Redfern, Hybrid/Remote | Full-Time | Fixed-Term/Contract
Primary Purpose of the role
The primary responsibility of the Senior Solicitor (Relief) Criminal Law Practice is to:
- Provide high quality legal advice and representation to clients and to assist them to resolve their legal problems
- Provide high quality appearances and act as advocate in: List work; Short matters; Defended Hearings; Committal Proceedings; District Court Appeals and Sentences;
- Prepare and research representation of Aboriginal clients in criminal matters and prepare briefs for counsel and attend to instructing counsel as directed
Candidates are encouraged to apply early as they may be contacted prior to the closing date to fill vacancies as they arise.
Why join the ALS team?
At the Aboriginal Legal Service (ALS) you can make an impact. You will join a strong movement fighting for social justice and equity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, families and communities.
Our focus is our people: the people we support and the people 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 people and appreciate the rich diversity of lived experiences, languages, and culture.
Born out of a protest movement over 50 years ago, the ALS is an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation delivering high-quality, culturally safe legal and support services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in NSW and the ACT. It’s an exciting time to be joining us. We recently received additional funding to deliver a range of new programs aimed at addressing systemic issues and driving structural reforms. This is creating significant opportunities for the ALS, our staff and communities.
As well as the satisfaction of working in a job that really matters, we offer our staff benefits including:
- Not-for-profit salary packaging to reduce your tax liability and maximise take-home pay
- Annual leave loading of 17.5%
- Career and professional development opportunities
- Access to personal counselling for you and your family
- Additional paid leave of up to 6 days per year, paid parental and study leave
- Flexible work options – talk to us about how we can make this role work for you
About the role
The key responsibilities of the role are as follows:
- Demonstrate continuing respect and support for Aboriginal cultural practices in dealing with clients, their families, communities and staff; as an employee of the ALS, continue to learn about the customs and history of local Aboriginal people
- Maintain all files in an orderly and professional manner, including the recording of all data on the file cover required for statistical purposes
- Display good time management skills and attend to updating any diary as required; coordinate diary and court schedules in order to maintain an efficient and effective legal practice
- As directed, act as a mentor to more junior solicitors regarding law and procedure and the operations of the ALS
- As directed, assist in arranging and monitoring continuing legal education for the more junior solicitors
- Work as a collaborative team member with all other legal, field and administrative staff to achieve effective co-ordination in your office. This will involve good negotiation and communication skills and, at times, will require you to assist, guide and support field and administrative staff
- Assist with the development of submissions on law reform and represent the ALS at meetings, conference and seminars as requested
- Liaise with external stakeholders and develop and maintain inter-agency relationships covering legal and law enforcement related jurisdictions
- Ensure 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
- Provide considered, independent, balanced and professional criminal law advice
- Ensure all policies and practices are ethical and comply with the ALS’s policies and workplace health and safety legislation and promote the establishment of equal employment and access in accordance with agreed statutory policy
About you
We’re looking for someone who brings:
- Knowledge and appreciation of the cultural and social needs of Aboriginal people combined with continuing respect and support for Aboriginal cultural practices in dealing with clients, their families, communities and staff
- Legal qualifications and a NSW Practicing Certificate with a minimum of 3 years’ experience in Criminal Law
- In-depth knowledge, understanding and of the Criminal Law, including practice and procedure
- Excellent written and oral communication skills combined with strong time management, interpersonal, legal research and problem-solving skills
- Ability to work autonomously within a criminal law environment, meet conflicting deadlines and manage a demanding workload
- Ability to display sound judgment and proven capacity to provide high quality legal representation and advice to Aboriginal clients
- Ability to meet deadlines, work without supervision and manage a diverse workload, together with high level conceptual, analytical and research skills
- Demonstrated commitment to the effective implementation of Workplace Health & Safety and Ethical and Diversity practices in the workplace
- Desirable
- Current valid unrestricted NSW Driver’s licence and a willingness to drive in metropolitan and country locations, travel intrastate and stay overnight or longer
Pre-employment requirements:
ALS is committed to implementing safe recruitment practices. Your application may be subject to pre-employment checks such as reference checks, Working with Children (NSW) or Working with Vulnerable People (ACT) check, Right to work in Australia, COVID-19 vaccinations and National Police History check.
How to apply
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Please submit the completed application package to [email protected]
- If you have any enquiries or would like to discuss the role, please contact [email protected]