Solicitor / Senior Solicitor- Commonwealth & Government Liaison
* Location: Preferably based in the Canberra office; or willing to travel to Canberra regularly
* Term: Fixed-Term, 1-year contract (backfill)
* Full time: 37.5 hours per week (0.8 considered)
* Remuneration: SCHADS Level 5-6: $102,179 – $114,845 + 12% super + 17.5% Annual Leave Loading
* Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are particularly encouraged to apply
The Environmental Defenders Office is the largest and most impactful environmental law centre in the Australia Pacific. 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.
Purpose of the position
Working with the Managing Lawyer - Policy & Law Reform, the Solicitor - Commonwealth & Government Liaison is preferably a Canberra based position (but applicants outside of Canberra will be considered) and will be the EDO’s key interface with the Commonwealth Government. It is focused on ensuring strong engagement by the EDO with key Commonwealth law reform processes in our areas of strategic focus.
The Solicitor/Senior Solicitor - Commonwealth & Government Liaison will:
-Help develop EDO positions on policy and legislative matters.
-Track legislation and policy development initiatives.
-Perform policy and legislative analysis.
-Proactively seek opportunities for EDO to advance reform priorities.
Candidate profile
We’re looking for an experienced lawyer passionate about working in the public interest to join EDO on a fixed-term of one year during this decade of consequence,
The Solicitor/Senior Solicitor - Commonwealth & Government Liaison is responsible for providing policy and legal advice in the context of EDO’s national environmental law reform priority areas: including biodiversity, safe climate and freshwater. The successful candidate will, among other things, be responsible – in consultation with the Managing Lawyer and in conjunction with the Policy and Law Reform Team – for leading EDO’s work on reform of federal environmental laws (including the EPBC Act and proposed establishment of a Commonwealth EPA) and progressing effective federal laws to address climate change (including through analysis and reform of existing policies, such as the Safeguard Mechanism).
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, ensuring – with the Managing Lawyer Policy and Law Reform – 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 national environmental law reform. A critical part of this role is the ability to build positive relationships with Government, 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
Essential:
* An unrestricted practicing certificate or entitlement to obtain one.
* At least 5 years PAE is desirable, including law reform advisory experience.
* Ability to engage in Commonwealth work, including knowledge of Commonwealth parliamentary and government processes.
* Advocacy experience, including the confidence to engage with key stakeholders in government, business and community.
* Sound knowledge of priority national environmental and climate law reform issues.
* Ability to think and work strategically, across themes and jurisdictions.
Desirable:
We’re looking for a lawyer with a vision for environmental advocacy and national environmental law reform - who is comfortable liaising with Government, parliament and a wide range of stakeholders. You will need to be enthusiastic, flexible, take initiative and also great at working with others. At a personal level you will be comfortable working with our distributed team across Australia.
General
All staff have a responsibility to:
* 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
* Option to work from home and the office
* 8 weeks paid parental leave, regardless of gender or carer status
* 15 days personal/carer’s leave
* 20 days annual lave
* 3 days paid cultural leave
* Extra leave over the Christmas period
* Access to Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
* Ongoing professional development opportunities
* 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.
* Affinity groups for the following: Global Majority*, LGBTQIA+ & People with Disability
*Global Majority is a collective term that first and foremost speaks to and encourages those so-called, to think of themselves as belonging to the majority on planet earth. It refers to people who are Black, African, Asian, Brown, dual-heritage, indigenous to the global south, and or, have been racialised as ‘ethnic minorities’.
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.
How to Apply
* Click 'Apply here' above
* To review the position description, please see this link:
If you have queries regarding this advert, please contact Revel Pointon, Managing Lawyer – Policy & Law Reform Practice on revel.pointon@edo.org.au.
Applications close on 31 July 2025.
Applications must include a CV and a letter that addresses each of the selection criteria.
Please note: Your application may be considered for future roles at the EDO within the next 12 months without additional advertising. Please notify us in your application if you would not like to be considered for similar roles beyond this recruitment.
If you have any accessibility needs for the recruitment or interviewing process, please let us know in your application or by emailing recruitment@edo.org.au
Vaccination Requirements
EDO is not issuing a vaccination mandate. EDO staff have the option to share vaccination details within the EDO HRIS system, EDO will maintain this record of vaccination status of EDO employees, however if staff do not wish to disclose this information, it will not be enforced.
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.