report - blue - l · web viewbrief counsel prepare and manage cases over matter “lifecycle’....

Lawyer Capabilities Framework

Work related requirements by level November 2019

Communities Lawyer Capabilities Framework

Overview of Legal Practice Areas

Page 1


Title Graduate Lawyer Lawyer Lawyer Senior Lawyer Principal LawyerGeneral Counsel / Leader

Practice Area

LevelSpecified Calling 1

$68,165 to $92,345

Specified Calling 2

$94,548 to $104,179

Specified Calling 3

$109,533 to $120,969

Specified Calling 4

$124,885 to $133,636

Specified Calling 5

$141,046 to $152,940

Specified Calling 6

$161,164 to $173,055

Position Overview

Legal officers who can undertake routine legal tasks with supervision. The officer will display some initiative and judgement, requiring supervision and professional development for matters that are more than routine or low to medium complexity.

Legal officers who can undertake routine legal tasks with limited supervision. The officer will display some initiative and judgement, however will require supervision and professional development for matters that are more than routine/ low to medium complexity.

Experienced legal officers who operate with some independence and autonomy in managing matters of low to medium complexity with little assistance.

Officers will have demonstrated some capacity to undertake professional work using a degree of initiative and independent judgement.

Highly experienced legal officers who can carry out more complex tasks with a high level of autonomy but subject to support and supervision as necessary.

Such officers will have demonstrated suitable capability to carry out professional work with initiative and independent judgement.

Highly experienced legal officers who use independent judgement and can carry out complex tasks with a considerable level of autonomy.

Officers will have demonstrated a capacity to undertake professional work with great efficiency.

High degrees of initiative, judgement and originality in the performance of work are required.

Leader for Practice Area, who has extensive technical and subject matter experience. Uses independent judgement to carry out or oversee complex tasks with almost complete autonomy.

Officers will have demonstrated capability to undertake, oversee and coordinate highly complex professional work with great efficiency.

High degrees of initiative, judgement and originality in the performance of work are required.

General features of duties and responsibilities

Under close supervision, provides a legal consultancy service relating to departmental operational issues including preparing a wide range of legal documents.

Researches, drafts and

Under supervision, provides legal advice relating to the Department’s operational and strategic issues. This involves preparing wide range of legal documents.

Researches, drafts and

In consultation with senior officers, provides a comprehensive legal consultancy service relating to the Department’s operational and strategic issues.

This includes the preparation of a wide

Senior Lawyers draw upon their legal and professional experience to provide high level legal advice and/or advocacy services. These roles operate with relative autonomy, initiative and judgement to manage

Principal Lawyers draw upon their professional experience to provide high level legal advice and/or advocacy services. These roles use independent judgement in managing complex cases and providing legal advice

Practice leaders draw upon their extensive professional experience to manage the provision of whole of legal services for Practice Area. Responsible for ensuring Practice provides advice and advocacy services at the highest levels. These

Page 2



Practice Area


$68,165 to $92,345

Specified Calling 2

$94,548 to $104,179

Specified Calling 3

$109,533 to $120,969

Specified Calling 4

$124,885 to $133,636

Specified Calling 5

$141,046 to $152,940

Specified Calling 6

$161,164 to $173,055

provides input across the range of legal areas to assist the legal service in its role of ensuring that exposure to risk and liability is minimised in all areas of the Department’s business activity.

provides input across the range of legal areas to assist the Unit in its role of ensuring that exposure to risk and liability is minimised in all areas of the Department’s business activities.

range of legal documents.

Provides research, drafting and input across a range of legal areas to assist the Unit in its role of ensuring that exposure to risk and liability is minimised in all areas of the Department’s business activities.

complex cases.

and provide legal advice that is practical and accurate. The positions will assist Principal Lawyers with more complex cases.

The roles may participate in legal matters where more junior practitioners are engaged to assist. In this context, the Senior Lawyer will provide mentoring to build unit capability.

that is practical and accurate.

The roles may draw upon the use of shared resources or manage a small team (legal and non-legal) in performing a range of legal work.

Officers are expected to provide professional supervision and mentoring to build unit capability.

roles use independent judgement in managing complex cases and providing legal advice that is practical and accurate.

The roles manage a team and may draw upon the use of shared resources (legal and non-legal) in performing a range of legal and/or business services.

Officers are expected to provide professional supervision and mentoring.

Leadership Capacity and willingness to learn from more experienced legal officers to increase knowledge and capability.

Capacity and willingness to learn from more experienced legal officers to increase knowledge, skills and experience.

Uses knowledge and experience to assist in the development of less experienced legal officers on routine legal matters.

Capacity and willingness to learn from more experienced legal officers to increase knowledge and skills.

Imparts knowledge and expertise to less experienced legal officers to build capability of the Branch.

Capacity and willingness to learn from more experienced legal officers to broaden knowledge and experience.

