Criminal Lawyer (Cairns)

Legal Aid Queensland; Cairns Regional; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Legal Aid Queensland in Cairns is seeking a motivated Criminal Lawyer to join our office. You will build practical advocacy experience across a broad range of criminal and quasi-criminal matters, representing clients in court and providing informed legal advice in a supportive regional setting.

You will prepare cases, appear in court, deliver client-focused information, and support vulnerable clients through complex legal issues while contributing to policy and law reform initiatives.

Qualifications

• Build practical experience in criminal law and advocacy.
• Represent clients in court and provide legal information and advice.
• Manage a varied workload in a busy practice environment.
• Contribute to policy, law reform and service delivery initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Represent clients in criminal law matters, including preparing matters and instructing counsel in all jurisdictions.
• Personally appear for legally aided clients at bail applications, pleas, summary trials and committal hearings in the Magistrates and Children's Courts.
• Provide duty lawyer services in the Magistrates and Children's Courts, including for clients in custody.
• Appear on higher court call-overs and mentions.
• Provide legal information and advice to clients and members of the public.
• Deliver outcomes through self-management, with supervision and guidance from senior legal practitioners as required.
• Support Legal Aid Queensland's contributions to policy, procedure, law reform and legal service delivery initiatives.
• Help initiate and maintain productive internal and external stakeholder relationships.

Skills

Criminal law

Advocacy

Communication skills

Client service

Time management

Education

Law Degree

Job description

Build your criminal law career in a role that offers real advocacy experience, meaningful work and room to grow.Legal Aid Queensland is looking for a motivated Criminal Lawyer to join our Cairns office. This is a great opportunity for a lawyer who wants to expand their experience, strengthen their advocacy skills and work on a broad range of interesting criminal law and quasi-criminal law matters.In this role, you will prepare cases, appear in court, provide legal information and advice, and support clients through complex legal issues. You'll gain valuable hands-on experience while contributing to a fairer and more accessible justice system for vulnerable and disadvantaged Queenslanders.Why join us?This role offers the opportunity to:build practical advocacy experience in criminal lawappear in the Magistrates and Children's Courtswork on a varied mix of criminal law and related mattersdevelop your case preparation, client management and legal advice skillslearn from experienced senior practitioners in a supportive team environmentcontribute to policy, law reform and service delivery improvements.What you'll be doingIn this role, you will:represent clients in criminal law matters, including preparing matters and instructing counsel in all jurisdictionspersonally appear for legally aided clients at bail applications, pleas, summary trials and committal hearings in the Magistrates and Children's Courtsprovide duty lawyer services in the Magistrates and Children's Courts, including for clients in custodyappear on higher court call-overs and mentionsprovide legal information and advice to clients and members of the publicdeliver outcomes through self-management, with supervision and guidance from senior legal practitioners as requiredsupport Legal Aid Queensland's contributions to policy, procedure, law reform and legal service delivery initiativeshelp initiate and maintain productive internal and external stakeholder relationshipscontribute to team planning and suggest improvements to work practices.What we're looking forWe're looking for a lawyer who is:interested in building their experience in criminal law and advocacyable to manage a varied workload and work effectively in a busy practice environmenta clear and confident communicatorcommitted to high-quality client service and access to justiceable to work effectively with clients who may have complex needs.Why Legal Aid Queensland?At Legal Aid Queensland, you'll do work that matters. You'll help people facing serious legal issues, gain valuable courtroom experience and be part of a team committed to improving outcomes for clients and communities across Queensland.This is an excellent opportunity to grow your criminal law career in a role that offers challenge, purpose and professional development in a supportive regional office.This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia License.