Local Court Practice Manager (Criminal Law Practice)

Aboriginal Legal Service; Dubbo; On-site; AUD 131,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Not-for-profit salary packaging

Leave loading 17.5%

Career and professional development

Job summary

Aboriginal Legal Service is seeking a Local Court Practice Manager (Criminal Law) to lead the Local Court practice and provide high-quality criminal law advice and representation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients in NSW and ACT.

You will mentor junior solicitors, manage rostering and court schedules, and strengthen collaborative practice with police, DPP and external stakeholders while upholding governance and ethical standards.

Qualifications

• NSW Practising Certificate with a minimum of 4 years’ criminal law experience, including complex summary and EAGP matters, practice and procedure.

Responsibilities

• Deliver high-quality criminal law advice and representation across Local, Children’s, Coroner’s and District Courts, including circuit work, briefs and counsel.
• Provide culturally safe, client-centred advocacy engaging with Aboriginal clients, families and communities while maintaining knowledge of criminal law and procedure.
• Support effective operation of the Local Court practice including rostering, court schedules, workload allocation, diaries and day-to-day practice management.
• Build strong collaborative relationships with legal, field and administrative teams, courts, police, DPP and other external stakeholders.
• Lead and develop junior solicitors, providing mentoring and guidance while coordinating workloads and external legal representation.
• Uphold governance, ethics and compliance, contributing to law reform and high-quality accountable legal services.

Skills

NSW Practising Certificate

Criminal law experience

Court practice and procedure

Job description

Local Court Practice Manager (Criminal Law Practice)

Job: 1687884| Full-Time | Fixed-Term (December 2027) | Dubbo, NSW | $145,088 (Fixed Pay)

The Aboriginal Legal Service (ALS) was established in a critical act of self-determination over 50 years ago as part of the Aboriginal rights protest movement. We provide high-quality, culturally safe legal and support services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people throughout NSW and the ACT, and fight for social justice and equity for our communities.

Your Impact

As a senior leader within the Criminal Law Practice, you will deliver high-quality criminal law advice and representation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients, while supporting the effective management of the Local Court practice. You will lead day-to-day operations, mentor junior solicitors and strengthen collaborative practice, contributing to a culturally safe, ethical and high-performing legal service that delivers meaningful outcomes for community. Each day, you will:

• Deliver high-quality criminal law advice and representationacross Local, Children’s, Coroner’s and District Courts, including circuit work, briefs and counsel.
• Provide culturally safe, client-centred advocacy, engagingrespectively with Aboriginalclients, families andcommunities while maintainingstrong knowledge ofcriminal law andprocedure.
• Support the effectiveoperation of theLocal Court practice, including rostering, courtschedules, workload allocation, diaries and day-to-day practicemanagement.
• Build strong collaborative relationshipswith legal, field and administrativeteams, courts, police, DPP and otherexternal stakeholders.
• Lead and develop junior solicitors, providingmentoring, guidance, professionaldevelopment and supportwhile coordinating workloadsand external legalrepresentation.
• Uphold strong governance, ethics and compliance, contributing to lawreform, stakeholder engagementand the deliveryof high-quality, accountable legal services.

Your Story & Strengths

You are an experienced and values-driven criminal law leader with a strong understanding of the cultural, social and historical contexts shaping Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. You bring technical excellence, sound judgement and a commitment to high-quality advocacy, alongside the ability to lead daily practice operations, mentor solicitors and foster a culturally safe, collaborative and high-performing legal service. Key strengths include:

• NSW Practising Certificatewith aminimum of 4years’ criminal lawexperience, including complexsummary and EAGPmatters, practice andprocedure.
• Strong legal and professional capabilities, includingwritten and oralcommunication, legal research, analytical and problem-solving skills, soundjudgement and organisation.
• Ability to work autonomously and manage competing priorities, meetdeadlines and effectivelymanage a demandingand diverse criminallaw workload.
• Demonstrated commitmentto high-quality, culturally safe legalservices, with knowledge andappreciation of thecultural and socialneeds of Aboriginalpeople and communities.
• Commitment to ethical, safe and inclusivepractice, including workplace healthand safety, diversity, professional standardsand applicable legislation.
• Current or obtainableclearances, including a NSWWorking with ChildrenCheck or ACTWorking with VulnerablePeoples Check, andNational Police Check.

Our Journey Together

At ALS, you’ll find a career that truly matters, one where your work has purpose and impact every day. We are proud to offer a supportive and rewarding environment with a range of generous benefits, including:

• Not-for-profit salary packaging to reduce your tax burden, which means you get to keep more of your hard-earned money in your pocket
• Annual leave loading of 17.5%, ensuring that you are rewarded for your time off and can enjoy a well-deserved break.
• Career and professional development opportunities

At ALS, we are committed to upholding the highest standards of safe recruitment practices. Therefore, it is essential that candidates either possess or have the capacity to obtain a current and valid Working with Children (NSW check for this role.

We are committed to providing equal opportunities to all candidates. If you identify as a person with a disability and need any adjustments or support with your application including throughout the recruitment process, please let us know by reaching out to our Talent Team at ******@alsnswact.org.au

Additional information

• Advocacy that respects culture, strengthens community and creates change.
• Balancing court demands, workloads, deadlines and team priorities.
• $145,088 + super + salary packaging & leave loading!