Judicial Registrar (FCFCOA)

Job Description

This position is within the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.

Position Overview

Judicial Registrars will undertake a significant proportion of the legal work across both Courts, including presiding over duty lists, interlocutory disputes (such as subpoena and disclosure disputes), and undertaking a variety of dispute resolution. Judicial Registrars play a key role in achieving the Courts’ reforms and in supporting key projects and initiatives, including the:

Expanded Lighthouse Project with triage and risk based case management;
‘PPP500’ small claims property pilot (aimed at providing an accessible, simplified and quicker way of resolving family law property disputes with an asset pool of up to $500,000);
National Contraventions List and other national Registrar-led lists; and
Information sharing framework.
The Judicial Registrar position is multi-faceted and includes:

performing delegated judicial functions at a high level, including presiding in Court, conducting dispute resolution, duty lists, and case management;
case management and triaging of matters at various stages of the litigation pathway;
assisting with the formulation of legal policy within the Courts, including in support of various Court Committees, and with the implementation of policies on a national basis;
playing an important role locally and nationally in implementing the Courts’ reform agenda, together with delivering Government initiatives related to the family law courts; and
liaising with internal and external stakeholders in areas of Registrar practice.
There may also be an opportunity for successful applicants to fulfil the responsibilities of various coordinating and leadership roles, including working as part of a national team to implement the structural changes associated with the FCFCOA Act.

Key responsibilities and duties of the position

Performing delegated judicial functions

Judicial Registrars will perform statutory duties, powers and functions of a Judicial Registrar in the FCFCOA pursuant to sections 98 and 254 of the FCFCOA Act, and other legislative instruments, as required.

Judicial Registrars will perform delegated judicial functions locally and nationally, including:

conducting conciliation conferences and other forms of dispute resolution in both property and parenting matters, including complex cases;
conducting case management of the workload of the Courts, including case management of various proceedings;
carrying out delegated judicial functions in family law matters by way of presiding in Court in duty lists and other Court based events;
for certain regions, undertaking circuits for regional areas (in relation to FCFCOA (Division 2) matters).
Delivering court reform and key initiatives

Judicial Registrars will play a central role in helping to deliver court reform and key initiatives. They will need to show leadership both locally and nationally in the performance of their legal and other duties and functions, and assisting to drive forward the Courts’ reform agenda. There will be opportunities for Judicial Registrars to perform duties at a national level in support of the Courts’ operational needs in support of the Chief Justice/Chief Judge and the CEO/PR.

Judicial Registrars may also undertake additional national roles and responsibilities, including participating in case management initiatives within the Court, assisting with the development of coherent and consistent practice and procedure, analyses of workload, and liaison with, and education of, the profession.

Internal and external liaison

Judicial Registrars will liaise with key internal and external stakeholders in areas of Registrar practice and procedure and matters of jurisdiction, including with:

The Chief Justice/Chief Judge, Judges of both Courts, the CEO/PR, Deputy Principal Registrar, Executive Director – Registrar Family Law Practice and Dispute Resolution, Executive Director – National Registrar Operations, Senior Judicial Registrars and Court staff;
Relevant Courts, Tribunals and other government agencies;
The profession generally, including any relevant User Groups of the Court; and
State and National Law Societies and Bar Associations and other key stakeholders
Judicial Registrars will play a key local role in liaison with the legal profession. A key component of this liaison is to actively seek feedback from local stakeholders in relation to areas of Registrar practice.

Formal Qualifications and Experience

Legal qualifications and admission as a practitioner of the High Court and/or the Supreme Court of a State or Territory of Australia is essential. Applicants should have:

a minimum of 5 years’ post admission experience;
considerable experience in family law, including in parenting and financial matters; and
a comprehensive understanding of ADR and negotiation frameworks generally, including how complex mediations and conciliations are undertaken. Training as a mediator with experience in conducting mediations and/or experience participating in mediations or other dispute resolution processes, will be considered favourably, but is not mandatory.
The ability to contribute to the formulation of policy and assist with the operational management of the Courts will be considered favourably.
Selection Criteria

The successful applicants will need to have:

The ability to exercise judicial discretion in an appropriate manner: capacity to preside in court and exercise delegated powers and functions pursuant to sections 98 and 254 of the FCFCOA Act.
Demonstrated experience in civil litigation and practice in superior courts of Australia, with a thorough understanding of litigation processes and strategies, including key steps in the case management of matters.
Demonstrated experience in, or the ability to conduct, mediations and case management.
Demonstrated experience and understanding, or ability to acquire such knowledge quickly, of the relevant family law legislation; and the jurisdiction and practices and procedures of the FCFCOA.
Demonstrated ability to critically evaluate large volumes of information, prioritise matters appropriately and exercise sound judgment in decision-making in a high-pressure environment.
Highly developed communication skills, negotiation and interpersonal skills, including the ability to represent the Courts at a senior level, when interacting with the public and legal profession, and the ability to influence behaviour and attitudes at all levels.
How to apply

To apply, please complete the application form on the Court’s careers portal. If you have any issues with applying please email [email protected].

To be considered you will need to respond to the specific selection criteria and attach a current resume.

Contact Officer

For more information please contact Jennifer Crawley, Director National Registrar Operations on (02) 6113 9455 or [email protected].

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are strongly encouraged to apply.