Applying for a job with Legal Aid WA

1. Eligibility

2. Preparing your application

3. Submitting your application

4. The selection process

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1. Eligibility to apply

Positions advertised with Legal Aid WA are open to all prospective applicants. However, you may be ineligible to apply if you have recently accepted a voluntary severance payment from a WA state public sector agency. Other eligibility considerations are listed below.

Advertising under the Equal Opportunity Act 1984 (WA)

The Equal Opportunity Act 1984 (the Act) recognises that equal opportunity is not necessarily achieved by treating everyone the same. The objective of the Act is to promote equality of opportunity and eliminate discrimination for individuals, wherever possible. The Act also recognises that in certain circumstances discrimination, which would otherwise be unlawful, can be used positively to further meet the objects of the Act.

Legal Aid WA is committed to becoming an organisation of choice for First Nations People to work in, and receive culturally secure services from. To do this we may use the Act for recruitment purposes. Our adverts will always state if and how the Act is being applied to fill vacant positions. You can find more information in our First Nations Strategic plan.

Section 51 of the Act provides an organisation with the ability to take specific action on the grounds of race, to provide equity and improve representation in employment. Further information is available in this document: Section 51 - A guide for applicants. 

Section 50(d) applies when an organisation identifies that service provision to people of a particular race, is best provided by a person of the same race. Therefore, it is a genuine occupational qualification for the position and only applicants of that racial group may apply.

Section 66R of the Act provides an organisation with the ability to take specific action on the grounds of disability, to provide equity and improve representation in employment.

 

Legal Aid WA is committed to improving relationships between the broader Western Australian community and First Nations Australians through reconciliation. We are proud members of Reconciliation WA.

Right to Work

To be eligible for permanent appointment it is essential that you have permanent resident status in Australia. To be eligible for a ‘fixed term contract’ you must present documentary evidence of your entitlement to live and work in Australia for the period of the contract.

Offers of employment will be subject to applicants providing appropriate evidence of their right to work or Australian citizenship no later than 14 days prior to their commencement.

Police Clearance

Offers of employment are subject to satisfactory police clearance. You will be required to provide an original and current National Police Certificate. A criminal record may not preclude an offer of employment being made. Further information will be provided should you be recommended for a position.

Working with Children Check

A Working with Children (WWC) Check is a mandatory requirement for certain positions at Legal Aid WA which involve child related work as defined in the WWC legislation. If you are applying for a position which involves child related work you may be required to provide evidence of your WWC Card prior to commencement of employment. The cost of the check will be reimbursed by Legal Aid WA. Further information on the WWC Check can be found at www.checkwwc.wa.gov.au.

Identification Check

Offers of employment are subject to 100 Point Identification Check. Further information will be provided should you be recommended for a position. We recommend you contact us if you are having a problem obtaining the required identification.

Legal Aid WA reserves the right to withdraw the offer of employment where appropriate evidence is not provided.

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2. Preparing your application

Your resume

Your resume should be up to date and summarise your work experience to date, both paid and unpaid. Ideally it will be tailored to the job you are applying for. Please keep your resume succinct unless the application instructions require something different. There is no need to include a photo. We recommend asking somebody to check your work for typos before submitting it.

Before you begin

Make sure you read the application instructions in the advert carefully so that the panel is provided with everything they need to assess your application properly. Make sure you only provide the information required and do not exceed the maximum number of pages they have asked for. If you are unsure about the application instructions or wish to know more about the job before applying (strongly encouraged), please contact the person listed in the advert for an informal conversation.

Always read the advert and job description properly to make sure the position is right for you. This will also help you focus your application. You may also wish to learn more about Legal Aid WA from our website.

If you are a First Nations person who would like assistance with your application, please visit the Jobs and Skills WA website or call them on 13 64 64.

Information about working at Legal Aid WA specifically for First Nations people, including our First Nations Staff Network, is available in the webpage on First Nations Programs.

Addressing the Selection Criteria

The selection criteria in the job description outlines the knowledge, skills, abilities and attitudes required to successfully fill the position. The recruitment and selection process is based on these criteria.

Application instructions may vary from job to job so please read them very carefully. You may be asked to demonstrate how you meet some of the selection criteria in your written application, or you may be asked to respond to information listed in the advert, or provide a cover letter broadly outlining your relevant experience and interest in the job. Please make sure you fully understand what is being asked of you prior to commencing your application. Only the information requested will be assessed by the panel, so that the process if fair for everyone.

Where possible, provide examples to support your claims. For example, if you are addressing a criteria around dealing with distressed clients you should provide a solid example of a situation when you have dealt with a distressed client, detailing the situation, how you responded (action you took and the skills you used), what the outcome was and anything you might do differently next time (if applicable).

We recommended that you familiarise yourself with Legal Aid WA’s Core Competency Matrix, which details four essential characteristics required of our staff (also documented in the job description). The Matrix sets out examples of how staff can best meet the required core competencies at different levels.

Qualifications

It is important that you set out clearly in your application a summary of your qualifications and submit a copy of relevant qualification certification with your application.

