Job title:
Special Counsel – Queensland
Reporting to:
Managing Lawyer, Queensland
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.
We are recruiting for a Special Counsel to join the Queensland team to champion its safe climate practice.
The opportunity:
We seek an experienced litigator to work with clients to protect our climate, communities and shared environment by providing access to justice, running ground-breaking litigation, and leading law reform advocacy.
The Special Counsel will engage with legal issues surrounding climate change, biodiversity and environmental protection in Queensland.
In this role you will think creatively about delivering systemic change, chiefly in relation to fossil fuel developments and climate change, but also regarding biodiversity issues such as deforestation.
The role will primarily involve leading litigation and related advice with junior staff.
It will also include non-litigious advice work and engaging in policy and law reform.
Candidate Profile:
You will have an unrestricted practising certificate, and strong PAE working as a lawyer with demonstrated litigation experience – preferably in environmental matters.
You will be passionate about helping lead EDO's safe climate and biodiversity work in Queensland and excel working with a high level of autonomy within a collaborative team environment.
You think outside the box and want a chance to be creative about delivering systemic change in the fields of climate change, human rights, biodiversity and the environment.
You also enjoy supervising and mentoring legal staff, and seeing their expertise grow to benefit the team and our work.
Key selection criteria:
An unrestricted practicing certificate or entitlement to one
A minimum of 5+ years PAE (8+ years desired) working as a solicitor with litigation experience
Demonstrated experience leading litigation in environmental, administrative and/or human rights or related disciplines
Demonstrated experience in administrative and/or environmental law highly desirable
Experience undertaking law reform or policy desirable
Demonstrated experience in supervising, mentoring and contributing to the professional development of legal and non-legal staff
Demonstrated experience working with diverse communities and individuals, including First Nations, desirable
Core skills
Strong problem-solving skills and ability to confidently exercise sound judgement and make decisions in high-pressure scenarios, based on consideration of different views
Demonstrated ability to work productively autonomously, within a collaborative team environment, and to deadlines
Excellent oral and written communication skills suited to a range of audiences
Good file management and delegation skills
Ability to represent EDO in the media
Personal qualities and cultural competency
A champion of the EDO values
Strong initiative and self-motivation
Commitment to the protection of the environment and related human rights
A strong sense of ethics and understanding of professional obligations
Demonstrated awareness of, and sensitivity to, the needs and concerns of First Nations peoples and peoples from diverse cultures, backgrounds and orientations in both the delivery of our work and our internal culture
Thrive in a collaborative team-based environment
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
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 the following: Disability, Global Majority* and LGBTQIA+
How to Apply
Click 'Apply here' above
To review the position description, please see this link: https://www.edo.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/EDO-Position-Description-Special-Counsel-September-2024.pdf
If you have queries in regard to this advert, please feel free to contact us at
[email protected]
Applications close on Sunday, 10 November 2024.
Applications must include a CV and a letter that clearly addresses each of the selection criteria above.
EDO particularly encourages applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, Pacific Island people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, workers of all ages, people with disabilities and people who identify as LGBTQIA+.
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