• Hybrid, part-time 3 days a week, contract

An exciting opportunity to join Australia’s only national non-profit law firm dedicated to advising Australian authors and illustrators.

About Authors Legal

Authors Legal is a non-profit boutique law firm established in 2022 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of registered charity The Australian Society of Authors (ASA).

We are unique. Authors Legal is Australia’s only national non-profit law firm dedicated to providing bespoke, specialist, low-cost legal advice to Australian authors and illustrators. We help individual creators to understand their rights, negotiate terms for their publishing and agency deals, and communicate their legal issues and concerns.

We are growing. Authors Legal is thrilled to be expanding our team with a new role.

About the role

The role is for a part-time (3 days a week) junior commercial lawyer or paralegal, initially for a 36-month contract period.

Working closely with our Principal Lawyer, the role will involve:

• drafting or assisting with drafting pragmatic and astute legal advice for authors and illustrators on their publishing industry contracts (both pre-signing and occasional contract dispute work) including trade and educational publishing agreements, commissioned work agreements, ghostwriter agreements, literary agency and representation agreements, and all aspects of copyright, defamation, contract, consumer, and creator rights

• providing legal and industry assistance to the ASA including on template agreements, industry recommendations, and advice

• assisting in drafting policy submissions, advice, and articles on national issues facing Australian authors and illustrators, including the adoption of and government response to the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the creative industries.

About you

The ideal candidate will have:

• 1 to 2 years post-qualification experience or comparable experience in a paralegal role

• experience advising on commercial contracts

• excellent attention to detail and strong organisational skills

• exemplary written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to turn complex legal issues into practical and digestible legal advice.

Knowledge of the Copyright Act and experience advising in the Australian publishing industry would be highly regarded but is not essential.

Culture and benefits

We offer professional growth, flexibility, and support. Working within the ASA office in the creative hub of Ultimo, you will be an integral part of the ASA’s small team, and the services provided to its 4000+ members across Australia. Your clients will comprise a mix of debut, emerging, established, and bestselling authors and illustrators.

The role is office-based on Mondays and Tuesday, with the option to WFH across a third day (or multiple shorter days if preferred).

Salary range is $90,000 to $100,000 plus super (pro rata 3 days a week), commensurate with experience, plus 5 weeks paid leave (pro rata).

Applications close Friday, 4 July. We are looking to fill the position as soon as possible, so will consider applications as they are received. We will be in touch with shortlisted applicants no later than 3 weeks after the closing date.

Authors Legal is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace, and welcome applications from people with diverse backgrounds and experience, including Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander persons.

A note to recruitment agencies: we do not accept unsolicited agency resumes and we are not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.