Senior Lawyer - Public Law and Community Rights

ABOUT CAXTON 

Caxton Community Legal Centre's purpose is to promote and protect human rights in Queensland through access to justice.  Caxton provides free information, legal assistance, advocacy and social support in relation to a broad range of legal issues for people living in the Greater Brisbane Region and Statewide.  Priority is given to people who experience disadvantage, trauma and marginalization, and who have limited capability to self-advocate. Caxton undertakes community education, engages in law and systems reform and publishes legal information on a range of topics in the online Queensland Law Handbook.  Find out more at www.caxton.org.au. 

THE ROLE - An OPPORTUNITY to Make a difference 

This is a full-time contract until 30 June 2027. Available for immediate start.  

The Senior Lawyer – Public Law and Community Rights is responsible for providing legal advice and casework to clients with human rights, anti-discrimination, public law and coronial matters. They will have high level knowledge in Coronial law, human rights and anti-discrimination law and administrative law. They will provide support and guidance to other practitioners in Caxton in relation to Coronial and public law and community rights matters. Senior Lawyer – Public Law and Community Rights will represent the Public Law and Community Rights programs in targeted stakeholder engagement, contribute to law reform submissions as directed by the Managing Senior Lawyer – Public Law and Community Rights.  

Remuneration and Benefits 

• A supportive and inclusive workplace 
• Level 6.1 under the SCHADS Awards plus above award entitlements 
• $124,149 per annum (inclusive of superannuation), plus an additional allowance for Senior Lawyer role
• Christmas shutdown leave in addition to 4 weeks annual leave 
• First Nations staff entitled to a colonial loading payment of 4% on top of their base salary 
• 35-hour week of work paid at 38-hour week rate (pro rata)  
• Flexible work arrangements available 
• 12.75% employer superannuation contribution 
• Excellent tax-free salary packing options available (up to $15,900) 

ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES 

Under the direction of the Managing Senior Lawyer – Public Law and Community Rights:

• Work with minimal supervision and apply in-depth existing knowledge of relevant areas of law to deliver legal advice and conduct both simple and complex casework, using a trauma informed, human rights framework, whilst sharing skills and experience with less experienced lawyers
• Provide direct practice supervision for more junior lawyers, paralegals, PLT students and volunteers as well as lawyers in other programs assisting clients with co-existing matters within the scope of the Public Law and Community Rights Programs.
• Trouble-shoot issues related to clients accessing the service or making complaints and identifying PII issues to the Managing Senior Lawyer – Public Law and Community Rights.
• Work collaboratively to provide a holistic, client-centred service to diverse clients within a human rights framework.
• Deliver community education, engage in sector development and networking, contribute to law and policy reform.

Essential requirements 

• Demonstrated experience across relevant areas of law
• Demonstrated experience supervising lawyers on restricted practising certificates, PLT students and volunteers.
• Bachelor of Laws or similar with 5+ years post admission experience
• Admitted in an appropriate Australian state jurisdiction, and in the High Court of Australia
• Current, or eligibility for, Queensland Practising Certificate

For any questions about the role, please don’t hesitate to contact us at [email protected] using the subject line: Senior Lawyer - Public Law and Community Rights enquiry via EthicalJobs.

A position description is attached.