Positions vacant

As a service to our members, we maintain this page to disseminate information about legal roles and scholarship opportunities available in the ACT region.

Members of the Law Society may list jobs on this page for free. Non-members may also list jobs on this page, but a small fee will be charged. 

To advertise a job on this page, please contact memberconnect@actlawsociety.asn.au 

Positions vacant

The Attorney-General of the Australian Capital Territory, Ms Tara Cheyne MLA, invites expressions of interest from eligible and suitably qualified people for appointment as a Resident Judge to the Supreme of the Australian Capital Territory.

The eligibility, conditions and terms of appointment for a Resident Judge are set out in the Supreme Court Act 1933. The selection criteria for a Resident Judge is set out in the Supreme Court (Resident Judges Appointment Requirements) Determination 2026 (No 1), which can be found on the ACT Legislation Register at www.legislation.gov.au.

The ACT Government is committed to a judiciary that is reflective of the broader community that it serves. Expressions of interest are sought from all areas of the legal community including the private sector, government and community sector.

Close date - 1 May 2026

Further information and how to apply here.

The Attorney-General of the Australian Capital Territory, Tara Cheyne MLA, invites expressions of interest from eligible and suitably qualified people for appointment as Acting Judge of the Supreme of the Australian Capital Territory to preside over the Drug and Alcohol Sentencing List (DASL).

The DASL is a specialist sentencing list designed to support offenders whose criminal behaviour is linked to substance dependence. It combines judicial supervision, structured treatment and evidence-based therapeutic approaches within the framework of the Court’s sentencing function.

The Acting Judge will play a central role in ensuring the List operates with integrity, consistency and a strong focus on community safety and rehabilitation.

The role will be part-time involving no more than four days per week. Acting Judges are appointed by the ACT Executive under section 4B of the Supreme Court Act 1933. Acting judges are appointed for a fixed term of no longer than two years.

Job description

Key responsibilities:

  • Preside over the DASL including sentencing offenders found suitable to participate in the DASL, holding review hearings for current participants and graduating successful participants.

  • Apply the statutory framework governing the List, including relevant provisions of the Drugs of Dependence Act 1989 (ACT) and Crimes (Sentencing) Act 2005 (ACT).

  • Provide clear, consistent judicial supervision that balances therapeutic opportunity with accountability and protection of the community.

  • Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary partners, including the community corrections teams, treatment providers, case managers, police and legal practitioners.

  • Deliver timely decisions, reasons, and directions that support the effective operation of the List and the broader Court.

  • Contribute to the ongoing development, evaluation, and refinement of the List’s practices and procedures.

Close date - 7 May 2026

More information on the role and how to apply here

The Legal Division is managed by the Chief Counsel and is comprised of both lawyers and non-lawyers. Together we are responsible for legal services required by the department. We partner with the business areas of the department, the Executive, and the Secretary, to identify and manage legal risk across the department and facilitate excellent legal outcomes for our clients. 

 

The Legal Division operates in a fast paced, exciting environment. We focus on ensuring our staff are supported and developed so that they are in the best position to take on and enjoy the challenges of the work. We provide competitive conditions and remuneration and provide opportunities for lawyers to either specialise or diversify their skills, while learning from and being supported by highly skilled senior lawyers. 

 

Work across the Legal Branches includes: 

 

  • Advising on commercial matters including procurements, underwriting arrangements, funding activities, finance law and delegations (including work on key projects such as Marinus Link and Capacity Investment Scheme, as well as supporting the operations of the Australian Antarctic Division and ICT procurements).

  • Providing legal advice on a broad range of issues including statutory interpretation and administrative law, regulatory actions and investigations.

  • Managing the department’s litigation across a broad range of matters including merits review, judicial review, regulatory enforcement, commercial disputes, and Work Health and Safety matters, in a range of Courts and Tribunals.

  • Developing legal risk and mitigation strategies, particularly in areas of novel or complex work.

  • Developing and coordinating legislation bids and processes, including drafting instructions for the department’s ambitious legislative reform agenda.

  • Developing legal guidance resources and policies and delivering training to the department.

  • Coordinating freedom of information requests and providing privacy and secrecy advice.

  • Providing administrative and financial support services to the Division.

The key duties of the position include:

 

Principal Legal Officers hold leadership roles in the Legal Division. They display honesty and integrity and help to drive the vision and direction of the Division. 

 

In this role you will: 

 

  • Be responsible for motivating, mentoring, and leading a section to deliver on initiatives and goals whilst striving to create an inclusive, responsive and effective work environment.

