| Position Title | Lawyer – Civil Law |
| Salary | CiLO 3.1-3.3 ($93,733–99,942) depending on experience + allowances + super + salary packaging option |
| FTE | Full time |
| Location | Darwin |
| Commencement | From 20 January 2025 (negotiable) |
| Positions | 1 |
| Reports to | Deputy Managing Lawyer, Managing Lawyer |
About NAAJA
The North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA) is a leading not-for-profit organisation that provides legal services and advocacy to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Northern Territory. NAAJA’s legal practice provides high quality, culturally proficient and accessible advice, casework and court advocacy in both criminal and civil law.
What we offer
- Salary packaging options up to $18,450 per annum tax free
- Remote allowance of $3,300 per annum (if applicable)
- Annual airfare allowance
- 6 weeks annual leave
- 3 weeks personal leave
- Relocation allowance
About the role
NAAJA’s civil law practice is an extremely busy and diverse one, with practice areas including police accountability, child protection, adult guardianship, consumer, discrimination, tenancy, social security and victims of crime assistance claims. This position is based in NAAJA’s child protection team, which is focused on achieving true justice, dignity and respect for Aboriginal people through representing parents and other family members in child protection proceedings. Lawyers in the child protection team will also have the opportunity to undertake general civil law matters in a range of areas and undertake remote civil law clinics. Previous experience in child protection is highly valued, but not essential.
Aboriginal children are chronically overrepresented in the child protection system. This is a fantastic opportunity to work with a dedicated and inspired group of hardworking lawyers in challenging and difficult areas of law, with the goal of achieving substantive and systemic change.
What you’ll be doing
- Undertake litigation and other casework in civil law in accordance with NAAJA’s priorities and guidelines as directed by the Managing Lawyer and Deputy Managing Lawyers.
- Provide advice to NAAJA clients on civil law issues, this includes conducting advice clinics in urban and remote areas.
- Availability to travel to remote communities and stay overnight for up to 4 nights, to attend and conduct remote civil advice clinics as rostered.
- Identify policy/law reform issues of relevance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Northern Territory.
- Liaise with other NAAJA staff, government officers and community-based organisations as required.
- Provide reports about casework and other operations undertaken as required.
- Refer NAAJA clients to other agencies for assistance where appropriate.
- Work co-operatively with civil law team including administrative and client service staff.
What we’re looking for
- Eligibility for Admission as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory and the High Court of Australia.
- Demonstrated interest and experience in civil law.
- Ability to undertake civil litigation and casework and provide civil law advice with limited supervision.
- Preparedness to undertake overnight travel to, and to work in, all NAAJA offices and remote Aboriginal communities.
- Ability to identify policy/law reform issues of relevance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Northern Territory, including an awareness of current issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and understanding of their aspirations.
- Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills including effective cross-cultural communication skills, and willingness to work with cultural and language interpreters.
- Ability to work constructively with a diverse team of legal and non-legal staff to achieve NAAJA’s goals.
- Ability to meet deadlines.
Requirements
- Eligibility for Admission as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory and the High Court of Australia.
- Current drivers licence.
- Ability to obtain a satisfactory “Working with Children Clearance” (Ochre Card) upon commencement.
- Satisfactory criminal history check and no history of disqualification from employment by a legal practice.
- Ability and willingness to travel to remote areas.
How to apply
Applicants for this position must submit a cover letter and resume addressing the essential criteria.
Enquiries can be sent to Recruitment@naaja.org.au.
For more information see position description Civil Lawyer – Child Protection
Suitably qualified Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are encouraged to apply.