Solicitor in Charge

Legal Aid Western Australia; Kununurra; On-site; AUD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Leave options

Health & wellbeing initiatives

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Legal Aid WA in Kununurra seeks a senior criminal lawyer to lead the local office and manage a dedicated team delivering essential legal services across the East Kimberley.

The role involves leading lawyers and administration staff, providing duty lawyer and outreach services, and regularly traveling to remote locations and circuit courts to improve access to justice.

Qualifications

• Must have undergraduate Law degree and be admitted, or eligible for admission to practice in Western Australia.
• Significant experience in criminal law and leadership capability.
• Willingness to travel to remote communities and circuit courts.

Responsibilities

• Lead Legal Aid WA's Kununurra office and manage lawyers and admin staff.
• Deliver duty lawyer, casework, outreach and community legal education services.
• Build relationships with courts, partner agencies and stakeholders in the region.

Skills

Criminal law

Leadership

Team management

Education

Law degree

Job description

There is currently one full time vacancy available from 1 December 2026 to 31 December 2027, with the possibility of extension/s and/or permanency. Take on a rewarding 12-month leadership opportunity in Kununurra, where you'll help shape access to justice, support remote communities, and lead a dedicated team making a real difference every day.

About the role

An opportunity has arisen for an experienced lawyer to lead Legal Aid WA's Kununurra office. Based in the East Kimberley, this position manages a dedicated team of lawyers and administration staff delivering vital legal services across one of Australia's most unique and geographically expansive regions. The Kununurra office provides duty lawyer, casework, outreach and community legal education services to communities throughout the East Kimberley, including regular travel to remote locations and circuit courts. This is a rewarding opportunity to make a genuine difference to access to justice while building strong relationships with local communities, courts, partner agencies and stakeholders across the region.

About you

This 12-month opportunity offers the chance to broaden your leadership experience, deepen your understanding of regional practice, and make a lasting contribution to communities across the East Kimberley. This role is suited to an experienced Criminal lawyer.

About us and what we can offer you

We offer a strong team working environment, the satisfaction of adding value to the community, and a range of benefits in line with business requirements, which may include professional development opportunities, flexible working and leave arrangements, including opportunities to purchase leave, as well as a range of health and wellbeing initiatives. Legal Aid WA is an independent statutory authority funded by the State Government and Commonwealth Governments. We provide over 100,000 legal services to clients each year in the areas of criminal, family and civil law across Western Australia. Please visit www.legalaid.wa.gov.au to find out more about us. You can also keep up to date with our activities and achievements by following us on LinkedIn.

To apply for this position you must have successfully completed an undergraduate Law degree and be admitted, or eligible for admission to practice in Western Australia, at the time of completion of this recruitment process.

Diversity & Inclusion

A commitment to fair and equitable treatment for all is at the very core of Legal Aid WA's values. Alignment with Legal Aid's values will also be considered in the panel's assessment of candidates. We recognise a diverse workforce is essential to delivering inclusive client centred services. Legal Aid WA welcomes applications from people of all ages, genders and backgrounds including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability and LGBTQIA+ members of the community. Suitable Australian First Nations applicants may be given priority consideration over other applicants to achieve our vision of widening access to justice in a culturally safe and inclusive environment. People with disability will be provided with reasonable adjustments in our recruitment processes and in the workplace. If you require adjustments to participate in the recruitment process, please contact Janice Green on tel [phone] or email [e-mail].

For First Nations specific information regarding working at Legal Aid WA, including our First Nations Staff Network, please visit First Nations Employment. For First Nations culturally appropriate resources on making a job application visit Jobs and Skills WA.

Other Conditions

This selection process may be used to fill other similar Legal Aid WA vacancies, in addition to this vacancy, for up to twelve (12) months from the completion date of the selection process. The panel may also search for further candidates beyond the closing date. Appointment to all positions at Legal Aid WA is subject to a satisfactory national criminal history check, integrity and conflict checks, and 100-point identification check.