Criminal Lawyer (Cairns)

Legal Aid; Cairns Regional; Hybrid; AUD 108,000 - 117,000; Full time

Job summary

Legal Aid Queensland in Cairns is seeking a motivated Criminal Lawyer to join our Cairns office. You will prepare cases, appear in court, provide legal information and advice, and support clients through complex legal issues.

This role offers hands-on advocacy experience across criminal and quasi-criminal matters, with opportunities to work in Magistrates and Children's Courts, contribute to policy and service improvements, and grow under senior practitioners in a supportive regional team.

Qualifications

• Motivated Criminal Lawyer to join Cairns office.
• Wants to expand experience in criminal law and advocacy.
• Able to manage a varied workload in a busy practice environment.
• Clear and confident communicator.
• Committed to high-quality client service and access to justice.
• Able to work effectively with clients who may have complex needs.

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
• contribute to team planning and suggest improvements to work practices.

Skills

Criminal law

Advocacy

Court appearances

Client service

Job description

# Criminal Lawyer (Cairns)**Legal Aid** (Organisation site) Cairns## Job details| | || --- | --- || Position status | Permanent || Position type | Flexible full-time || Occupational group | Justice & Legal || Classification | PO3 || Workplace Location | Cairns region || Job ad reference | QLD/706778 || Closing date | 22-Nov-2026 || Yearly salary | $107697 - $117297 || Fortnightly salary | $4128 - $4496 || Job duration | || Contact person | Hayley Fox || Contact details | [phone] Access the National Relay Service |**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 law* appear in the **Magistrates and Children's Courts*** work on a varied mix of criminal law and related matters* develop your case preparation, client management and legal advice skills* learn from experienced senior practitioners in a supportive team environment* contribute 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 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* contribute 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 advocacy* able to manage a varied workload and work effectively in a busy practice environment* a clear and confident communicator* committed to high-quality client service and access to justice* able 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.## Further informationWe are committed to building inclusive cultures in the Queensland public sector that respect and promote human rights and diversity.## DocumentsBefore applying for this vacancy please ensure you read the documents below.* PO3 Criminal Lawyer Cairns Position Description (PDF, 189KB) Role Description LAQ\\_00349 Applicant information kit FA (PDF, 3.13MB) Application Kit