National Pro Bono Coordinator

NRF has a new opportunity for a National Pro Bono Coordinator to join our dynamic national team, with the role to be based in any of our Sydney, Melbourne Brisbane or Perth offices.

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At a glance

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NRF has a new opportunity for a National Pro Bono Coordinator to join our dynamic national team, with the role to be based in any of our Sydney, Melbourne Brisbane or Perth offices. As part of the pro bono team, you will help support NRF’s national and global pro bono strategy. You will assist the team with coordinating pro bono matters and projects (including legal clinics), managing events, supporting pro bono team operations, and collaborating with stakeholders across Australia and globally.

Key Responsibilities

Pro bono matter intake and ongoing matter and clinic management:

• Assessing requests for pro bono assistance in line with our pro bono strategy, and placing matters within the firm (with the oversight of a senior member of the team as needed and for complex matters).
• Handling matter openings, conflict checks, Anti-Money Laundering processes, and engagement letters.
• Handling follow-up work on pro bono files (such as internal file budgets and disbursements).
• Managing our pro bono legal clinics, and running the clinics with our internal volunteer lawyers by rostering volunteers to a clinic based on present capacity, informing clinic hosts as needed, and booking and invoicing interpreters if needed.
• Liaising with our pro bono clients in relation to the clinics.

Client Service

• Liaising directly with pro bono and commercial clients (internal and external) by managing calls, taking and forwarding messages, dealing with enquiries by directing them to the appropriate area to ensure client expectations are met in a timely manner.
• Providing general administrative assistance, including photocopying, faxing and scanning of documents; and sorting and distributing internal mail.
• Preparing bundles, indexes and filing Court documents (for contentious matters only).

Calendar, Mailbox & Travel Management

• Assisting the team with calendar management in an accurate and timely manner by ensuring sent/received appointments are accepted or declined, clashes are discussed, and travel time is considered.
• Organising domestic and international travel arrangements for partners and all members of the pro bono team, in line with firm guidelines.

Practice & Financial Management

• Opening and maintaining updates to physical/electronic files, adhering to conflict checking and records management processes as part of the matter management process, including assisting to draft pro bono engagement letters.
• Managing billing for, and payment of, disbursements and other costs.
• Arranging financial information for, and completion of, external pro bono reports which need to provide details about the matters we undertake to external stakeholders, including to Government.

Business Development & Marketing

• Maintaining contact information in the Client Relationship Management (CRM) system (Interaction) by updating, sharing and syncing Outlook contacts; work with the team to review bounce-back reports and update contact records accordingly.
• Updating Interaction for team events

Events Support

• Assisting the team to organise from inception to completion, in-house staff events in accordance with the How-to guides developed by the Events team.
• Providing logistical and administrative support for standard client seminars held in the local office; and support signature whole-of-office client events as required.
• Assisting with the production of webinars by scheduling rehearsals; testing and pre-event set up; supporting the event by sharing screens / presentation; running polls if required; recording and filing content.
• Coordinating projects with charity partners and legal centres.

The Successful Candidate

To be successful in the role, candidates should be able to demonstrate:

• Prior experience in practice support and/or administrative roles in a professional services firm or corporate environment is preferred.
• Genuine interest in pro bono issues, including access to justice and environmental, social and governance (ESG) topics.
• Strong internal and external stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to communicate professionally with a wide range of clients, including vulnerable individuals, not-for-profits, NGOs, and commercial clients.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including proven ability to draft non-routine correspondence and documentation with high attention to detail.
• Strong initiative and independence, as well as the ability to work effectively as part of a team. Highly effective team player who maintains an enthusiastic, inclusive, positive and proactive approach.
• A client service-oriented focus, ensuring client expectations are met in a timely and professional manner.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced team environment.
• High attention to detail and proficiency in the Microsoft Office Suite, including advanced Outlook and Word, and intermediate Excel and PowerPoint skills.
• Exposure to practice management systems.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to promptly manage emails, files and communications.

Apply now