Solicitor in Charge

ArtSupport; Kununurra; Hybrid; AUD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Professional development opportunities

Flexible working arrangements

Leave options

Job summary

Legal Aid WA seeks an experienced Criminal lawyer to lead its Kununurra office in the East Kimberley. The role manages a dedicated team delivering vital legal services, including duty lawyer work, outreach, and community education across a vast region.

The position offers a 12-month leadership opportunity with potential extension or permanency, requiring strong leadership and regional practice experience to build relationships with courts and stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Experienced Criminal lawyer capable of leading a regional office.
• Proven leadership and team management skills.
• Ability to engage with courts, agencies and communities.

Responsibilities

• Lead Legal Aid WA's Kununurra office and manage lawyers and administration staff.
• Deliver essential legal services across the East Kimberley, including duty lawyer and outreach work.

Skills

Leadership

Criminal law

Team management

Stakeholder engagement

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
• opportunities to purchase leave
• health and wellbeing initiatives
• strong team working environment
• the satisfaction of adding value to the community

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.

Further information

Download the attached Job Description Form to learn more about the role. We recommend you review our guide on applying for a job at Legal Aid WA, including eligibility, preparing your application and the selection process, prior to submitting your application. Alignment with Legal Aid’s values will also be considered in the panel’s assessment of candidates. Please take time to familiarise yourself with the role prior to applying.

If you would like to talk to someone about the job, please contact Rebecca Lee, Director - Regional Services Division, [phone] or [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.

Diversity & Inclusion

A commitment to fair and equitable treatment for all is at the very core of Legal Aid WA’s values. We recognise a diverse workforce is essential to delivering inclusive client centred services. Legal Aid WA welcomes applicationsfrom 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].

Other Conditions

This selection process may be used to fill othersimilar 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.