Legal Practitioners (Multiple positions) - Civil Law

The Organisation

The Legal Services Commission is passionate about ensuring justice is available and accessible for all South Australians. As the largest legal assistance service in SA, we ensure that South Australians have access to a trusted lawyer when they need help to be heard, provide them with easy ways to learn about their rights and responsibilities, and answer their legal questions.

Each year over 140,000 South Australians benefit from the services we deliver. 

The Role

If you have always wanted to use your law degree to assist people seeking asylum and others experiencing disadvantage, this is the role for you!

As a legal practitioner within the Civil Law Division, you will provide legal advice, advocacy support and legal representation in areas of Civil Law with a particular focus on providing legal assistance to people seeking asylum. This includes assisting individuals seeking to lodge Permanent Protection Visa applications with the Department of Home Affairs and appealing decisions made in respect of those applications in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. 

The role will also provide advice and advocacy in other Civil Law matters in areas such as guardianship, mental health and NDIS appeals and may be required to appear before the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) and / or the South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (SACAT).

If you feel you have what it takes to be successful in one of these roles, apply now!

Salary Range

Appointment will be made based on your experience at either the LSC1 or LSC2 classification.

• LSC1 $79,723 - $86,439 per annum including superannuation, leave loading.
• LSC2 $96,040 - $103,041 per annum including superannuation, leave loading. 

As a not-for-profit organisation, Legal Services is able to offer its employees attractive salary sacrifice arrangements, including up to $15,900 pre-tax each Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) year for general living expenses.

Position Status 

Temporary contract - 2 years – more than one position available

What You Need For Success

The ideal candidate will be appointed based on their experience at either the LSC1 or LSC2 classification level and will be able to demonstrate the following:

LSC1

• Hold a Category C Practising Certificate or currently eligible to apply for a Category C Practising Certificate. 
• Possess a strong commitment to the principle of the equality of access to justice for all persons.
• Experience in communicating effectively with a wide range of people from cultural, ethnic and indigenous backgrounds and/or persons with a physical or mental illness. 
• An understanding of the procedures and operation of the Department of Home Affairs, the NDIS, the AAT and SACAT.

LSC2

• Hold an unrestricted Category C Practising Certificate in South Australia or eligible to apply for an unrestricted Category C Practising Certificate in South Australia. 
• Possess minimum of two (2) years post admission legal experience. 
• Demonstrated commitment to Civil Law matters involving migration, guardianship, mental health and/or NDIS appeals or other relevant areas of administrative law. 
• Work and communicate effectively with persons from a wide range of backgrounds including understanding, and responding appropriately to cultural, ethnic and indigenous differences and to persons living with a disability.
• Knowledge/understanding of the procedures and operation of the Department of Home Affairs, the NDIS, the AAT and SACAT.

Workplace Benefits

We provide a range of financial and non-financial benefits to our employees that include:

• The opportunity to work alongside passionate and dedicated colleagues in a supportive workplace that is concerned about employee well-being.
• Generous salary sacrifice benefits (as outlined above).
• Flexible working arrangements.
• Payment of Practising Certificate for legal staff.
• Payment of relevant professional memberships.
• Support for employees and their families through our inclusive Employee Assistance Program.
• Supported training and development opportunities in areas including working with vulnerable clients, cultural sensitivity and trauma informed practice.
• Access to a comprehensive in-house legal Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program.
• Contemporary workplace accommodation.
• Career development opportunities within the team and the organisation. 
• Payment of employment screening checks.

Next Steps

To apply for this role you will need to submit your written application, consisting of a covering letter and your supporting résumé, to **@lsc.sa.gov.au.  All applications are to be submitted by 5pm Sunday 21 April 2024.

Please refer to the Position Description for further information, which is available from our website (https://lsc.sa.gov.au/). Should you require any further information please direct your query to Alice Rolls, Manager, Civil Law on (08) 8111 5***.

We welcome applications from everyone. We are an inclusive employer, and support diversity and inclusion by recognising our staff for their unique qualities, ideas, and insights. Workplace benefits include flexible working conditions as well as access to very generous salary packaging benefits through Maxxia (https://www.maxxia.com.au/), reducing the income tax you pay.