St Kilda Legal Service Annual Report 2006-2007 - Community Law

Board of Directors & StaffBoard of DirectorsRenata AlexanderRichard ZatorskiChris AtmoreAdam MeyerLes RosenblattSuzy FoxChairpersonTreasurerSecretaryStaff RepresentativeMembers of the Board of Directors act in avoluntary capacity in managing staff, resourcesand finances of the Service.The Board is responsible for ensuring that staffoperate within a safe workplace, and that allaward conditions and procedures and practicesare in place to facilitate the provision of accessiblelegal services to the community.It is the Board’s role to ensure the Service’soperations:• reflect the core principles of CLCs• are legally & financially accountable• meet requirements of the funders’ ServiceAgreements• are planned, developed, implemented andevaluated annually through workplansApart from managing the Service, Board membersalso contribute considerable time and energy bybeing involved in other aspects of the Service.Renata and Adam are also involved as volunteerlawyers at the night service advice sessions andLes has now replaced Richard as the Service’srepresentative on the St. Kilda Centre RenovationCommittee. Chris and Renata have also beeninvolved in staff selection panels this year, Chrisfor the CLE/Law Reform position and Renata forDrug Outreach lawyer position.The staff very much appreciate the continuedsupport of Board members throughout the year,and the personal time which they generously giveto the service.StaffSt Kilda Legal Service employs five staff members,with two of these positions being full-time. Thesmall staff team report directly to the Board.Community Casework Lawyer,Kerrin PanlookKerrin, as principal solicitor, is responsible for alllegal advice and casework undertaken by theService, and ensures that professional standardsand statutory requirements are met. Kerrinsupervises night service files as well as conductingher own legal matters during the day.Volunteer & Night ServiceCo-ordinator, Anthea TeakleAnthea recruits the Service’s day and eveningvolunteers, assists with their training and providesthem with ongoing support. Anthea also coordinatesthe night service advice sessions alongwith the volunteer Solicitor Co-Ordinators, aswell as undertaking some paralegal work andmonitoring the night service statistics.Community Legal Educationand Law Reform Lawyers(shared position) - JacintaMaloney and Adrian SnodgrassThe CLE/Law Reform Lawyer position changedinto a shared position upon Jacinta’s return from12 month maternity leave for 2 days per weekin late December. Vanda Hamilton had workedin the position during Jacinta’s absence andcontinued working on a couple of projects untiltheir completion. Adrian Snodgrass commencedin the shared position with Jacinta in early 2007and they share the responsibility for co-ordinatingthe community legal education, law reform andlegal policy activities undertaken by the Service.Both workers participate in local networks andFederation working groups and provide legaladvice and casework assistance as required.Administrator, Suzy FoxSuzy is responsible for ensuring the financialaccountability and reporting requirements of therelevant funding bodies are met. Suzy undertakesgeneral and casework administrative functions,undertakes some paralegal work and supports theday service volunteers. Suzy is also responsiblefor resourcing the Board on staff issues andoperational functions of the Service.Drug Outreach LawyerThis year there were a number of staff changesto the DOL program which had been operatingfor some time as a shared position employinglawyers Ann Jorgensen and Peter Lunt. Ann leftthe Service to take up a full-time position andwas followed shortly thereafter by Peter whodecided to leave to pursue other ambitions. Theopportunity was then taken to review the staffingof the program and the decision was made tochange it back to a full-time position.Vanda HamiltonSKLS Drug Outreach lawyerAnthea TeakleSKLS Staff memberAdrian SnodgrassCLE workerAnnual Report 2006 – 2007