Referees

It is important that you seek approval prior to nominating someone as a referee. Referees should have a working knowledge of your relevant skills and abilities to the job you are applying for. At least one referee should be your current or most recent manager. Details of two referees should be provided as part of your application. Since referees may be contacted at any stage of the selection process, it is important to tell us if you would like referee contact to be restricted to a certain stage of the process.

Health History

You must disclose in your application, any illness or condition which may affect your ability to undertake any of the duties associated with the role. This will help us assess suitability, any required workplace adjustments and ensure your safety in the workplace. A health condition, disability or injury is not a barrier to consideration of employment and the information provided will be kept confidential.

Legal Aid WA may require you to undergo a medical and/or psychological examination at Legal Aid WA’s expense to assess your ability to undertake the inherent requirements of the role.  If this occurs you will be advised of the details of the examination along with the reasons why at the earliest opportunity.  Your personal information will only be shared with your consent.

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3. Submitting your application

Proofread your application thoroughly or better still, have someone else check it thoroughly for errors or omissions.

All applications must be made electronically through the WA Government Jobs website by clicking on the 'Apply for Job’ button in the advert. It is important to allow enough time before the closing date and time to complete the online application form and upload your application documents.

If you experience technical difficulties submitting your application online, contact the RAMS Helpdesk on 1300 733 056 and quote the recruitment ID number from the advert.

WE CANNOT ACCEPT LATE APPLICATIONS. Make sure you allow sufficient time to submit your application.

All applications are acknowledged by automated email upon receipt. It is recommended that you contact the HR Department on (08) 9261 6496 at your earliest opportunity if you do not receive an acknowledgement.

People with disability will be provided with reasonable adjustments in our recruitment processes and in the workplace. If you require adjustments to submit your application, please contact Janice Green on (08) 6373 5297 or email Janice.Green@legalaid.wa.gov.au

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4. The selection process

Our selection processes are designed to reflect and uphold the Public Sector Standards in Human Resource Management. You can find out more about the Employment Standard from the WA Government website.

Shortlisting

Applications are assessed by a selection panel (usually 3 members) against the selection criteria outlined in the application instructions.

Applicants who meet the required selection criteria and who are considered to be the most competitive are invited for further assessment.

Communication is likely to be by email, so please make sure you access your email account regularly.

Further assessments

You’ll be invited to an interview (either face-to-face or online) and it’s likely that you’ll be given 10 – 20 minutes before the interview to read the questions and make notes. Bring your application with you so you can refer to it if needed. During the interview, the panel (usually 3 members) will be happy to answer any questions you might have of them about Legal Aid WA, the job or anything else you might want to know. We may also contact your referees at any point in the process, so make sure they know you’re applying and their contact details are current. 

Depending on the position you’re applying for, you might go through other selection processes. You could be sent a scenario to address at interview, or you might be asked to make a presentation, or complete online assessments at any stage during the process.

Regardless of the selection process, you might like to prepare for it by thinking about what questions you could be asked that relate to the selection criteria and the job description. 

Don’t hesitate to let us know if you need any accessibility adjustments such as support accessing the building, additional time for responding to questions or supportive software.

Preparing for Interview

All interview questions will be job related and will relate directly to the selection criteria. The same questions will be asked of every applicant. To assist in your preparation for interview consider the following:

• Read the advert and Job Description thoroughly and become fully aware of the selection criteria.
• Think about your strengths, areas for development, skills, goals, preferences, personal qualities, etc. and be prepared to talk about them. The more you know about yourself, the more confident you are likely to appear at the interview.
• Examine the selection criteria and think of examples of past situations where you have applied the relevant skills and abilities.
• Read the Core Competency Matrix and consider how you meet the requirements at the appropriate level.
• Focus on the duties of the position and how you would carry them out, considering problems you might encounter and how you would resolve them.
• If you have any documentation which will provide an example of your skills and abilities, you may present it at interview.
• Think about any questions you might like to ask the selection panel.

Interview tips

• Dress appropriately for the position you have applied for.
• Be prompt (if not early) for your interview.
• Don’t assume that the panel members know about your suitability for the job.
• Take time to answer each question. Present answers clearly and concisely. Where possible, relate your answers directly to past experiences.

Decision and feedback

The panel considers all the evidence gathered during the process to decide if you meet the job requirements, and are the preferred applicant. We will write to you (usually by email) to let you know what decision was made. You will be advised whether you were assessed as suitable for appointment, and if you have been recommended for appointment. An offer of employment is made following a four day breach period which we will tell you more about when we write to you with the decision.

If you believe you’ve been adversely affected by the decision, the Public Sector Standards in Human Resource Management allow you to lodge what is known as a breach claim. We’ll tell you how you can do that when we advise you of the panel’s decision but you can also visit the Public Sector Commission website to read more. 

We will also give you the contact details of the person who can give you feedback on your application. It’s a great way to get some constructive feedback so that you can improve your chances next time. Feedback will generally be provided within four days following communication of a decision. There may be times where feedback is not provided, this generally happens when we have received a high volume of applications.

 

Reviewed: 1 May 2024