• Job: 2024-105
• Full-Time, Fixed Term (To June 2025)
• Kempsey, NSW

Primary Purpose of the Role

The primary objective of the position is to deliver culturally appropriate legal advice, and representation to clients in accordance with the ALS policies, procedures and guidelines in criminal matters, including early intervention and outreach services, community legal education and referrals.

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.

About the Role

The Intermediate Solicitor is part of the Criminal Law Practice.

The Intermediate Solicitor will be responsible for:

• Working closely with the Managing Lawyer, to oversee the day-to-day management of the office, including staff supervision, diary management, rostering, and the allocation of criminal law matters to solicitors within the practice.
• Supervise and mentor more junior solicitors undertaking criminal law work and assist them in the development of their advocacy skills.
• Advise the Deputy Principal Solicitor of all matters listed for trial in District Court as soon as possible after the matter is listed and liaise on the allocation of briefs to counsel for all trials.
• Prepare and run complex Local Court (‘LC’) and Children’s Court (‘CC’) hearings and sentence matters and assist with the management of the LC/CC Practice.
• Assist in the preparation of District Court short matters allocated to junior solicitors with permission to appear.

About You

We’re looking for someone who brings:

• Legal qualifications and a NSW Practising Certificate with a minimum of 2 years’ experience in Criminal Law.
• In-depth knowledge of criminal law, including practice and procedure.
• Proven capacity to perform a strong advocacy role for Aboriginal people by taking a leading role in the District Court, along with more complex LC/CC matters.
• Willingness to drive or fly distances within the region and stay overnight or longer to undertake court work or training.
• Ability to perform management, supervisory and mentoring tasks in relation to a multidisciplinary team of staff.

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.

If you have any enquiries or would like to discuss the role, please contact our recruitment team at [email protected] using the subject line: Intermediate Solicitor - Criminal Law Practice - Kempsey enquiry via EthicalJobs.

A position description is attached.