Job: 2024-158 | Full-Time | Fixed Term (To Dec 2025) | Canberra, ACT

• Providing high quality and culturally appropriate legal advice
• Contribute to law reform and policy initiatives
• We offer not for profit salary packaging that maximises your take-home pay

Primary purpose of the role

The primary objective of the position is to deliver 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 domestic and family violence, care & protection, family law and civil law, 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
• Flexible work options – talk to us about how we can make this role work for you

About the role

The Intermediate Solicitor is part of the Family Violence Prevention Unit based in Canberra, ACT.

The Intermediate Solicitor will be responsible for:

• Providing high quality and culturally appropriate legal advice and representation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients in domestic and family violence, care and protection, family law, sexual assault and civil law to assist them to resolving their legal problems and undertaking, including representation in litigation and dispute resolution, early intervention legal advice, non-court assistance, and duty lawyer services.
• Where directed, contribute to law reform and policy initiatives to improve access to justice and address systemic legal issues impacting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities.
• Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of legal developments and procedures including through the identification of training needs and attending appropriate training to maintain professional standards and retain a ACT practising certificate.
• Ensure all duties and activities are carried out in an ethical manner, complying with ALS policies, procedures and any other applicable guidelines or legislation.
• Adhere to ALS’s Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Work Health and Safety (WHS) policies, work practices and rules and demonstrates a commitment to and behaviours that aligns to ALS Values and ALS Code of Conduct.
• Perform other duties as directed.
• 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

We’re looking for someone who brings:

• Legal qualifications and a current ACT Practising Certificate (or be able to obtain one immediately).
• Up-to-date knowledge of and experience in one of the following areas; family and domestic violence, care & protection or family law, including Court practice and procedure.

• Understanding of the dynamics of family and domestic violence and its effect on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families.
• Proven capacity to identify and understand legal issues facing socially and economically disadvantaged Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders peoples.
• 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)

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.

A position description is attached.