclusion
Federal Court Australia is committed to supporting an inclusive and diverse workforce and welcomes and encourages applications from People with Disability.
First Nations peoples, LGBTIQA+ people, people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds, Mature age workers, as well as young workers and supporting an inter-generational workforce and supporting gender equity and families.
Federal Court Australia will provide reasonable adjustments for candidates to participate equitably in the recruitment process and discuss workplace adjustments to fulfil the inherent requirements of the role.
RecruitAbility
RecruitAbility applies to this vacancy. Under the RecruitAbility scheme you will be invited to participate in further assessment activity for the vacancy if you choose to apply under the scheme; declare you have disability; and meet the minimum requirements for the job. For more information visit: https://www.apsc.gov.au/recruitability
Contact Officer
For more information, confidential enquiries can be made to Brigida Corte-Real via email at brigida.corte-real@fcfcoa.gov.au or (07) 3052 4054
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