Solicitor/Senior Solicitor – Policy & Law Reform
* Location: Preferably based in the Gadi / Sydney office
* Term: Ongoing
* Full time: 37.5 hours per week (0.8 FTE considered)
* Remuneration: SCHADS5 to SCHADS Level6: $102,179 to $114,845 +12% super + 17.5% Annual Leave Loading
* Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are particularly encouraged to apply.
Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) is the largest environmental legal centre in the Australia-Pacific, dedicated to protecting our climate, communities and shared environment by providing access to justice, running ground-breaking litigation and leading law reform advocacy.
As the region's legal experts in our field, we aim to be a brave, unified, and focused team, committed to inclusion and excellence in all that we do. We strive to be a diverse and inclusive workplace supporting a highly skilled, engaged, and effective team, where everyone can feel that they belong.
Purpose of the position
We have an exciting opportunity for a Solicitor/Senior Solicitor to join our Policy and Law Reform team. This role offers the opportunity to contribute to policy and legislative matters related to climate and environmental justice. This role will be focused on ensuring strong engagement by the EDO with key law reform processes in our areas of strategic focus. It is preferred that this role be based in Gadi/Sydney to assist particularly with NSW based reform opportunities, but applications from other locations will be considered.
Responsibilities
The Solicitor/Senior Solicitor will:
* Help develop EDO positions on policy and legislative matters.
* Track legislation and policy development initiatives.
* Perform policy and legislative analysis.
* Advocate and present on EDO's policy and law reform positions.
* Work effectively with internal staff and external stakeholders to advance strong policy and law reform outcomes.
* Proactively seek opportunities for EDO to advance reform priorities.
Candidate profile
We're looking for an experienced Solicitor or Senior Solicitor passionate about working in the public interest to join EDO. The Solicitor/Senior Solicitor is responsible for providing policy and legal advice and advocacy across national and subnational jurisdictions in the context of EDO's environmental law reform priority areas: biodiversity, safe climate, human rights and water. The Solicitor/Senior Solicitor will be adept at working with others, undertaking their role in consultation with the Managing Lawyer, Policy and Law Reform and working with the Policy and Law Reform team and other EDO teams.
In addition to working internally and with government, the successful candidate will work closely to develop EDO's partnerships within the broad range of organisational stakeholders involved with environmental law reform, assisting in ensuring that EDO creates and maintains a leadership position on issues within the Policy and Law Reform Program's remit.
This role involves liaising with government departments and agencies, Members of Parliament, and a range of stakeholders and experts working on environmental law reform. A critical part of this role is the ability to build positive relationships with governments, parliament and other stakeholders. The successful candidate will be able to distil and communicate complex legal and policy concepts to different (non-legal) audiences across a range of contexts.
Key selection criteria
* An unrestricted practicing certificate or entitlement to obtain one.
* For the Senior Solicitor position: at least 5 years PAE is desirable, including law reform advisory experience.
* Ability to engage in government and parliamentary work, including knowledge of parliamentary and government processes.
* Advocacy experience, including the confidence to engage with a broad range of key stakeholders in government, parliament, business and community.
* Sound knowledge of priority environmental and climate law reform issues.
* Ability to think and work strategically, across themes and jurisdictions.
General responsibilities
* Develop and maintain a good knowledge of EDO's role and policies.
* Represent EDO in a positive and effective manner by actively demonstrating EDO values.
* Attend and contribute actively and constructively at staff meetings.
* Maintain appropriate records, assist with office administration, such as files, computer and precedent systems.
* Seek opportunities for personal and professional development, particularly related to the team and position's specific areas of responsibility.
* Respond to requests by clients and fellow staff in a knowledgeable, professional, constructive and respectful manner.
* Provide accurate and timely data and information for reporting, fundraising and communications purposes.
Our culture and benefits
* We care deeply about creating a workplace where our team members feel valued, respected, and empowered. We are committed to providing equal opportunity regardless of gender identity, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, or life stage.
* The chance to be part of the largest environmental legal practice in the Australia-Pacific.
* A very flexible and family-friendly workplace.
* While primarily office-based, some flexibility to work from home.
* 8 weeks paid parental leave, regardless of gender or carer status.
* 10 days paid family and domestic violence leave per year.
* 3 days paid cultural leave per year.
* Extra leave over the Christmas period.
* Encouragement to attend NAIDOC week events.
* ICIP and Colonial Loading protection within employment contract.
* Access to Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
* EDO proudly has a JEDI (Justice, Equality, Diversity, Inclusion) Committee and a Mental Health Ambassador Committee, and has developed a First Nations Program with the aid of indigenous-led consultancies.
* Three affinity groups for Disability, Global Majority and LGBTQIA+.
Our values
* Commitment – We are committed to a united organisation, to each other, to collaboration, to justice, to our communities and to creating a world where nature thrives.
* Diversity – We are respectful of and welcome diversity of staff, volunteers, offices, environmental regions, communities, stakeholders.
* Integrity – We work effectively, efficiently, strategically, professionally, and ethically; "justice is in our nature".
* Vision – We lead change and environmental empowerment using innovation, creativity, and courage.
Working with clients face-to-face
* EDO works with diverse peoples and groups across the Australian and Pacific communities, including people who are considered a high-risk group in terms of COVID-19.
* In order to ensure the safety of all EDO employees and the people we work with and around, staff visiting overburdened communities are required to take a COVID-19 test three (3) days prior and on the day of travel to the overburdened community.
Other Information
All offers of employment may be subject to satisfactory background checks including a National Police Check, disclosure of previous or current disciplinary action, referee checks, proof of eligibility to work in Australia and qualification checks.
Company Overview
Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) is the leading environmental law practice in the Australia Pacific Region delivering legal solutions for peoples, nature and our climate. We have a big vision which is a world where nature thrives. We've got big ambition about the role we can play in delivering that vision and we've got an incredible team across the country working to achieve it. We are dedicated to protecting our climate, communities and shared environment by providing access to justice, running ground-breaking litigation and leading law reform advocacy. Over our 30-year combined history we've developed a formidable track record of empowering communities and delivering effective protection of the environment through legal services. As the region's legal experts in our field, we aim to be a brave, unified, and focused team, committed to inclusion and excellence in all that we do. We strive to be a diverse and inclusive workplace supporting a highly skilled, engaged, and effective team, where everyone can feel that they belong.
Indigenous acknowledgement
The National Indigenous Times acknowledges and pays respect to past and present Traditional Custodians and Elders of this nation. We recognise Aboriginal Community's continuing connection to their lands, waters and stories and acknowledge that sovereignty has never been ceded.
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