Under the Coroners Act 2003 Coroners you are responsible for investigating and holding inquests into reportable deaths. Where an inquest is held, the coroner may make recommendations about public health and safety or the administration of justice aimed at preventing similar deaths from occurring in the future.

Coroners are supported in complex matters by Counsel Assisting, who provide legal advice during the course of an investigation and appears as Counsel during inquest proceedings.

The role reports to the Senior Counsel Assisting, Legal Services.

Job details

Your key responsibilities
• Review complex coronial cases and make recommendations about whether to hold an inquest.
• Prepare complex and highly sensitive matters for inquest, including drafting legal advice, and other court documents, briefing medical specialists and other experts and liaising with police, family members and other non-professional witnesses.
• From time to time, appear at inquest either as Counsel Assisting or instructing Counsel Assisting.
• Summarising evidence tendered at an inquest and drafting written submissions regarding coronial findings and recommendations.
• Coordinating, in consultation with Senior Counsel Assisting and the Director of Legal Services, registry staff involved in managing and preparing matters for inquest.
• Providing other high level legal advice and specialist legal guidance and analysis as required.
• Demonstrate a high level of independence, judgement, and integrity.
• As a senior member of a coronial team, providing support and advice to more junior staff in the team.
• Cultivating productive working relationships with judicial officers and CCQ staff, and modelling professional behaviour and standards at all times.

The work of the Coroners Court of Queensland will expose employees to disturbing material including offending behaviours, criminal activity and other explicit, distressing or offensive content. Employees will be required to engage with persons who have and may continue to experience distressing circumstances and/or are involved with the coronial system. Applicants should consider the above and their personal resilience and coping strategies to sustain working in confronting and challenging circumstances.

Applications to remain current for 12 months.

Further information

We are committed to building inclusive cultures in the Queensland public sector that respect and promote human rights and diversity.

Please ensure you download all attachments and follow the instructions on how to apply.

Documents

Before applying for this vacancy please ensure you read the documents below.

• Your Day - CCQ - Counsel Assisting (Word, 823KB)
  
  
  applicant-information-package (Word, 295KB)
  
  
  559550 24 - Role Description (Word, 335KB)