• KWM Community Impact – Junior Solicitor (Melbourne or Sydney) – Top tier law firm 
• Want to use the law to create transformational change for First Nations peoples? 
• Support community-led strategic projects that seek to create generational change 
• This really is one of those rare opportunities to be deeply involved in purposeful action PLUS the ability to work for a top tier law firm and all the perks that come with it!

The Organisation 

King & Wood Mallesons (KWM) is an international top tier law firm with centres in 5 Australian locations (Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney). 

KWM’s social impact practice, KWM Community Impact, deploys KWM’s expertise, experience and networks in a highly strategic and multi-layered approach to reduce inequality & poverty among young people, especially First Nations young people. 

We devise and deliver pro bono legal services, social mobility projects, advisory services, volunteering initiatives and philanthropy. Through this approach, our award-winning social impact practice seeks to inspire & empower all our people to work together to create a more just society and to address the structural and major justice challenges of our time. 

The Role 

The Pro Bono Legal Services Division sits within KWM Community Impact. The core focus of this role is to assist with strategic pro bono projects in partnership with First Nations community-controlled organisations. 

Reporting to the Head of Pro Bono & Community Impact (Dan Creasey) and working closely with the Senior Associate, Pro Bono Project Lead (Donnella Mills), and Senior Associate, Pro Bono Manager (Chloe Johnco), this role will focus on our strategic projects which seek to create systems-change and transformational justice for and in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. 

These projects include justice reinvestment, law reform, legal education and other systems-change projects led by First Nations organisations, collaborative innovation projects working with peak First Nations bodies, and community-led change and place-based initiatives. The role will also play a connector and facilitator for new initiatives to be launched in 2022 including the KWM First Nations Youth Council and KWM Elders in Residence/Council. Further, the role will support our signature community legal education initiative, TalkLaw®, which will be expanded in 2022 to remote and regional communities. 

Key responsibilities will include: 

• Strategic Projects: Supporting the identification, design, piloting and delivering of strategic pro bono projects which focus on systems-change and transformational justice for, and in partnership with, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities; 
• Youth Council: Key connector and facilitator of the role of the Youth Council, supporting the Council with administration (preparation of Council papers and reports) and information; 
• Elders in Residence/Council: Key connector and facilitator of the role of the Elders, supporting Elders with administration and information. 
• Reconciliation & Empowerment Project: Supporting local coordinators with ensuring R&E events/communications/activities are meaningful and appropriate; 
• TalkLaw®: Development relationships; designing and building a platform for remote delivery (driven and owned by community); guiding teams with content writing (under supervision); delivery with partner organisations, evaluation and reporting of outcomes; 
• Justice Reinvestment: Building KWM’s support of JR in Australia through guidance on project work (under supervision).
• Outcomes: Supporting the building of community identified measures and outcomes; outcomes tracking across our projects; assistance with KWM’s understanding of First Nations data sovereignty principles and how that relates to evaluations 
• Stakeholder Engagement: through developing, broadening and/or deepening relationships with aligned Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Organisations, as well as many of KWM’s strategic community clients including NATSILS, all ATSILS, The National FVPLS, Aboriginal Family Violence Prevention units, NACCHO, Social Reinvestment WA, Just Reinvest NSW, Justice Reinvestment Network Australia, Empowered Communities, the Human Rights Law Centre and SNAICC. 
• Pro Bono Practice: Assisting with the coordination of KWM’s Pro Bono Legal Services Division to ensure consistently high calibre service delivery and strong participation across the whole firm; 
• Team Support: Providing support to teams of KWM lawyers working on strategic projects under the leadership of the Head of Pro Bono & Community Impact and/or the Senior Associate, Pro Bono Project Lead and/or Senior Associate, Pro Bono Manager. 
• Strategic Guidance: Providing input and guidance on KWM’s work with First Nations peoples and communities to ensure culturally appropriate service delivery and stakeholder engagement, including contributing to KWM’s Stretch Reconciliation Action Plan. 

You 

You will come with a community-centric and client-focussed approach. Your passion for achieving access to justice for, and in partnership with, First Nations peoples will be highlighted by your demonstrable community participation. Your curiosity will be encouraged and your test and learn approach supported. This is a role that offers so much scope to grow and learn, and we want to give that opportunity to the person who understands the value add this position can bring not just to the community, but also to your career! 

You will also bring: 

• Legal training with that can be entry to 4 years of legal experience; 
• Strong experience in advocating for, and engagement with, First Nations peoples and communities; 
• Strong experience in law reform, policy and/or advocacy (experience in justice reinvestment highly desirable); 
• Excellent project management and organisational skills, as well as strong problem-solving skills; 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; 
• Well-developed stakeholder relations skills; 
• Strong self-motivation with agility and adaptability; and 
• Positive attitude and ability to contribute to the work of a very busy team. 

Please note internally this role is called Solicitor & Pro Bono Advisor 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Applicants 

King & Wood Mallesons is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to principles of diversity and inclusion. The filling of this position is intended to constitute a special/equal opportunity measure under section 8(1) of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth), s 12 of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 (Vic) and s 8(4) of the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 (Vic). 

The position is therefore only open to Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander applicants. 

King & Wood Mallesons considers that identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander is a genuine occupational qualification under s 14 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW) and s 26(3) and s 28 of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 (Vic). 

Diversity & Inclusion

King & Wood Mallesons is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to principles of diversity and inclusion. Applications from people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent are encouraged. We acknowledge, understand, accept, and value differences among all our people. This may relate to age, marital status, ethnicity, carer's status, gender, physical and mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, spiritual practice, or religious belief, for example. 

We recognise the importance of reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and pay our respects to them as the Traditional Owners of Country. 

Next Steps 

Please click ‘Apply Now’ to apply online with your cover letter summarising why you’re applying and your resume to support your experience. 

If you have any questions or need any further information, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Bridget Mudford on (02) 9296 3563. 

If you are not an Australian citizen or permanent resident, you must hold all visas and other approvals necessary for you to work for the firm in Australia. 

Agencies - please note that we are not accepting applications from agencies for this role.