• Job: 2024-124
• Full-Time | Permanent 
• Parramatta, NSW

Primary Purpose of the Role

The purpose of this role is to provide high quality legal advice and representation to clients and to assist them to resolve their legal problems.

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 Senior Solicitor is part of the Criminal Law Practice and will be responsible for:

• Provide high quality legal advice and representation to Aboriginal clients and assist them in resolving their legal problems
• Undertake Court responsibilities covering: Local Court; Circuit travel; Children’s Court; Coroner's Court; District Court and Crime Commission (if required)
• Provide high quality appearances and act as advocate in: List work; Short matters; Defended Hearings; Committal Proceedings; District Court Appeals and Sentences; instructing counsel in District Court Trials
• Prepare and research representation of Aboriginal clients in criminal matters and prepare briefs for counsel and attend to instructing counsel as directed
• As directed, act as a mentor to more junior solicitors regarding law and procedure and the operations of the ALS
• Assist with the development of submissions on law reform and represent the ALS at meetings, conference and seminars as requested
• As directed, oversee the allocation of work and management of workloads including briefing and assignment of work to external legal representatives and the implementation of policies and procedures for those functions

About You

We’re looking for someone who brings:

Essential

• Legal qualifications and a NSW Practicing Certificate with a minimum of 5 years' experience in Criminal Law
• In-depth knowledge and understanding 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
• 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

Desirable

• Identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
• 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.

A position description is attached.