Are you looking for a unique and busy role in a supportive and passionate legal team? We currently have a legal position available in our legal team and are seeking applications from Lawyers at various stages in their careers, from law graduates to those with up to 5 years post admission experience.

This role involves assisting very remote desert clients with interesting and novel native title matters, including instructing counsel in court matters, corporate governance and major land access and compensation negotiations.
 
Central Desert Native Title Services Ltd focuses on working in partnership with the Aboriginal people of the central desert region of Western Australia as they shape a self-determined future of independence, control and connection to Country, Culture and Community.

To achieve this, Central Desert provides a range of services focused on supporting corporations known as a ‘prescribed body corporate’ (PBC). A PBC is the corporate entity established to represent a native title holding group, in all matters relating to native title. The PBC is the first point of contact for government and other parties (for example, mining companies) who wish to talk with the native title holders or undertake activities on native title land.

Central Desert has a legal team which is collegiate, supportive, energetic and hardworking, with a vision of achieving the best possible outcomes for our clients, by enhancing the capacity of the PBCs to take advantage of the opportunities of native title and to drive legal developments in the sector. We are seeking applications to join our team to provide legal advice to PBCs in relation to general native title matters, heritage, mining matters, land tenure and acquisition, compensation claims and corporate governance matters. 

The position is a full-time, permanent role based in our East Perth office and uniquely involves opportunities to travel to regional and remote Western Australia for client meetings, allowing the opportunity to see parts of outback Australia and meet some of its many characters.

Central Desert is a fast paced, value driven organisation doing rewarding and important work for its clients. If you are interested in working in the not-for-profit sector and making a difference in the lives of Aboriginal Western Australians, then this could be the perfect fit.

Qualifications, Skills, Knowledge and Experience:

• Appropriate legal qualifications.
• An understanding of relevant jurisdictions in one or more of the following areas of law: native title, litigation, property, corporate, trusts or resources.
• Aptitude in relating to and to receiving instructions from Aboriginal People.
• Proven ability to prepare complex work with excellent attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Willingness to work in multi-disciplinary teams.
• High-level time management and organisational skills.
• Competence in the use of computers and word processing packages.
• Willingness and ability to travel to remote locations.
• Current driver’s licence.

In addition to a rewarding and dynamic position, Central Desert can offer benefits such as:

• A flexible and supportive work environment, with working from home options available
• Enjoy the benefits of salary packaging with the up to $15,900 per annum tax free
• Additional paid leave between Christmas and New Years
• One additional annual Wellness Leave Day
• Leave loading of 17.5%
• Long Service Leave available pro rata after five years of continuous service
• Paid parental leave, available after12 months of service
• Free onsite parking (subject to availability), with close proximity to public transport.

The salary for this position ranges from $80,835 to $124,755 per annum (plus superannuation), depending on whether the successful candidate is a graduate or their years of post‑admission experience. An increase of 3% will apply to the salary from July 2026.

For any job-related queries or to obtain a detailed Duty Statement please contact [email protected] using the subject line: Lawyer / Graduate Lawyer enquiry via EthicalJobs.

To Apply:

Complete a detailed cover letter clearly addressing the criteria above (a maximum of three pages); and

Submit your cover letter with your resume via the Apply Now link.

Before an offer of employment can be made Central Desert requires a National Police Clearance, not older than 6 months, evidence of a current certificate of practice (law) and of an unrestricted driver’s license.

You are encouraged to submit your application as soon as possible as Central Desert reserves the right to shortlist and interview applications as received. While we would love to contact each applicant, this is not always possible, and we thank every applicant in advance for taking the time to apply.

Unsolicited resumes and contact from recruitment agencies will not be accepted.

Indigenous Australians are encouraged to apply.  We are seeking to increase the diversity of our workforce to better meet the needs of our clients and to improve equal opportunity outcomes for our employees. This is authorised under Section 51 of the Equal Opportunity Act 1984.