Criminal Lawyer (Cairns)

Queensland Government; Cairns Regional; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Legal Aid Queensland in Cairns is seeking a Criminal Lawyer to join our team. You will prepare cases, appear in court, provide legal information and advice to clients, and support a fairer justice system for vulnerable Queenslanders.

This role offers hands-on advocacy across criminal and quasi-criminal matters, opportunities to grow, and a supportive team with senior practitioners. You will contribute to policy and service delivery improvements while working in a regional office.

Qualifications

• Interest in building experience in criminal law and advocacy.
• Ability to manage a varied workload in a busy practice.
• 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

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 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 doing

In 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 for

We'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.

Occupational group Justice & Legal