May manage a small team of legal and non-legal officers according to the structure of a Practice Area or allocated through business requirements.

Imparts professional knowledge and experience to less experienced lawyers.

Manages a team of legal and non-legal officers according to the structure of a Practice Area or allocated through business requirements.

Imparts professional knowledge and experience to less experienced lawyers.

Page 3



Practice Area


$68,165 to $92,345

Specified Calling 2

$94,548 to $104,179

Specified Calling 3

$109,533 to $120,969

Specified Calling 4

$124,885 to $133,636

Specified Calling 5

$141,046 to $152,940

Specified Calling 6

$161,164 to $173,055

May manage a small team of legal and non-legal officers according to the structure of a Practice Area or allocated through business requirements.

Independence, Autonomy and Professional Supervision

Officers who operate supervision on routine legal tasks. Will receive guidance and professional development from more senior legal officers and form part of a larger team where required to work on more complex matters.

Work is allocated by more senior lawyers, where some assistance with managing their workload or casework may be required.

Officers who operate with limited supervision on routine legal tasks. Will receive guidance and professional development from more senior legal officers and form part of a larger team where required to work on more complex matters.

Work is allocated by Principal Lawyers or Practice Managers, where some assistance with managing their workload or matters may be required.

Officers who operate with some independence in managing matters considered low to medium complexity. May receive guidance from more experienced legal officers, seeking to build capability or be exposed to complex matters.

May work individually or part of a larger team on legal matters. These positions are expected to be professionally supervised, developed and mentored by more experienced Legal Officers.

Work is allocated by Principal Lawyers or Practice Managers, and under guidance will have

Senior Lawyers are expected to work with a high degree of autonomy however seek guidance from more experienced practitioners as required.

May work individually or part of a larger team on complex matters. Work is allocated by Principal lawyers or Practice Managers however these positions use discretion and autonomy in managing their own allocated workload and matters.

Assists in developing and providing training.

Officers who work with a high degree of autonomy and independence in providing high level legal advice and case management. They may seek guidance from SSO or more experienced practitioners in the event the matter is extremely high risk, but generally they manage their own workload.

They are considered subject matter experts and will provide advice and clarity on legal issues across their portfolio of expertise.

Develops and delivers in-house training and development opportunities in the use

Officers who work with a high degree of autonomy and independence in providing high level legal advice and case management. They may seek guidance from SSO in the event the matter is extremely high risk, but generally they manage their own workload.

They are considered subject matter experts and will provide advice and clarity on the full range of legal issues across their portfolio of expertise.

Develops and delivers in-house training and development opportunities in the use or application of legal

Page 4



Practice Area


$68,165 to $92,345

Specified Calling 2

$94,548 to $104,179

Specified Calling 3

$109,533 to $120,969

Specified Calling 4

$124,885 to $133,636

Specified Calling 5

$141,046 to $152,940

Specified Calling 6

$161,164 to $173,055

autonomy to manage their workload and caseload.

or application of legal instruments.

instruments.

Advocacy May assist with appellant work.

Advocacy is offered for routine and low risk matters. Otherwise, Court appearance is limited to assisting more senior legal officers in the management of matters considered higher risk, more complex or sensitive.

Willingness to gain exposure to Court processes/procedures and the range of legal issues within the Department’s span of control.

May assist with appellate work.

In consultation with the Principal Lawyer researches, prepares and manages legal matters that range in complexity from routine to medium.

Some professional guidance may be required when appearing before the Court, but largely routine matters will be managed autonomously.

May assist the Principal Lawyer or Practice Manager in Court proceedings when required.

May assist with appellate work.

Brief Counsel prepare and manage cases over matter “lifecycle’. Some (limited) supervision may be required for the most complex or sensitive cases. This includes leading matters of medium complexity and may include Court appearances.

Assists the Principal Lawyer in Court or with other legal matters

Assists with appellate work.

May seek and use support from less experienced legal officers in Court or other legal proceedings.

Independently prepares and manages all aspects of matters. This may include either appearing in Court or briefing Counsel.

Manage complex matters, those sensitive in nature, or appellate work is undertaken without direction (unless specifically required) using professional knowledge and experience, generally in an unsupported manner.

May seek and use support from less experienced legal officers in Court or other legal proceedings, for not only the provision of assistance, but also to further build Unit capability.

Independently prepares and manages all aspects of matters. This may include either appearing in Court or briefing Counsel.

Manage complex matters, those highly sensitive in nature, or appellate work is undertaken without direction (unless specifically required) using professional knowledge and experience, generally in an unsupported manner.

May seek and use support from less experienced legal officers in Court or other proceedings, for not only the provision of assistance, but also to further build Unit capability.

