• Location: Australia-wide with a strong preference to be Perth based
• Term: 12 months with possible extension
• Job type: Full time/Part time (0.8-1.0 FTE)
• Remuneration: SCHADS Level 4-5: FTE $74-86k + 10% super + 17.5% Annual Leave Loading
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples are encouraged to apply

Reporting to: Managing Lawyer, Western Australia Practice

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.

As the region’s legal experts in our field, we aim to be a brave, unified, and focused team, committed to inclusion and excellence in all that we do. We strive to be a diverse and inclusive workplace supporting a highly skilled, engaged, and effective team, where everyone can feel that they belong.

Candidate Profile:

You are in your early career looking to gain experience at the cutting edge of environmental law. You have strong written and oral communication skills, an eye for detail, and a desire to work with the community to afford access to justice on environmental issues. Candidates with experience working in environmental or administrative law will be preferred. Lawyers who think outside the box and want a chance to think creatively about delivering systemic change are strongly encouraged to apply.

EDO is a diverse and inclusive workplace. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are particularly encouraged to apply.

Key selection criteria

Core skills

• Holds a practicing certificate or entitlement to one in Western Australia
• A law degree and admission to practice within Australia
• 0-4 years PAE working as a solicitor, 2 + years PAE highly desirable
• Demonstrated experience in administrative and/or environmental law highly desirable
• Problem-solving skills and ability to make sound judgments and decisions based on consideration of different views
• Ability to work productively and to deadlines
• Excellent oral and written communication skills suited to a range of audiences

Substantive experience

• Litigation experience in administrative or environmental law and/or related disciplines highly desirable
• Capacity to undertake law reform or policy, experience desirable
• Experience working with diverse communities and individuals highly desirable

Personal qualities and cultural competency

• A champion of the agreed values of the EDO
• Strong initiative and self-motivation
• Commitment to the protection of the environment and public participation in environmental decision-making
• A strong sense of ethics and understanding of professional obligations
• Demonstrated awareness of and sensitivity to the needs and concerns of individuals from diverse cultures, backgrounds and orientations in both the delivery of our work and our internal culture
• Demonstrated ability to work in a collaborative and team-based environment.

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”.

Vision – We lead change and environmental empowerment using innovation, creativity, and courage.

to apply

Click Apply Now and follow the instructions. A position description is attached.

All offers of employment may be subject to satisfactory background checks including a National Police Check, disclosure of previous or current disciplinary action, referee checks, proof of eligibility to work in Australia and qualification checks.

EDO welcome applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, workers of all ages, people with disabilities and people who identify as LGBTQIA+.