Solicitor

about the opportunity

An opportunity has become available for a solicitor to work with the Legal Service at the Sydney University Postgraduate Representative Association (SUPRA). The Legal Service provides advice, advocacy, and representation to postgraduate students on a wide range of legal matters. The service also undertakes community legal education, and law reform and policy activities which aim to improve the situation of students with regards to their legal rights.

Salary & Conditions: Salary commencing at $131,209 per annum (Level 6, Step 1), (pro-rata for part time) with 17% superannuation and full PBI salary packaging available. Highly competitive working conditions including: 25 days annual leave (pro-rata) with 17.5% leave loading; additional 2 weeks paid leave over the December-January university shutdown; hybrid working conditions; and 50 days p/a pooled personal leave (pro rata).

Type of Employment: Full time (35 hours per week). Part time will be considered. Fixed term for 12 months. Possibility of continuation subject to funding. Up to 6 months’ probation.

About you

Applicants for the position must demonstrate they:

• can provide an effective casework service.
• are familiar with a wide range of legal issues impacting postgraduate students, including migration law.
• can contribute to the service’s community education, policy, and advisory work.
• have excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• can work effectively in a team and with culturally and linguistically diverse people.
• have a commitment to equity and social justice principles.

If these criteria speak to you, you could be the perfect person for the job.

Essential Selection Criteria / Skills & Knowledge

Essential:

• Hold or eligible to hold a practising certificate as a solicitor in New South Wales.
• Two years post qualification experience providing legal advice and undertaking casework in a range of legal areas.
• Demonstrated experience in conducing legal work as a solicitor in at least three areas directly relevant to the legal service’s casework, including migration law.
• Demonstrated experience working in the community legal centre/not-for-profit legal assistance sector, or in the university sector as a solicitor.
• Ability to accept responsibility, take initiative and work independently with minimal supervision, as well as to work as part of a small multi-disciplinary professional team.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to successfully negotiate with and influence a broad range of stakeholders.
• Understanding of current WH&S and Safer Space practices and an ability and capacity to implement required SUPRALS, SUPRA and University of Sydney health and safety policies and procedures.

Desirable:

• Ability to provide verbal and written advice in another language.
• Experience in developing and delivering community legal education programs ideally in a tertiary education context.
• Experience conducting law reform, policy development, campaigns, or other strategic legal work.
• Experience supervising, training, and mentoring legal staff and/or volunteers.
• Knowledge of student organisations, and of working in a membership based/union setting.

next steps

A full position description is attached.

Only successful applicants will be contacted for an interview.

Applications must be submitted by the deadline via the "Apply Now" link.

If you have any queries about the role, please email the Principal Solicitor Ingrid van Tongeren, i.vantongeren@supra.usyd.edu.au, using the subject line: Solicitor enquiry via EthicalJobs.

A position description is attached.