Page 5



Practice Area


$68,165 to $92,345

Specified Calling 2

$94,548 to $104,179

Specified Calling 3

$109,533 to $120,969

Specified Calling 4

$124,885 to $133,636

Specified Calling 5

$141,046 to $152,940

Specified Calling 6

$161,164 to $173,055

Engagement and Relationships

Builds relationships with stakeholders across the State, gaining a general appreciation of their business and potential risks.

May attend committees, conferences and working parties in support of other Legal Officers for routine to low risk matters.

Builds relationships with stakeholders gaining a general appreciation of the Department’s business and potential risks.

May attend committees, conferences and working parties on behalf of the Department for routine and low risk matters.

Builds relationships with stakeholders to gain a full appreciation of the Department’s business and potential risks.

Represents the Department on committees, conferences and working parties as required.

Forms partnerships with State-wide stakeholders. Seeks to comprehensively understand the business and potential risks.

Conducts high level liaison with stakeholders on moderate to high level issues, seeking guidance from the Principal Lawyer in preparation for more contentious issues.

Represents the Department on committees, conferences and working parties as required.

Identifies and brokers partnerships with Divisions to ensure an informed, timely, and where appropriate proactive legal service is provided built on trust, understanding and shared goals.

Conducts high level liaison and consultation with key stakeholders on complex and sensitive legal matters.

Represents the Department on committees, conferences and working parties.

Identifies and brokers partnerships with Divisions and parties external to the organisation to ensure an informed, timely, and where appropriate proactive legal service is provided built on trust, understanding and shared goals.

Conducts liaison and consultation at the highest levels with key stakeholders on complex and sensitive legal matters.

Represents the Department on committees, conferences and working parties.

Ways of Working

Acknowledge and promote cultural inclusion strategies for our clients.

Actively strive to achieve personal outcomes aligned to the Communities Cultural











Page 6



Practice Area


$68,165 to $92,345

Specified Calling 2

$94,548 to $104,179

Specified Calling 3

$109,533 to $120,969

Specified Calling 4

$124,885 to $133,636

Specified Calling 5

$141,046 to $152,940

Specified Calling 6

$161,164 to $173,055

Competency Framework.

Model and apply Communities CREATE values - Courage, Respect, Empathy, Accountability, Trust and Empowerment.

Takes reasonable care to ensure their own safety and health, and that of others at work, and comply with the department’s policies and any other direction given for their safety and health in the workplace.

Exhibits accountability, professional integrity and respect consistent with the Code of Conduct and the public sector Code of Ethics.





















Qualifications Bachelor of Laws Degree. Bachelor of Laws Degree. Bachelor of Laws Degree. Bachelor of Laws Degree. Bachelor of Laws Degree. Bachelor of Laws Degree

Essential Work-related Requirements

Eligible for admission as a practitioner, however described, of the Supreme Court of

Admission as a practitioner, however described, of the Supreme Court of





Page 7


Western Australia.

Good communication, interpersonal and negotiation skills to engage with stakeholders and draft legal documents.

Ability to undertake research and prepare accurate and practical legal advice in short timeframes.

An interest in the work of Communities.

Western Australia.

Demonstrated exposure to participating in legal proceedings or other matters.

Knowledge and understanding of the relevant legislation, standards and guidelines

Good communication, interpersonal and negotiation skills to engage with stakeholders and draft legal documents.


An interest in the work of Communities.

Western Australia.

Demonstrated experience in conducting legal proceedings or other matters.

Knowledge and understanding of the relevant legislation, standards and guidelines

Good communication, interpersonal and negotiation skills to engage and influence stakeholders and draft legal documents.


Experience in a relevant

practice area.

Western Australia.

Demonstrated experience in autonomously conducting legal proceedings or other matters.

Knowledge and understanding of the relevant legislation, standards and guidelines.

High level communication, interpersonal and negotiation skills to engage and influence stakeholders and draft legal documents.

Ability to undertake comprehensive research and prepare accurate and practical legal advice in short timeframes.

Considerable experience in a relevant practice area.

Western Australia.

Extensive experience in autonomously conducting complex legal proceedings or other matters.

Substantial knowledge and understanding of the relevant legislation, standards and guidelines.

High level communication, interpersonal and negotiation skills to engage and influence stakeholders, provide advice and draft legal documents.

Ability to undertake comprehensive research and prepare accurate and practical legal advice for complex and sensitive matters in short timeframes.

Substantial experience in a relevant practice area.

Western Australia.

Extensive experience in autonomously conducting and managing complex legal proceedings or other matters.

Extensive knowledge and understanding of the relevant legislation, standards and guidelines.

High level communication, interpersonal and negotiation skills to engage and influence stakeholders, provide advice and draft legal documents.

Ability to undertake comprehensive research and prepare accurate and practical legal advice for complex and sensitive matters in short timeframes.

Substantial experience in a relevant practice area.

Page 8

report - blue - l · web viewbrief counsel prepare and manage cases over matter “lifecycle’....

Documents