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

The primary responsibility of the Trial Advocate, Criminal Law Practice is to act on behalf of the ALS in the more complex and difficult criminal cases and will involve:

• Research, preparation and  representation of Aboriginal clients in criminal matters;
• Representing Aboriginal clients in the Local, Children’s and  District and Courts, and other courts or tribunals;
• Preparing briefs for counsel and attend to instructing counsel.

Your Skills and Expertise 

Do you have?

• 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 Practising Certificate with a minimum of 5 years experience in a Criminal Law practice.
• Sound knowledge of and demonstrated experience in conducting high quality carriage of a committals practice combined with serious criminal hearing work.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to conduct community legal education and to prepare court documents, correspondence, submissions and other written materials.

Job Benefits and Perks

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

This role is a temporary fulltime position up to 30 June 2020 with the possibility of extension.