• Salary Range: $70,000 -$75,000 p.a. full time or pro rata if part-time (including superannuation)
• Position Status: Full time (but open to part time for the right candidate)
• Location: Working remotely from home, but must have a Victorian practising certificate
• Term: 1-year fixed term contract with possible extension (dependent on funding) commencing ASAP (negotiable)
• Position reports to: Principal Solicitor
• Primary responsibilities: Generalist legal advice
• Probation period: 3 months

About The Animal Law Institute (ALI)

ALI’s vision is to create a just world for animals. The suffering and exploitation of millions of animals is legal in Australia. It happens every day because of cruel, inadequate and inconsistent laws. We fight to change this.

Our mission is to be a voice for animals by:

• using the legal system to challenge the current treatment of animals;
• partnering with animal advocates by providing free legal advice and representation in court; and
• empowering the community to use the legal system to create change for animals.

We carry out our mission by:

• giving free legal advice to animal advocates each year;
• representing animals’ interests in court in strategic legal cases;
• supporting stronger animal protection laws;
• educating people about how the legal system can be used as a force for change;
• raising awareness of how the law treats animals; and
• engaging with the next generation of lawyers through the Australia New Zealand Intervarsity Moot on Animal Law (ANIMAL).

Key Responsibilities

• Establishing and managing a puppy farm clinic, which will be an advice only clinic to clients initially in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland with the intention to be available to individuals Australia wide
• Working autonomously to provide legal services for clients including:
  • Assessing requests for assistance from potential clients
  • Providing legal advice to clients
  • Appearing before courts or tribunals in relation to strategic litigation matters
  • Facilitating referrals to barristers
  • Engaging ALI volunteer lawyers and paralegals to assist with matters and overseeing their involvement (including supervising and reviewing work completed by volunteer lawyers and/or paralegals)
• Working with the Principal Solicitor to ensure compliance with high professional standards of service delivery including professional indemnity insurance and community legal centre accreditation obligations
• Assisting with governance, reporting and evaluation requirements of ALI
• Contributing to education/policy advocacy work as directed (which may include assisting with event organisation)
• Other relevant work as directed

Qualifications & Skills

• An admitted Australian Lawyer
• The holder of an unrestricted Victorian practising certificate (or be eligible to apply for one)
• 4+ years post admission experience as a lawyer (negotiable)
• Understanding of legal issues currently faced by ALI clients (for example consumer law, contract law, corporate law and litigation)
• Strong commitment to social justice, ideally with experience in animal law and/or animal protection issues
• Demonstrated ability to manage, supervise and motivate colleagues
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and ability to give accurate and practical legal information and advice
• Demonstrated ability to work autonomously as well as collaboratively in a team environment
• Understanding of and commitment to ALI's Vision, Mission and Strategic Plan