Senior Civil Lawyer – Coronial Inquests

Salary CiLO 4.2 ($106,422) – CiLO 4.3 ($111,174) depending on experience
FTE Full-time
Location Darwin, Katherine, or Alice Springs
Commencement Immediately (Negotiable)
Positions 1
Reports to Deputy Managing Lawyer
Applications Close Monday, 12th May 2024
About NAAJA:

Be a part of one of Australia’s most dynamic, diverse, and challenging legal practices. NAAJA provides legal aid for Indigenous people in the Northern Territory, with offices in Darwin, Palmerston, Katherine, Tennant Creek, and Alice Springs.

We are a leading Australian legal service and have received both National and Northern Territory human rights awards for our work. We are committed to providing quality representation for our clients and bringing about long-term change in the justice system. Our staff are motivated, dedicated and do work that matters.

  • Salary packaging options
  • 6 weeks annual leave per year with leave loading
  • Annual airfare
Position Overview:

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.

The Senior Civil Lawyer – Coronial Inquests will provide leadership and supervision of the newly established Coronial Inquests Practice Group, whilst also sitting in and conducting matters in another practice group (Housing and Social Security, Police and Prison Accountability, Child Protection) and general civil law matters.

The work requires high levels of motivation, energy and a commitment to professional excellence.

Duties:
  1. Provide advice to NAAJA clients on general civil law issues, with a focus on Coronial Inquests. This includes conducting advice clinics in urban and remote areas.
  2. Undertake litigation and other casework civil law, with a focus on Coronial Inquests, in accordance with NAAJA’s priorities and guidelines as directed by the Managing Civil Lawyer and Deputy Managing Civil Lawyer.
  3. Provide support to the Managing and Deputy Managing Civil Lawyer in guiding and advising NAAJA staff, training and induction of new and existing staff, and the development and implementation of Civil Section policies and procedures.
  4. In collaboration with the Managing and Deputy Managing Civil Lawyer, and the Coronial Inquest Practice Group Consultant, lead the Coronial Inquest Practice Group or such other practice areas as are agreed from time to time. Duties include, but are not limited to:
    a. Leading high-level inquests and other litigation
    b. Providing on going mentoring and supervision support to practice group members across all three offices, particularly in the area of coronial inquests.
    c. Providing an induction to all new lawyers, interns and staff on issues relating to the practice group
    d. Chairing bi-monthly strategy meetings
    e. Co-ordinating bi-annual CPD
    f. Updating and maintaining precedent systems.
    g. Coordinating stakeholder relationships and developing advocacy strategies
  5. Provide support to the Managing Civil Lawyers and/or Deputy Managing Civil Lawyers when required.
  6. Be available to travel to remote communities and stay overnight for up to 4 nights, to attend and conduct client outreach and remote civil advice clinics when required.
  7. Represent the Civil Section at internal meetings and represent the Civil Section and/or NAAJA at meetings with external agencies with a focus on Coronial Inquests.
  8. Attend team and staff meetings as required.
  9. Identify policy/law reform issues of relevance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Northern Territory. Contribute to policy discussions and assist with the preparation of written submissions as agreed with the Managing Civil Lawyers.
  10. Liaise with other NAAJA staff, government officers and community-based organisations as required.
  11. Provide reports about casework and other operations undertaken as required.
  12. Other duties as required.
Selection Criteria: 

Essential:

  1. Eligibility for Admission as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory and the High Court of Australia.
  2. Eligibility for an unrestricted practice certificate in the Northern Territory.
  3. Demonstrated ability to undertake civil litigation and casework and provide civil law advice with limited supervision, including demonstrated experience in Coronial Inquests.
  4. Proven ability to mentor and/or supervise legal and non-legal staff.
  5. Ability to undertake overnight travel to, and to work in, all NAAJA Offices and remote Aboriginal communities.
  6. 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.
  7. Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills including effective cross-cultural communication skills, and willingness to work with cultural and language interpreters.
  8. Demonstrated ability to work constructively with a diverse team of legal and non-legal staff to achieve NAAJA’s goals.
  9. Well-developed time management skills including ability to meet deadlines and manage a diverse legal practice.
  10. Current drivers licence.
  11. Satisfactory criminal history check and no history of disqualification from employment by a legal practice.
  12. Satisfactory working with children check.

Highly Desirable: 

  1. An ability to communicate sensitively and effectively with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
  2. An understanding of the role and function of NAAJA.
Appointment subject to:
  • Working rights within Australia.
  • National Criminal history check
  • Ochre Card
Considerations:
  • This position requires you to apply for a Working with Children Clearance/Ochre Card prior to your employment commencement date and send us receipt of payment. This will be at your own cost.
  • Six-month probation period.
  • Non-smoking working environment.
  • The contact details of at least two referees are required.
  • Evidence of qualification attainment will be required.
How to Apply:

Applicants for this position must address the selection criteria in their written application, which should be sent to Recruitment@naaja.org.au.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are strongly encouraged to apply.