Canberra/Nowra  | Full-time | Fixed-term (December 2025)

Primary purpose of the role

The Aboriginal Legal Service is offering an exciting opportunity to for an experienced Solicitor to join our Family Violence Prevention Unit.

The primary objective of this position is to support the delivery of culturally appropriate legal advice, and representation to clients experiencing or at risk of family and domestic violence and/or sexual assault in accordance with the ALS policies, procedures and guidelines in Care & Protection, Family Law and Civil Law, including early intervention and outreach services, community legal education and referrals.

Why Join the ALS NSW/ACT team?

At Aboriginal Legal Services NSW/ACT you will make an impactful change. You have the chance to change lives and bring social justice and equity for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, families and communities.

Our focus is our people; the people we support, and the team we employ. We offer a career you can be proud of and a place where you feel safe to be yourself. We invest in our workforce and appreciate the rich diversity they represent of life experience, languages, and culture. Born out of a protest movement over 50 years ago, the Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT) Limited is the primary legal service for Aboriginal people in NSW and the ACT. It’s an exciting time for the ALS, with both our services and teams growing significantly. We recently received additional government funding to deliver a range of new programs aimed at addressing systemic issues and driving structural reforms. This is creating unprecedented opportunities for the ALS and our communities. For many of our staff making a real difference to the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, families and communities and working with a great, supportive team is its own reward. We appreciate that, but we want our team to know that we value them so offer benefits such as:

•  Salary packaging options and novated car leasing
•  Annual Leave Loading of 17.5%
•  Career and professional development opportunities
•  Access to personal counselling for you and your family
•  A range of additional paid leave, paid parental and study leave
•  Flexible work options – talk to us about how we can make this role work for you

The Role

The position will be part of the Family Violence Prevention Unit Team, key responsibilities will include:

• Communicating with, taking instructions from, and effectively representing Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander clients experiencing family and domestic violence who may present as distressed, have a physical or intellectual disability, or have problem behaviours such as drug or alcohol addictions.
• Attend Duty Lawyer Services for domestic and family violence matters at designated local courts.
• Maintaining and enhancing professional competence, including maintaining a practising certificate, changes in ALS policies, systems, guidelines, practices and community needs.
• Ensuring the lawful achievement of ALS core business objectives to the highest standards of probity and efficiency, and with due reference to the interests of all stakeholders.
• Effectively balancing the requirements of managing a busy caseload with contributions to submissions on law reform and policy.
• Actively seek opportunities to deliver targeted community legal education on domestic and family and domestic violence and/or sexual assault, Care and Protection and Family Law to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and clients.

About You

• Knowledge and appreciation of the cultural and social needs of Aboriginal people combined with continuing respect and support for Aboriginal cultural practices when considering service delivery and other support for clients, their families, communities and staff.
• Understanding of the dynamics of family and domestic violence and its effect on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families.
• Legal qualifications and a current NSW or ACT Practising Certificate.
• Up-to-date knowledge of and experience in family and domestic violence, care & protection and family law matters in either NSW or the ACT, including Court practice and procedure.
• Capacity and motivation to provide quality legal representation to Aboriginal people in rural and remote communities.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills combined with strong time management, legal research and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to meet deadlines, work autonomously and manage a diverse workload
• Excellent analytical and research skills.
• Ability to travel to ALS’ various offices. An inherent requirement of the job is the ability to independently travel to regional locations by car for work purposes.

How to apply

• Download the position description here

• Please submit your cover letter and resume to [email protected]  

Applications for this position close at 11:59pm, Friday 24 November 2023.