Community Solicitor

Darwin Community Legal Service; Darwin; On-site; AUD 85,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Schads pay level 5/6 + 1.5% above

12.5% employer superannuation

Not-for-profit salary packaging

6 weeks annual leave

Enterprise Agreement conditions

Professional development opportunities

Varied legal work with community focus

Outreach and law reform participation

Job summary

Darwin Community Legal Service (DCLS) is seeking a Community Solicitor to join our General Legal Service team in Darwin. This is a full-time position based in Parap, Darwin, with travel for outreach.

The role offers SCHADS Level 5 or 6 plus 1.5% above Award and 12.5% employer superannuation, to support people experiencing disadvantage and contribute to community education and law reform. You will provide high-quality civil legal services, manage your own files, conduct research, and participate

Qualifications

• Must hold or be eligible for Northern Territory Practising Certificate.
• Experience providing direct client legal services appropriate to your level of practice is desirable.
• Strong legal research, written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to provide accessible and culturally appropriate legal services.
• Good file management, organisation and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality legal advice, assistance and representation in civil law matters.
• Manage your own client files and casework.
• Undertake legal research and prepare legal documents.
• Participate in community legal education and outreach.
• Identify systemic issues arising from client work and contribute to law reform submissions.

Skills

Client counseling

Legal research

Written communication

Verbal communication

Cultural competence

File management

Prioritisation

Professional ethics

Team collaboration

Education

NT Practising Certificate eligibility

Job description

Community Solicitor

Darwin Community Legal Service
Darwin, Northern Territory
Full-time | SCHADS Level 5 or Level 6 + 1.5% above Award | 12.5% superannuation

Make a difference through community law

Darwin Community Legal Service (DCLS) is seeking a Community Solicitor to join our General Legal Service team in Darwin.

This is an opportunity to undertake meaningful legal work with people experiencing disadvantage, while contributing to community legal education, outreach and law reform across the Northern Territory.

We welcome applications from lawyers at different stages of their careers. The position may be appointed at SCHADS Level 5 or Level 6, depending on post-admission practising experience:

• Level 5: less than 3 years' post-admission practising experience
• Level 6: 3 or more years' post-admission practising experience

About DCLS

Darwin Community Legal Service is a community-based organisation committed to access to justice, social justice and human rights.

Our General Legal Service provides free civil legal advice, assistance and representation to people experiencing disadvantage. Our work includes areas such as social security, employment, credit and debt, discrimination, adult guardianship and other civil law matters.

DCLS also delivers the Tenants' Advice Service and Advocacy Rights Service and undertakes community education, outreach and systemic advocacy across the Northern Territory.

About the role

As a Community Solicitor, you will provide high-quality legal advice, assistance and representation to clients of the General Legal Service.

Your work will include:

• providing legal advice, assistance and representation in civil law matters
• managing your own client files and casework
• undertaking legal research and preparing legal documents
• participating in community legal education and outreach
• identifying systemic issues arising from client work
• contributing to law reform, submissions and advocacy
• working collaboratively with other DCLS legal and advocacy programs
• maintaining accurate client records and meeting professional and practice requirements
• participating in outreach, including occasional travel within the Northern Territory

You will work within an experienced legal team and report to the Principal Solicitor.

About you

You will hold, or be eligible to hold, a Northern Territory Practising Certificate.

You will also bring:

• experience providing direct client legal services appropriate to your level of practice
• strong legal research, written and verbal communication skills
• the ability to provide accessible and culturally appropriate legal services
• good file management, organisation and attention to detail
• the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines
• a commitment to professional and ethical legal practice
• an understanding of the barriers experienced by people accessing justice
• a commitment to social justice and human rights
• the ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team.
• Experience working in a community legal centre, legal assistance service or community-based organisation is desirable but not essential.

What we offer

• SCHADS Level 5 or Level 6 plus 1.5% above Award, based on practising experience
• 12.5% employer superannuation
• generous not-for-profit salary packaging
• 6 weeks' annual leave
• conditions under the DCLS Enterprise Agreement
• professional development opportunities
• varied legal work with a strong community focus
• opportunities to participate in outreach, community education and law reform
• the opportunity to contribute to access to justice across the Northern Territory.

The position is based at our office in Parap, Darwin, with some travel for outreach activities.

Applications close Monday, 30 November 2026.

For further information about the position, please contact Darwin Community Legal Service on [phone].

DCLS is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability, LGBTQIA+ people, people with lived experience of disadvantage and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.