The Criminal Law Division based in Perth is seeking criminal lawyers (SCL 1/2 or 3/4) to provide duty lawyer services at Northbridge Police Complex and Perth Children's Court on weekends. Applicants must be willing to commit to regular weekend work, with a minimum of one Saturday or Sunday per fortnight.

This pool recruitment process will be used to fill permanent, fixed term, full time and part time vacancies that may arise over a period of 12 months from the date of finalisation of the recruitment process. Fixed term appointments may be made with the possibility of extension/s and/or permanency.

About the role

You will be employed as a solicitor in Legal Aid WA’s Criminal Law Division on a part-time (2-4 days per week) or full-time (5 days per week) basis, with a minimum of one Saturday or Sunday per fortnight as part of your regular roster.

On weekdays you will undertake a range of legal work such as duty lawyer services, legal advice and legal task services, and case work in relation to criminal law matters. These duties involve direct contact with clients at Legal Aid WA offices, courts, prisons, detention centres, hospitals and other outreach locations. At Specified Calling Level 1 or 2 the weekday work is likely to involve primarily duty lawyer and discrete legal service delivery, while at Specified Calling Level 3 or 4 the focus would be casework with some duty lawyer service delivery.

On weekends, you will provide duty lawyer services at either the Northbridge Police Complex or the Perth Children’s Court. You will interview accused persons who are under arrest in custody, take instructions and provide legal advice, and then appear for them in court. When rostered at Northbridge you will provide in-person assistance to adults. At Perth Children’s Court you will assist adults in regional police lock-ups and children in detention and regional lock-ups, conducting interviews by telephone and representing persons appearing via videolink. Weekend shifts may commence as early as 7am and conclude when all clients have appeared in court and urgent follow up has been completed. Weekend penalty rates apply and hours worked over a standard 7.5 hour work day accrue as flexi-time unless otherwise agreed.

About you

Legal Aid WA is looking for applicants who:

• are strong advocates driven by the desire to deliver the best possible outcome for every client;
• are passionate about social justice and can work effectively with clients in crisis, including those experiencing family violence or entrenched disadvantage;
• possess high level communication and interpersonal skills to manage clients who may present with drug or alcohol issues, mental illness or impairment; and
• are able to work autonomously and as part of a team in high pressure situations that might be time sensitive.

As this is a recruitment for a pool of solicitors at Specified Calling Level 1 or 2 and Level 3/4, we are looking for candidates with a range of experience. Positions at Specified Callings Level 1 or 2 are well suited to those with limited post-admission experience, however some experience in criminal practice is desirable. Positions at Specified Callings Level 3/4 require considerable post-admission experience (at least four years) primarily in criminal law.

About us and what we can offer you

We offer a strong team working environment, the satisfaction of adding value to the community, and a range of benefits in line with business requirements, which may include professional development opportunities, flexible working and leave arrangements, including opportunities to purchase leave. We offer a range of health and wellbeing initiatives, including access to Fitness Passport which provides a wide range of gym, pool, and fitness centre discounts available for employees and their families. Click here to learn more about the benefits we offer employees.

Legal Aid WA is an independent statutory authority funded by the State Government and Commonwealth Governments. We provide over 100,000 legal services to clients each year in the areas of criminal, family and civil law across Western Australia. Please visit www.legalaid.wa.gov.au to find out more about us. You can also keep up to date with our activities and achievements by following us on LinkedIn.

How to Apply

Applications are made online. In addition to the questions being asked in the online application, you should submit:

• A comprehensive CV (max. 5 pages) that showcases your talents and key achievements relevant to the role; and
• A cover letter (max. 2 pages) outlining your relevant experience and interest in the role. 

Tip - written communication skills will also be assessed at the application stage so be sensible with font and margin sizes. 

Qualifications and minimum experience required for the role will also be assessed by the panel at application stage.

To apply for this position, you must have successfully completed an undergraduate Law degree and be admitted, or eligible for admission to practice in Western Australia, at the time of completion of this recruitment process.

Click the “Apply for Job” button at the bottom of this page to submit your application. Applications are only accepted via www.jobs.wa.gov.au. Please allow enough time to submit your application, as late applications will not be accepted.

For technical difficulties while applying online, contact the RAMS Helpdesk on 1300 733 056 and quote recruitment ID number 1064178.

• All such applications should have a lodged date and time generated automatically.
• Transmissions received after the closing date and time will not be accepted unless there is evidence of fault in the online system being down.

If you have any questions about the application process or do not have access to a computer with internet access, please contact RecruitmentAdmin@legalaid.wa.gov.au.

Further information

Download the attached Job Description Form to learn more about the role. We recommend you review our guide on applying for a job at Legal Aid WA, including eligibility, preparing your application and the selection process, prior to submitting your application. Alignment with Legal Aid’s values will also be considered in the panel’s assessment of candidates. Please take time to familiarise yourself with the role prior to applying.

If you would like to talk to someone about the job, please contact Caitlin Searle, Managing Solicitor on 08 9261 6467 or Caitlin.Searle@legalaid.wa.gov.au

For First Nations specific information regarding working at Legal Aid WA, including our First Nations Staff Network, please visit First Nations Employment. For First Nations culturally appropriate resources on making a job application visit Jobs and Skills WA.

Diversity & Inclusion

A commitment to fair and equitable treatment for all is at the very core of Legal Aid WA’s values. We recognise a diverse workforce is essential to delivering inclusive client centred services. Legal Aid WA welcomes applications from people of all ages, genders and backgrounds including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability and LGBTQIA+ members of the community.

Suitable Australian First Nations applicants may be given priority consideration over other applicants to achieve our vision of widening access to justice in a culturally safe and inclusive environment.

People with disability will be provided with reasonable adjustments in our recruitment processes and in the workplace. If you require adjustments to participate in the recruitment process, please contact Janice Green on tel (08) 6373 5297 or email Janice.Green@legalaid.wa.gov.au

Pool conditions

As this is a pool, vacancies will be offered on a full-time or part-time, permanent or fixed-term basis. This selection process may also be used to fill other similar vacancies throughout our organisation that arise within the term of the pool It is important to note that appointment to the pool is not a guarantee that you will be offered a term of employment.

Appointment to all positions at Legal Aid WA is subject to a satisfactory national criminal history check, integrity and conflict checks, and 100-point identification check.