Managing Lawyer - Litigation & Casework - Australia-Wide

• Location: Australia-wide
• Term: Ongoing
• Full-time: 37.5 hours per week
• Remuneration: SCHADS Level 8: $152,165 + 12% super + 17.5% Annual Leave Loading
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are particularly encouraged to apply
• Reporting to: Principal Lawyer / Director, Litigation & Casework

Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) is the largest environmental community legal centre in the Australia-Pacific, dedicated to protecting our climate, communities and shared environment by providing access to justice, running ground-breaking litigation and leading law reform advocacy. 

Since time immemorial, First Nations and Indigenous peoples have been taking care of their Countries in Australia and the Pacific. These deep understandings, knowledges and experiences are critical to maintaining the health and vitality of Australia and the Pacific’s unique wildlife and ecosystems. EDO respects these great knowledges and strongly believes that EDO cannot achieve a world where nature thrives without working for First Nations and Indigenous peoples.   

Lead Litigation that Shapes Environmental Law!

Are you an exceptional litigator looking to apply your expertise to complex, strategic litigation that delivers meaningful environmental justice and social impact?

Join the largest environmental legal centre in the Australia-Pacific and work on matters that shape legal precedent, influence policy and protect communities and the environment.

Reporting to the Principal Lawyer / Director Litigation and Casework, you will lead complex, high-impact litigation that advances environmental justice and EDO’s strategic objectives. You will bring outstanding legal judgement, advocacy and litigation expertise to some of Australia’s most significant environmental matters, working collaboratively with colleagues across the organisation to develop innovative legal strategies.

While your technical excellence will be your great strength, this role also provides the opportunity to broaden your impact through mentoring lawyers, strengthening client and stakeholder relationships, and contributing to the ongoing development of a high-performing litigation team.

Candidate Profile

Are you an experienced litigator looking to use your expertise to drive meaningful change? 

This is an exciting opportunity for a strategic legal leader who is passionate about using the law to protect the environment, advance climate justice and deliver lasting impact for communities.

You will bring demonstrated litigation experience, strong leadership capability and the ability to think creatively about how legal tools can be used to achieve systemic change. Working closely with legal experts across the organisation, you will lead high-impact litigation, provide strategic legal advice, contribute to law reform, and mentor a talented team of lawyers while collaborating with clients, communities, government and environmental organisations to shape the future of environmental justice. 

If you are looking for a role where your legal expertise, leadership and strategic thinking can help advance the public interest while contributing to the largest environmental legal centre in the Australia-Pacific, we would love to hear from you. 

Key Responsibilities

The key responsibilities of the Managing Lawyer, Litigation and Casework, include but are not limited to: 

• Lead EDO's Litigation team, providing strategic direction, supervision and mentoring to deliver high-quality representative legal services to EDO clients. 
• Represent EDO’s clients in Courts, Tribunals and complex casework including engaging with regulators and regulatory complaints. 
• Develop and implement legal strategies that advance EDO's client objectives and drive systemic environmental change. 
• Lead and supervise complex public interest litigation and representative casework for EDO clients, including managing high-risk and strategically significant matters in Courts and Tribunals and representative matters in quasi-judicial forums.
• Work collaboratively with the Principal Lawyer and Deputy Principal Lawyer to strengthen EDO's national litigation and complex casework skills and practice.  
• Deliver consistently high-quality legal advice and representation services. 
• Foster a high-performing, inclusive and collaborative team culture by coaching, developing and empowering lawyers across a geographically dispersed team. 
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with EDO clients and community stakeholders and the legal profession. 
• Represent EDO through media engagement, public speaking, stakeholder forums and legal education initiatives to promote public interest litigation and casework as a key democratic pillar. 
• Ensure effective practice management, governance and resource allocation, maintaining compliance with professional obligations while contributing to EDO's strategic growth and organisational success.

Key selection criteria

Essential:

• Demonstrated experience (minimum 8 years post-admission, 5+ years will be considered for exceptional candidates) leading complex litigation and strategic casework, including carriage and supervision of matters in the Federal Court and/or State and Territory Courts. 
• Demonstrated expertise in administrative law and civil litigation, with expertise in related areas highly regarded, including environmental law, climate change law, human rights law, or corporate and consumer law. 
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement litigation and casework strategies for clients to drive systemic change, with the strategic judgement to identify innovative legal opportunities and deliver meaningful outcomes. 
• Highly developed strategic, organisational and communication skills, with demonstrated experience managing competing priorities, maintaining professional compliance, and delivering high-quality legal services aligned with organisational objectives. 
• Proven leadership capability within a legal practice context, with this role including leading and developing high-performing teams, mentoring legal professionals, managing legal risk and practice obligations, and fostering a collaborative, inclusive and values-led culture. 
• A current Australian practising certificate (or eligibility to obtain a Principal Practising Certificate) and relevant tertiary legal qualifications are essential.

Desirable:

• Experience leading strategic public interest litigation within the community legal or not-for-profit sector, including in environment, climate or human rights matters.
• Strong relationship management and influencing skills, with the capacity to build trusted relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders and clients, specific with client groups including environmental and human rights non-government organisations, community groups and members, and Traditional Owners and their representative organisations, together with experience representing organisations through media or public forums. 
• Knowledge of Australian domestic and international law relevant to corporate conduct and action, including but not limited to the Corporations Act 2001 and the Australian Consumer Law. 
• Knowledge of Australian domestic and international human rights law relevant to environmental matters including international complaints mechanisms and Australian human rights legislation. 
• Managing budgets and staff to deliver on organisational objectives. 
• Experience working across geographically dispersed teams and collaborating across jurisdictions to deliver strategic legal outcomes. 
• Demonstrated understanding of, and commitment to, environmental justice, access to justice and the role of strategic litigation, law reform and community legal education in driving systemic change. 

