Closing date: Friday 11 April 2025
POSITION: Solicitor
Location: Wellington, Christchurch or Auckland
REPORTS TO: Legal Services Manager and General Secretary
LIAISES WITH: Other legal staff, External Counsel, Industrial staff, Secretaries and Administration staff
PRIMARY OBJECTIVES
1.1 Provide legal advice and representation to Workers First Union (formerly known as “FIRST Union”) and union members in respect to employment-related matters and in the case of the union to general legal matters.
1.2 Participate in the Union’s law reform work.
1.3 Assist in the development of and provision of skills and knowledge training and information resources for union officials, delegates and members.
2.SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES
2.1 Provide legal advice and representation to the Union, it’s staff and union members in respect to employment-related matters and in the case of the union to general legal matters.
Provide guidance and assistance to organisers and other industrial staff with respect to legal aspects of their roles.
Assistance with the development and learning of union organisers and other industrial staff with respect to legal matters both through formal training and assistance with day-to-day matters.
Participate (along with other solicitors in the legal team and external counsel) in managing the legal work of the union with respect to the resources available.
Provide advocacy in disciplinary/investigation process and mediation where the circumstances indicate that legal knowledge or dispute resolution skills are required or where to assist the development of industrial staff
Represent the union and its members in proceedings before the Employment Relations Authority and Employment Court.
Provide employment law advice to union officials and members and general legal advice to the union.
Provide general legal services to the Union, including (but not limited to):
o Assisting where union officials are arrested or criminally charged in the course of their duties; and
o Assisting with matters relating to leases of union owned or occupied premises etc.
Undertake legal work (currently primarily for the Union’s Central and Southern region and other areas as required). The General Secretary (along with Legal Services Manager) will be the final decision maker in regard to allocation of legal work.
2.2 Participate in the Union’s law reform work.
o Undertake law reform work on behalf of the Union as directed by the General Secretary and Regional Secretaries.
o Prepare and present submissions and papers to Parliamentary Select Committees, professional conferences and other relevant bodies or gatherings in respect of the union’s policies.
o Participate in union, government or industry working parties on law reform issues.
2.3 Assist in the development of and provision of skills and knowledge training and information resources for union officials, delegates and members.
o Act as a mentor/professional supervisor to union officials including Member Support Centre to provide advice and representation on employment relationship issues (note: this is not a line management role).
o Assist in the development of and provision of skills and knowledge training and information resources for union officials, delegates and members
o Provide legal information to and assist with the ongoing legal information of union officials, delegates and members, through the Union’s education programme and its publications.
2.4 Prepare reports for the General Secretary, National Management Committee and National Executive as required.
2.5 Attend and participate in staff, planning and other union meetings as required.
2.6 Any other duties and responsibilities as reasonably directed and required by the union from time to time.
3.
General Requirements
Comply with all Workers First Union policies and procedures, including the Staff Kaupapa
Participate in ongoing training and professional development.
Develop and maintain relationships with other employment law practitioners and unionists responsible for law reform or employment law to assist in your ongoing professional development and maintenance of best practice legal methods.
Trading union or community work experience preferred but not essential.
Employment law experience preferred but not essential
4.
The successful applicant will:
- Have an LLB and have been admitted as a Barrister and solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand
- Be in New Zealand and has the right to work in New Zealand
- Be motivated, outgoing and keen to learn
- Have a strong sense of social justice
- Strong commitment to the causes of the union
- Be capable of working independently as well as part of a team.
- be good at following reasonable instructions, guidance and advice.
- Have excellent written and oral communication skills
- Be resilient, flexible, adaptable and willing to take on challenges
- Have a strong intellect and demonstrate commitment
- Be based preferably in Wellington or Christchurch but might be based in Auckland (for the suitable candidate, particularly if you are relatively inexperienced).
- Commence the role as soon as possible.
Please send your application to jo.wilson@workersfirst.nz. Applications close 5pm Friday 11 April 2025.
Contact person: Jo Wilson