Job: 2024-138 | Full-Time | Fixed-Term (To June 2025) | Flexible Locations In NSW

Primary Purpose of the Role

The primary responsibility of the Coronial and Trial Advocate is to act on behalf of ALS clients in coronial inquests, inquiries, and complex criminal law matters, and provide mentoring and guidance in criminal law and coronial inquests for other ALS staff.

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
• Flexible work options – talk to us about how we can make this role work for you

About the Role

The Coronial and Trial Advocate is part of the Criminal Law Practice based at any ALS location in NSW.

The Coronial and Trial Advocate will be responsible for:

• Act in complex coronial and criminal cases and prepare and research representation of Aboriginal clients in these matters.
• Represent and appear for clients in complex criminal law matters, including jury trials in the District Court of NSW.
• Represent, advise and appear for families in coronial matters.
• Represent Aboriginal clients before the criminal justice system in the Local, Children’s, District and other courts or tribunals as directed by your supervisor.
• Mentor junior ALS solicitors in relation to law and procedure and assist them in the preparation of their cases.

About You

We’re looking for someone who brings:

• Legal qualifications and a NSW Practicing Certificate with a minimum of 4 years’ experience in a Criminal Law practice or Coronial Inquest work
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience appearing in the Coroner’s Court
• Sound knowledge of and demonstrated experience in conducting high quality carriage of a committals practice combined with serious criminal hearing work.
• Commitment to the principles of social justice and demonstrated ability to represent Aboriginal clients and undertake an advocacy role before Courts or Tribunals
• Current valid unrestricted NSW drivers license and a willingness to drive in metropolitan and country locations, travel intrastate and stay overnight or longer (desirable)

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.