Policy and Advocacy Manager: Parental leave contract

The Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) is a national not-for profit member association of lawyers, academics and other professionals dedicated to protecting and promoting justice and equality before the law for all individuals. We advocate for law reform on a broad range of policy areas important to ALA members, prioritising matters connected with compensation, justice and human rights.

We are a small and tight knit office in Sydney, working with members from around Australia and across all Australian jurisdictions. Our members include leading solicitors and barristers in their field.

We are currently seeking a Policy and Advocacy Manager to take the lead on our policy and advocacy work on a 12-month parental leave contract.

About you:

Our ideal candidate has experience advocating for law reform and understands that this has the potential to directly affect ALA members, the clients of ALA members, and the broader community. You will be motivated, self-directed and happy to work either independently or as a part of a team. You will be friendly, flexible and open minded, and enjoy working closely with our staff team and a wide range of members with diverse skills, experience and interests.

Key responsibilities of this role will include:

• Drafting submissions to parliamentary inquiries, both independently (based on legal research) and with input from ALA members;
• Briefing ALA members for their appearances at parliamentary inquiries;
• Identifying opportunities for engagement with government and other stakeholders in line with policy priorities;
• Participating in meetings with the ALA’s branch committees and special interest groups;
• Drafting and sending correspondence on behalf of our members, and organising meetings for our members with government staff, politicians and other stakeholders;
• Reporting on policy and advocacy activities to the ALA’s leadership and membership, as well as briefing the National President and spokespeople as needed;
• Working closely with other employees to ensure a coordinated organisational approach to policy priorities;
• Supervising a part-time research assistant; and
• Providing content for media releases, social media and member updates.

Selection criteria:

• A law degree is essential;
• Demonstrated experience in policy and advocacy, for example by drafting submissions, previous involvement with parliamentary inquiries and/or engaging with governments (including MPs) on policy priorities;
• Demonstrated experience in legal research;
• Demonstrated high-level written and oral communication skills;
• Understanding of Australian political processes at the federal, state and territory levels;
• Understanding of strategic campaigning;
• Understanding of and/or practice experience in the areas of law that are priorities for ALA members will be highly regarded;
• Experience in a membership organisation highly regarded.

The is a full-time position based in the Sydney CBD, although there is the option to work some days from home. Two people in part-time positions could also be considered.