• Location: Redfern office
• Salary Range: From $55,906 to $64,254.  Tax concession of $15,900 per FBT year (1 April to 30 March)

The ALS

The Aboriginal Legal Service NSW/ACT Limited (ALS) is a public company limited by guarantee and registered charity. It is primarily funded by the Australian Government Attorney-General's department and managed by an Aboriginal Board and governed by the ALS Company. The Company consists of thirty Aboriginal people from NSW and ACT and Company members are elected for three-year terms and represent their community.

The ALS is one of the largest Aboriginal legal practices delivering legal services to Aboriginal people in Australia. With over 200 staff, we provide information and referral, legal advice and court representation in criminal law, family law and care and protection law to Aboriginal men, women and children in 24 offices across urban, regional and remote NSW and ACT

The Role

We have various roles for CNS Solicitors at our Redfern Office. 

The Custody Notification (CNS) Solicitor is primarily responsible within this Service of providing a 24-hour legal advice and support phone line for Aboriginal people taken into police custody. In particular the position holder will:

• Provide legal advice and support over the CNS telephone to persons in custody;
• Assess if the person in custody is facing any self-harm threat or requires any duty of care notification or response;
• Contact the person’s family and/or an Aboriginal Field Officer to ensure parental or family concern for their whereabouts and health are minimised;
• Complete CNS forms and logs.

Your Skills and Expertise

• Knowledge and appreciation of the cultural and social needs of Aboriginal people combined with continuing respect and support for Aboriginal cultural practices in dealing with clients, their families, communities and staff.
• Legal qualifications and a NSW Practicing Certificate (or be able to obtain one immediately).
• Up-to-date knowledge of the Criminal Law, including practice and procedure.
• Proven capacity to identify and understand legal issues facing socially and economically disadvantaged Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islanders peoples.
• Proven capacity to provide strong client advisory, support and advocacy role and capacity to provide quality legal advice to Aboriginal people in custody.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and ability to generate and log relevant client related information.
• Ability to meet deadlines, work without supervision and manage a diverse workload, together with high level conceptual, and analytical skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to the effective implementation of Workplace Health & Safety and Ethical and Diversity practices in the workplace. 

Job Benefits

• 10% superannuation
• 35 hour week
• RDO per month
• 20 days annual leave + loading
• Christmas leave paid 
• 6 days Special leave
• Study leave

Further information

The position offered to the Employee is subject to the Employee agreeing he/she may be required to undergo:

• Criminal History Check
• Working With Children Check

Please contact Ms Sheri Misaghi for more information on 02 8303 6600 or email: [email protected], using the subject line: Solicitor - Custody Notification Service enquiry via EthicalJobs.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Solicitors are encouraged to apply.

An application package is attached.