Senior Solicitor - Legal Aid NT

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• Darwin 
• Fixed 12 month contract 
• Salary $108,699 - $121,738

 

Primary objective
Under the supervision of the Managing Solicitor of the Darwin Practice, provide high quality legal advice and representation to clients of Legal Aid NT charged with criminal offences.

Key duties and responsibilities

1. Provide high quality legal advice and representation in Northern Territory courts for clients charged with criminal offences in a broad range of criminal law areas.
2. Appear as solicitor in all courts as required including but not limited to the Local Court, Youth Justice Court, and Supreme Court.
3. As a member of the team, be responsible for a reasonable share of the file work undertaken by the office and assume conduct of those matters which are assigned to you by the Managing Solicitor including a share of the duty lawyer and clinic advice services provided by the office.
4. Provide guidance to colleagues in matters of ethics and professional responsibility which may arise in the course of the conduct of client matters, as required.
5. Maintain and improve professional standards by keeping up to date with developments in relevant areas of legal practice including participating in professional development activities in relevant areas of legal practice; and complying with the Continuing Professional Development requirements of the Law Society of the Northern Territory.
6. Develop and maintain relationships with private legal practitioners, the NT DPP, the Commonwealth DPP, the Supreme and Local Courts in the Northern Territory, and other relevant networks to ensure Legal Aid NT remains responsive and proactive in meeting legal needs in the Darwin region.
7. Ensure compliance with the Legal Profession Act (NT), the Legal Aid Act (NT), the Legal Aid Guidelines, the National Partnership Agreement and funding arrangements for the provision of legal services.
8. Maintain effective file management systems and internal quality assurance procedures consistent with the administrative systems, procedures and policies utilised by Legal Aid NT.

 

Selection criteria
Essential

1. Admission or eligibility for admission as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory of Australia.
2. A minimum of 5 years post-admission experience in criminal law, including the conduct of contested matters.
3. High level knowledge and experience in criminal law practice and procedures, including well developed advocacy skills.
4. Demonstrated ability to deliver high quality complex legal advice, assistance, and representation in a range of criminal law matters and undertake related advocacy, policy, and law reform work.
5. Demonstrated high-level initiative including the ability to work with minimal supervision in undertaking tasks and addressing challenges including the ability to deal with competing demands and complex matters.
6. Demonstrated knowledge of current legal issues affecting disadvantaged people in the Northern Territory and the overrepresentation of First Nations people in the criminal justice system.
7. Demonstrated understanding of youth justice principles, including restorative justice and therapeutic approaches and a sound knowledge of the Youth Justice Act (NT).
8. High-level oral and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate with people from diverse backgrounds and clients with complex needs.
9. Commitment to legal aid values and an understanding of Northern Territory justice issues and the legal assistance sector.

 

Desirable

1. Experience in the conduct of jury trials.

 

Click here to download the job description

 

Applications close 4:00pm Thursday, 23 May 2025.

 

For further information please contact Human Resouraces on 08 8999 300 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..