• Employer: Intellectual Disability Rights Service (IDRS)
• Work Type: Solicitor 37.5 hours week
• Classification: Disability, Legal and Human Rights
• Sector: Not for Profit
• Location: Office located in Sydney CBD

About IDRS

Intellectual Disability Rights Service (IDRS) operates a community legal centre, the Ability Rights Centre, and a disability advocacy service. We work to ‘make rights real’ for people in NSW who live with intellectual or other cognitive disability including brain injury or autism. We value and demonstrate justice, respect and persistence in all our work.

IDRS is looking for a full time solicitor to join our legal team in providing legal advice and casework across a broad range of legal areas; policy and law reform work and community legal education. The position includes after-hours shifts 3-4 times per month providing legal advice by telephone to people with cognitive disability who are in police custody. This is a short term contract position until mid-July 2021.

IDRS currently has a team of 4 solicitors. Our community legal centre also employs educators, (including educators with disability) and disability advocates. Staff work collaboratively to advance the rights of people with cognitive disability through a variety of strategies.

For more information about the work of IDRS visit our website www.idrs.org.au.

• Contract position until mid-July 2021. Extension may be possible depending on funding
• Start as soon as possible February 2021
• Based in Sydney CBD
• Salary range based on full time $89,251 - $93,191+ 9.5% Superannuation
• Excellent not for profit tax benefits
• Flexible working conditions

IDRS values a diverse workforce and encourages Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and people from cultural and linguistically diverse background to apply for these positions:

1. Legal advice
2. Legal representation
3. Education, Information and Networking
4. Policy and Law Reform
5. Information Resources
6. Administration
7. Contribute to a cohesive, reliable, high quality service

Key Responsibilities

See full position description attached below.

Essential skills and knowledge – selection criteria

Your application must include a statement explaining how you meet each of these following selection criteria in your application

1. Admitted to practice in NSW and hold or be eligible to hold a practising certificate in NSW.
2. Significant experience in providing legal advice and conducting legal casework for people from socially disadvantaged populations
3. Understanding of issues affecting people with cognitive impairment and commitment to advancing their legal and human rights
4. Excellent communication skills including ability to simplify legal jargon and communicate effectively with clients with cognitive impairment
5. Ability to work collaboratively and effectively in a team with other professional staff
6. Ability to deliver community legal education

Desirable skills and knowledge

1. Experience providing legal representation in courts and tribunals

Enquiries – Contact Margot Morris Principal Solicitor on tel: (02) 9265 6350.