Location: Hobart, Tasmania
Job type: Full-time
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples are 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.
This is a unique opportunity to join the EDO in a period of growth and rapid expansion, and work to protect Tasmania’s unique environment. We are recruiting for either a solicitor or senior solicitor to join the Tasmanian practice team within our new Healthy Environment and Justice Program. This position reports to the Managing Lawyer, Tasmania.
You will have an unrestricted practising certificate, and strong PAE working as a lawyer with demonstrated litigation experience. Forming part of the new Healthy Environment and Justice Program, this position represents an opportunity to deliver on human rights and the environment in Tasmania, and offers a high level of autonomy. Lawyers who think outside the box and want a chance to think creatively about delivering systemic change are strongly encouraged to apply.
EDO is a diverse and inclusive workplace. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are particularly encouraged to apply.
Perks:
- The chance to deliver positive environmental outcomes and develop a unique legal practice within the EDO
- Opportunity to live and work from Hobart, and protect the unique Tasmanian environment
- A flexible and family-friendly workplace
- Extra leave over the Christmas period
- 15 personal days per year
- Ongoing professional development opportunities, including media training, as required.
Key selection criteria:
Core skills
- An unrestricted practicing certificate or entitlement to one in the relevant jurisdiction
- A minimum of 2 years PAE working as a solicitor including litigation, 4-8 + years PAE highly desirable
- Demonstrated experience in administrative and/or environmental law, within the relevant jurisdiction highly desirable
- Strong problem-solving skills and ability to make sound judgements and decisions based on consideration of different views
- Demonstrated ability to work productively and to deadlines
- Excellent oral and written communication skills suited to a range of audiences
Substantive experience
- Demonstrated litigation experience in administrative or environmental law and/or related disciplines
- Capacity to undertake law reform or policy, experience desirable
- Demonstrated experience working with diverse communities and individuals highly desirable
Personal qualities and cultural competency
- A champion of the agreed values of the EDO
- Strong initiative and self-motivation
- Commitment to the protection of the environment and public participation in environmental decision-making
- A strong sense of ethics and understanding of professional obligations
- Demonstrated awareness of and sensitivity to the needs and concerns of individuals from diverse cultures, backgrounds and orientations in both the delivery of our work and our internal culture
- Demonstrated ability to work in a collaborative and team-based environment.
About us:
We are a national, public interest environmental law organisation, the largest in Australia Pacific. Over our 30-year history we’ve developed a formidable track record of empowering communities and delivering effective protection of the environment through legal services.
With the 8 Environmental Defenders Offices around Australia merging in late 2019, we are now entering a period of substantial growth necessary to meet the growing demands of the public for public interest legal services to address environmental and public health issues such as climate change.
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”.
Visionary – We lead change and environmental empowerment using innovation, creativity, and courage.
How to Apply:
Applications must address the key selection criteria, level of seniority preferred and provide evidence of qualifications (CV). Potential applicants are encouraged to obtain further information on the work of EDO from our website. Applications which do not address the selection criteria will not be considered.
For further information about the position contact Claire Bookless, Managing Lawyer, Tasmania by email at [email protected].
Applications close at midday on Friday, 15 January 2021 and are to be forwarded to [email protected] with ‘Application for position of Solicitor / Senior Solicitor – Tasmanian Practice Team’ in the subject line.