Personal qualities and cultural competency:

• A champion of the EDO values. 
• Strong initiative and self-motivation. 
• Commitment to the protection of human rights and the environment. 
• A strong sense of ethics and understanding of professional obligations. 
• Demonstrated awareness of and sensitivity to the needs and concerns of First Nations and peoples from diverse cultures, backgrounds and orientations in both the delivery of our work and our internal culture. 
• Demonstrated ability to work in a collaborative and team-based environment. 

Our Culture and Benefits

• We care deeply about creating a workplace where our team members feel valued, respected and empowered. We are committed to providing equal opportunity regardless of gender identity, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or life stage. 
• The chance to be part of the largest environmental legal practice in the Australia-Pacific. 
• A very flexible and family-friendly workplace. 
• Option to work from home. 
• 8 weeks paid parental leave, regardless of gender or carer status. 
• 15 days personal/carers leave. 
• 20 days annual leave. 
• 10 days paid family and domestic violence leave per year. 
• 3 days paid cultural leave per year. 
• Extra paid leave over the Christmas period. 
• Opportunities and encouragement to attend National Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC week events. 
• ICIP and Colonial Loading protection within employment contract. 
• Access to an Employee Assistance Program. 
• Ongoing professional development opportunities. 

EDO proudly has a JEDI (Justice, Equality, Diversity, Inclusion) Committee and a Mental Health Ambassador Committee, and has developed a First Nations Program with the aid of indigenous-led consultancies.  

Three Affinity groups for the following: Disability, Global Majority* and LGBTQIA+  

*Global Majority is a collective term that first and foremost speaks to and encourages those so-called, to think of themselves as belonging to the majority on planet earth. It refers to people who are Black, African, Asian, Brown, dual-heritage, indigenous to the global south, and or, have been racialised as ‘ethnic minorities’. 

EDO’s Values & Cultural Pillars

All employees are expected to contribute to a workplace culture that reflects EDO's values and cultural pillars through their actions, behaviours and decision-making.

Thriving People & Professional Excellence

• Demonstrates professionalism, accountability, and commitment to continuous learning. 
• Contributes to a safe, respectful, and supportive workplace where people can thrive. 
• Delivers high-quality work and seeks opportunities to develop capability and expertise.

Shared Direction & Courageous Action

• Works collaboratively toward shared organisational goals and purpose. 
• Demonstrates initiative, adaptability, and courage in addressing challenges and opportunities. 
• Supports innovation and contributes positively to organisational change.

Grounded in Clarity, Strengthened by Trust, Driven by Ownership

• Acts with integrity, transparency, and accountability. 
• Builds trust through respectful communication and follow-through on commitments. 
• Takes ownership of responsibilities and contributes to effective decision-making.

Inclusive Impact

• Values and respects diverse perspectives, backgrounds and lived experiences. 
• Demonstrates cultural competence and contributes to a culturally safe and inclusive workplace. 
• Supports EDO's commitment to justice, equity, diversity and inclusion, including meaningful engagement with First Nations peoples and communities.

Purposeful Joy

• Contributes to a positive, connected, and respectful workplace culture. 
• Supports the wellbeing of colleagues and celebrates achievements and contributions. 
• Brings enthusiasm, curiosity and optimism to their work. 

Supporting EDO Values

• Commitment – Working together to achieve environmental justice and positive outcomes for communities. 
• Diversity – Respecting and valuing difference, inclusion and cultural safety.
• Integrity – Acting ethically, professionally and with accountability.
• Vision – Embracing innovation, creativity, and continuous improvement.

How to Apply

Apply via our website or by clicking ‘Apply Now’.

To review the position description, please see HERE.

If you have queries regarding this advertisement, please contact us at recruitment@edo.org.au 

Applications will be assessed as they are received so we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible to be considered for this role.

Applications must include a CV and a letter that clearly addresses each of the key selection criteria above. 

The Key Selection Criteria show the minimum essential requirements of the position. The desirable criteria outline additional attributes which would enable the successful candidate to perform the role more effectively; they are not essential but may be used to distinguish between applicants during the shortlisting process.  
 
EDO particularly encourages applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, Pacific Island people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, workers of all ages, people with disabilities and people who identify as LGBTQIA+.  
 
Please note: Your application may be considered for future roles at the EDO within the next 12 months without additional advertising. Please notify us in your application if you would not like to be considered for similar roles beyond this recruitment. 

If you have any accessibility needs for the recruitment or interviewing process, please let us know in your application or by emailing recruitment@edo.org.au

Vaccination Requirements

EDO does not have a vaccination mandate. EDO staff have the option to share vaccination details within the EDO HRIS system. EDO will maintain this record of vaccination status of EDO employees; however, if staff do not wish to disclose this information, it will not be enforced. 

Working with clients face-to-face

EDO works with diverse peoples and groups across the Australian and Pacific communities, including people who are considered a high-risk group in terms of COVID-19.  

In order to ensure the safety of all EDO employees and the people we work with and around, staff visiting overburdened communities are required to take a COVID-19 test three (3) days prior and on the day of travel to the overburdened community.

Other Information

All offers of employment may be subject to satisfactory background checks including a National Police Check, disclosure of previous or current disciplinary action, referee checks, proof of eligibility to work in Australia and qualification checks.