About Authors Legal

Authors Legal is a non-profit boutique incorporated legal practice which was established in 2022 as a wholly owned subsidiary of the registered charity, The Australian Society of Authors (ASA).

Authors Legal is Australia’s only national non-profit law firm dedicated to providing bespoke, specialist, low-cost legal advice to Australia’s authors and illustrators. We help individual creators understand their rights, negotiate their deals and communicate their legal issues and concerns.

We are recruiting a Principal Lawyer to work closely with the CEO of the ASA and under the guidance of a board of experienced directors all passionate about protecting authors’ legal rights.

About the role

We are searching for an astute and ambitious commercial lawyer with a desire to make a deep impact on the career of Australian authors. The role is permanent part-time (0.8 FTE) offering flexibility, autonomy and support from a collegiate team and board.

Your role will involve:

• managing all aspects of Authors Legal’s business including budgeting, reporting, advocacy, mentoring junior lawyers;
• providing expert legal advice to authors and illustrators on their publishing industry contracts (both pre-signing and occasional contract dispute work) including trade and educational publishing agreements, commissioned work agreements, ghostwriter agreements, literary agency and representation agreements and all aspects of copyright, defamation, contract, consumer and creator rights;
• providing legal and industry advice to the ASA including on ASA template agreements, industry recommendations and advice;
• drafting policy submissions (usually relating to copyright reform), advice and articles on national issues facing Australian authors and illustrators, the adoption of and Government response to the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the creative industries.

About you

The ideal candidate will have:

• an unrestricted Legal Practising Certificate and experience in, or willingness to learn, legal practice management;
• 5 years+ PQE with proven knowledge and expertise in drafting and negotiating commercial contracts;
• in-depth knowledge of the Copyright Act and experience negotiating intellectual property deals and licensing arrangements, ideally in the creative industries;
• exemplary written and verbal communication and the ability to turn complex legal issues into practical and digestible legal advice.

Experience advising in the publishing industry would be highly regarded (although not essential).

Culture and benefits

Professional autonomy, flexibility, and support.

Working within the ASA office in the creative hub of Ultimo, you will be an integral part of the ASA’s small team and the services provided to its 4,000+ members across Australia. Your clients will comprise a mix of debut, emerging, established and bestselling authors and illustrators.

The role is partly office based, with hybrid and flexible working arrangements available.

How to apply

If you have a passion for the creative industries and a desire to work at the forefront of Australian publishing law, we would love to hear from you.

We will be in touch with shortlisted applicants no later than three weeks of the closing date.

Authors Legal is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive and equitable workplace and welcome applications from people with diverse backgrounds and experience, including Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander persons.

A note to recruitment agencies: we do not accept unsolicited agency resumes and we are not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.