• Location: Australia wide - You will be based out of one of our EDO offices under our flexible working arrangements. Our list of office locations.
• Term: This position is a 12-month fixed term contract (parental leave cover)
• Full-time or Part-time: 4-5 days per week
• Remuneration: SCHADS Level 6-7: FTE $94-106k + 10% super + 17.5% Annual Leave Loading
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are particularly encouraged to apply
• Reporting to: Managing Lawyer - Biodiversity

Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) is the largest environmental legal centre in the Australia-Pacific, dedicated to protecting our climate, communities and shared environment by providing access to justice, running ground-breaking litigation and leading law reform advocacy.

The opportunity:

EDO’s national biodiversity legal practice to use your legal skills to provide legal advice, representation and education to clients to achieve EDO’s strategic outcomes, with a specific focus on protecting biodiversity.

The Biodiversity Team is part of our national Systemic Change Program and the position reports to the Managing Lawyer, Biodiversity.

Candidate profile:

Senior Solicitors will be expected to work closely with the Managing Lawyer to develop and implement planning for each program, and work with a higher level of autonomy and self-direction. This may include leading on media work, seminars, publications, as well as having carriage of litigation, law reform and advice work.

Key selection criteria

Core skills

• Holds or entitled to an unrestricted practicing certificate and a minimum of 5 years PAE working as a litigation solicitor, 3 + years PAE and experience in administrative and/or environmental law highly desirable
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to make sound judgments and decisions based on consideration of different views
• Demonstrated ability to work productively and to deadlines, and good file management skills
• Excellent oral and written communication skills suited to a range of audiences, including plain English communications with members of the public

Substantive experience

• Knowledge of and experience with environmental law (particularly native forestry) and/or related disciplines including administrative law.
• Demonstrated litigation experience in environmental law (particularly in NSW) and/or related disciplines including administrative law, including experience having carriage of legal proceedings in State and Federal jurisdictions.
• Demonstrated experience working with diverse communities and individuals highly desirable
• Capacity to engage in law reform and community legal education

Personal qualities and cultural competency

• A champion of the agreed values of the EDO

Our Culture and Benefits:

• We care deeply about creating a workplace where our team members feel valued, respected and empowered. We are committed to providing equal opportunity regardless of gender identity, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or life stage.

• The chance to be part of the largest environmental legal practice in the Australia-Pacific.
• A very flexible and family-friendly workplace.
• Option to work from home and the office.
• Paid Parental Leave.
• 15 Days Personal/carer’s leave.
• Extra leave over the Christmas period.
• Access to EAP.
• Ongoing professional development opportunities.
• EDO proudly has a JEDI (Justice, Equality, Diversity, Inclusion), and a Mental Health Ambassador Committee, and is developing a First Nations Indigenous Peoples Program with the aid of indigenous-led consultancies.

Our Values:

• Commitment – We are committed to; a united organisation, to each other, to collaboration, to justice, to our communities and to creating a world where nature thrives.
• Diversity – We are respectful of and welcome diversity of staff, volunteers, offices, environmental regions, communities, stakeholders.
• Integrity – We work effectively, efficiently, strategically, professionally, and ethically; “justice is in our nature”.
• Visionary – We lead change and environmental empowerment using innovation, creativity, and courage.

For further information about the position contact the Managing Lawyer, Biodiversity by email at [email protected] using the subject line: Senior Solicitor - Biodiversity - Australia-wide enquiry via EthicalJobs.

A position description is attached.