A guide to starting
work at Legal Aid
NSW
FOR LEGAL SUPPORT OFFICERS
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.
This booklet is a guide to
starting work with Legal Aid
NSW and will guide you
through the induction
process. Whether you are
working for Legal Aid for a
month, 6 months or
permanently you are
required to complete the
induction for New Starters.
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Before you start
Before
you start Before you start your manager/supervisor will
be in contact regarding your start date
Please ensure that you date when the following
forms and documents have been returned or the originals
have been sighted by the Recruitment consultant from
People and Organisational Development.
Documents and forms to be completed and returned to POD
Date
Letter of offer received
Confidentiality Agreement
Code of Conduct –read and sign
Bank details form - fill in
Tax File Number Declaration
Health Declaration
EEO data collection survey (voluntary)
Prohibited Employment Declaration and working with Children
Check Consent form (as required)
Birth certificate
Passport or Certificate of Naturalisation and/or
Drivers Licence
Evidence of change of name (if applicable)
Liaise with manager/supervisor about entry on duty date
Contact details for Manager/Supervisor
Name:
Phone:
Email:
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Your
1st Day
Your First Day
Your new manager or supervisor will have been in
contact regarding your start date and will arrange to
meet you at the front reception desk.
When you first start at Legal Aid NSW you are required to
complete an induction program. Being inducted into Legal Aid
NSW is a process that takes time and includes on the job
learning as well as on-line and classroom learning.
Meet with your manager/supervisor
The Induction Checklist is a step by step guide for induction. You
should go through this with your supervisor during your first week
and at regular meetings with him or her as you grow more
accustomed to how things work at Legal Aid NSW.
Meet your manager or supervisor who will go over the
following. Please tick when these have been covered.
Your job description and work expectations
Probation process
Award, terms and conditions
Leave and Flexitime
Training opportunities
WHS, Security
Employee Handbook
Discuss: Prior service
Superannuation
Secondary Employment
Organisation structure
Overview of the work of the division, procedures and facilities
Introduction to your peer support person
Tour of the division/branch/office, introducing staff and explaining
their roles
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Contact details for your POD consultant:
Name:
Phone:
Email:
If reasonable adjustment is required please talk this over with your POD Consultant.
Follow up with POD if you need a letter so you can register as a
migration agent (for Government Law Section of Civil Law only)
Your Legal Aid contact details and computer login:
Username:
Password:
Email address:
Phone:
Internet and e-mail usage policy and procedures
Corporate telephone list and intranet site
Induction intranet page
Make a diary note/Outlook entry to return this induction checklist
to the POD in six month’s time (at the finalisation of the induction
process).
Login to the Learning management System
http://learning.legalaid.nsw.gov.au
Register for Corporate Induction
Classroom based Corporate Induction training is run
approximately every 6-8 weeks. Check the Learning
Management System (LMS) to see when the next session is
scheduled and register.
Learn more about searching for courses
Complete the eLearning Modules
Welcome to Legal Aid
Personal Administration
You must complete theses modules before attending the
Corporate Induction.
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Your first week
Your
1st Week
During the first week when you have down time we
ask that you complete the Workplace Health and
Safety modules (formally Occupational Health and
Safety).
You will also be asked to register for our core systems training,
CASES and ATLAS.
Meet your manager or supervisor who will go over the
following. Please tick when these have been covered.
Workplace Health and Safety
Tick
A very important part of induction is Workplace Health and Safety.
We require all staff to complete the following online course:
Work Health and Safety in Legal Aid NSW
CASES ATLAS – register for face-to-face training
Qualifying for Legal Aid – An Overview (Grants and Law
Divisions)
Getting Started with Accessing Legal Research Databases
QUESTIONS FOR YOUR MANAGERS/ SUPERVISOR
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Your
2nd Week
Your Second Week
By now you should have a good idea about the
structure of Legal Aid NSW. It's now the opportunity
to learn more about the different areas of the
organisation.
If you have any questions make sure you write them down and
ask your supervisor/manager or peer support person who will
assist you with your query or refer you to the right area.
Meet your manager or supervisor who will go over the
following. Please tick when these have been covered.
Complete the following online courses:
Tick
Introduction to the Aboriginal Services Unit (ASU)
Introduction to the Finance Branch
QUESTIONS FOR YOUR MANAGERS/ SUPERVISOR
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PROBATIONARY PERIODS FACT SHEET
What is a probationary period?
When a recommendation is made to appoint a staff member to a position, the
appointment is subject to a probationary period. Unless specific approval is granted
by the Chief Executive Officer, a staff member cannot be permanently appointed to
the public sector until they have completed a six month period of employment
where leave, service and performance are satisfactory.
Who is placed on a probationary period?
All staff members who are appointed to a permanent position (as a rule through
merit selection) within the public sector who have not transferred from another
public sector agency. It is also appropriate to place temporary staff who have been
appointed for contract periods of minimum 1 year on a probationary period.
What steps are taken to review the performance of the staff member during
their probationary period?
It is the responsibility of managers to continue to monitor the performance of staff
members and to implement performance management steps to address any
problems that arise.
Review at Three Months
A review form will be sent to managers at the midway point of the probationary
period for their staff members, i.e. just prior to three months. This form will require
the manager to confirm that the performance of the staff member is satisfactory in
considering the following points:


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Conduct of the staff member;
Diligence of the staff member;
Efficiency of the staff member; and/or
Sick leave record of the staff member.
If the staff member has satisfactorily met all these areas of performance then the
form should be returned to POD and will be filed on the personal file of the staff
member concerned.
Review Prior to Six Months
A second review form will be sent to managers at five months after the
commencement of the probationary period for their staff members, i.e. just prior to
end of the six month period. This form will require the manager to confirm that the
performance of the staff member is satisfactory or to document areas where
performance is being addressed. Satisfactory performance requires the staff
member to meet the same criteria as those set out in the three monthly reviews.
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Continued Professional Development
All Legal Aid NSW courses are on our Learning
Management System https://learning.legalaid.nsw.gov.au/
We recommend the following face-to-face courses:
For those from a non-legal background we recommend
the following courses:
 Law for Non-Lawyers
 Court Visits
For everyone
 Aboriginal Cultural Awareness
 Demystifying Drugs and Alcohol
 Demystifying Mental Illness
 Assertiveness in the Workplace
 Conflict Resolution Skills
 Time Management
 Effective Team Communication
 Stress Management
 Respect in the Workplace
For Managers
 Assertiveness for Managers
 Coaching Skills for Managers
 Conflict Resolution Skills
 Tough Talks
 Managing People
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