Temporary Maternity Leave Position-12 Months

What We Offer:

Generous Salary range above-Award conditions

35-hour week paid at 38 hours

15 days Personal Leave

1% Above Super Guarantee

Salary packaging options to increase your take-home pay

Additional paid leave over the Christmas shutdown period

About Cairns Community Legal Centre

The Cairns Community Legal Centre is a non-profit, government-funded community organisation, committed to providing free legal and social justice services to a range of disadvantaged clients.

The Centre extends its services across a range of areas of law including guardianship, domestic violence, peace and good behaviour matters, consumer law, credit, debt, motor vehicle property damage, discrimination and human rights, family law, child protection, elder law, criminal and traffic matters.

This work is provided for a diverse range of clients including people with disabilities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, those experiencing domestic or family violence, financial difficulties and homelessness.

You will have demonstrated experience in practice areas relevant to the areas of law offered by the Centre, including but not limited to domestic and family violence, consumer law, mental health, family, and elder law.

About The Role

Based in Cairns, the Principal Solicitor is responsible for driving the strategic direction of our legal and non-legal teams providing advice and casework services across a diverse range of funded programs including Cairns Seniors Legal & Support Service, Seniors Legal & Social Support Services - Cape York & Torres Strait, Mental Health Legal Service, and Mental Health Review Tribunal Service. As a member of the Executive team, and reporting to the CEO, you will:

Lead complex, high-impact casework and strategic litigation

Provide legal supervision and mentoring to staff solicitors, social workers and non-legal staff and volunteers

As the Responsible Person, operate in an environment of continuous improvement, ensuring compliance with all professional and regulatory obligations including the Risk Management Guide

Identify, evaluate, and pursue opportunities for growth aligned with our strategic goals

Build and maintain a positive, respectful, and high-performing team culture

Participate in collaborative decision making with other senior leaders

Develop and maintain relationships with stakeholders including our funders, government departments, the private and community legal sectors

Oversee and contribute to law reform, community legal education, systemic advocacy, and project development in a way that promotes our vision, mission, and values.

The Person

The ability to consider your work through the lens of client impact is essential. You will be eligible to hold an unrestricted Practicing Certificate and have relevant post-admission experience including complex litigation and people management (preferably 3+ years).

Current eligibility for Blue and Yellow Cards (mandatory criminal history screening)

Experience in risk management, compliance and quality assurance in legal practice

Experience in legal strategy, stakeholder engagement, and program development

An adaptable, accountable, strong, and collaborative leadership style

Commitment to trauma-informed, culturally safe, and client-centred practice

Ability to travel within the region as required to outreach clinics.

Highly Regarded

Previous experience as a Principal/Practice or Program Manager (3+ years)

Qualifications or experience in community leadership, social justice, or human services

Eligibility to hold a Principal Practising Certificate (not essential in Community Legal)

Selection Criteria

Please provide a response to the criteria below:

1. Demonstrated high level of written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills including the ability to:

a) Work effectively with the Senior Management Team, staff and other stakeholders to achieve results that meet the needs of the Centre and its clients.

b) Convey complex information to vulnerable clients experiencing disadvantage.

2. Highlight your case management experience, including your experience in solving complex legal problems and providing sound and considered guidance in relation to ethical issues.

3. You will be responsible for the supervision and management of the Centre’s legal and non-legal teams. Please outline any previous supervision, management and leadership experience.

4. This role will require you to work and conduct yourself in accordance with the values and behaviours expected of the Centre. Outline your demonstrated ability to meet this requirement.