  • Use your technical expertise to provide complex and sensitive legal advice which identifies both legal requirements and areas of legal risk.

  • Identify whole-of-government and department issues and work towards delivering quality government outcomes.

  • Provide strategic legal advice to the Executive and the Minister.

  • Mentor and guide junior lawyers, build the capacity of team members, manage performance and wellbeing, and identify development needs and opportunities.

  • Engage with the Senior Executive and key clients to understand their business and provide solutions-focussed advice.

  • Participate in the divisional leadership group, provide input to management decisions and strategic planning, and contribute to the vision of the Division.

  • Undertake corporate duties which may include reporting, responding to coords, and risk identification and mitigation processes.

  • Represent the department or division as required at inter-agency, executive, or external meetings.

  • Oversee and prepare a range of written material including parliamentary and ministerial documents.

Closing Date - 

More information on the role and how to apply here.

Roles: 
Solicitor (Government Solicitor 1) – New to practice PQE – Salary Range $89,677 to $131,720
Senior Solicitor (Government Solicitor 2) – 2+ years PQE - Salary range $137,799 - $164,314 
Principal Solicitor (Government Solicitor 3) – 5+ years PQE – Salary range $171,626 to $193,478

Are you interested in temporary employment with the ACT Government Solicitor (ACTGS) and broadening your government legal expertise?  If so, you are invited to submit your curriculum vitae for placement on the ACTGS’ Temporary Employment Register.

How to apply: If you are interested in being placed on the Temporary Employment Register, please email your curriculum vitae and completed Temporary Employment Register Form to ACTGSO@act.gov.au.

More information: available here.


Please contact ACTGSHR@act.gov.au if you have any questions.

The Women’s Legal Centre ACT is an innovative, specialist community legal centre providing crucial legal and social support services to women, trans and gender diverse people in Canberra and committed to our vision to keep women safe, strong and in control of their lives.
  
The Sexual Violence Legal Service is a nation leading service, delivered in partnership with Victim Support ACT. It delivers legal assistance to people subjected to violence within a multi-disciplinary service model, with a focus on people engaged in the criminal justice processes. Lawyers in the service work together with Victim Support Advocates to provide integrated and trauma-informed support to clients.
  
If you are motivated to undertake a managerial and practicing role, WLC ACT will support your growth and work with you to shape a role that supports the legal career you want to build. This may be aspirations of going to the Bar, being a Court Litigator, time off during school holidays, exploration of a broader mix of practice areas including family, employment, discrimination or criminal law; we invite and encourage you to share your legal goals.
  The key duties of the position include:
Working in close collaboration with the executive team to develop and deliver on strategy, you will lead and drive the Sexual Violence Legal Service (SVLS) and manage a multidisciplinary team to deliver groundbreaking legal advice and representation to people subjected to sexual violence.
  
You’ll champion the growth of the SVLS practice and along with your team deliver ongoing innovative and trauma-informed legal support services. Additionally, you will: 
 

  • Lead a team of legal practitioners working collaboratively with victim support advocates
  • Develop and maintain strong relationships with external stakeholders within the criminal justice institutions and frontline services agencies
  • Manage overall service delivery, including active risk management, strategic planning, and project management
  • Oversee a caseload of matters including representation in ACT courts and facilitate the resolution of complex case matters
  • Represent the Centre in public forums, media, and in the community and legal sectors

 

Eligibility/Other requirements:

You bring a creative blend of leadership and mentorship experience, together with legal practice knowledge and high-level technical skills relevant to criminal law. You have a vision for improving criminal justice with a focus on safety, respect, choice and empowerment for people subjected to sexual violence. You also have:
 

  • Experience in criminal law practice, minimum 5 years PAE and a demonstrated ability to deliver high quality complex legal advice and representation in relation to sexual assault matters
  • Professional stakeholder relationship skills including collaboration with partners and community advocates
  • Experience of leading and motivating teams, supervising legal practitioners and overseeing workload and allocation of matters to staff members
  • Commitment to trauma-informed practice, reflection and self-care practices
  • Eligibility to hold an ACT Unrestricted Practicing Certificate

  
The Centre highly values lived experience of intersectionality and welcomes applications from First Nations women, women from migrant and refugee backgrounds, and women of colour and women with other relevant lived experience

Location: Canberra
To apply: https://adr.to/m3czmai
Applications close: As there is no formal closing date for this role, if you are interested, we would encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (FCFCOA) has published information on their site about career opportunities at the Courts on their website. More information is available here.

 

Internal positions vacant

 

Scholarship opportunities