Helen Denham

This operational role involved assessing requests for criminal legal aid against financial and other criteria, using a bespoke computerised system. In addition, I handled related telephone and written enquiries from barristers and their staff, duty lawyers, defendants and prisoners; liaised with the courts; and operated the payments system. These duties required me to work collegially in high volume system with a team of around 30 colleagues.

This position involved a wide variety of tasks: preparing correspondence and reports for the minister; researching and preparing responses to Official Information Act requests; preparing documentation for ministerial appointments; and acting as minutes secretary and sole staff of a small tribunal. The duties of the position required extensive internal and external liaison with both junior and senior officials. Ability to work independently in a pressured, deadline-driven environment, balancing priorities for different managers, was essential.

In these more senior positions, I advised on more complex areas of legislation and prepared policy briefs and correspondence for the minister. As Clerk Class 9 (Deputy Section Head) for the final four years, I supervised and trained 3-4 staff on a daily basis, organising and editing their work. I deputised for the section manager, liaised with other Departments, including briefing Attorney-General's Department on draft legislation, and acted for the manger in his absence.

My duties here involved assessing applications for tertiary student assistance against prescribed complex academic and financial criteria. I also handled related enquiries by letter, by telephone and in person. I completed a number of special projects for management.

As a graduate and junior official, I undertook investigations and research under supervision, and prepared correspondence and documents for the minister.