Positions vacant

Positions vacant

ACT Government Solicitor - Temporary Register

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.

Principal Solicitor- Sexual Violence Legal Service - Women's Legal Centre

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.

Commercial Lawyer Member- ACT Architects Board (EOI)

Expressions of interest are sought for the commercial lawyer member position on the ACT Architects Board (the Board).
The key outcomes of the Board are to provide advice to consumers and the Minister about the professional conduct and standards of competence expected of registered architects in the ACT, and investigate complaints, take disciplinary action, or take other appropriate action to protect consumers where these professional practices and registration standards are not met.
The commercial lawyer member has a pivotal role in facilitating and communicating these outcomes. You don’t need a background in architecture to be eligible, but you must be a lawyer with experience in either consumer protection law or trade practices law or both.
The Appointment
The appointment of the commercial lawyer member under this process will start in August 2026 for a period of three years.
Appointment as a Board member is a statutory appointment for a maximum initial term of three years with the possibility of reappointment with a maximum total appointment term of six years in accordance with the ACT Governance Principles: Appointment, Boards and Committees, July 2025.
Board Responsibilities
The Board oversees registration of architects in the ACT and determines who may be registered as an architect in the Territory. It has a range of powers to investigate complaints against architects and to discipline those who are found to have acted unprofessionally or incompetently.
The Board's functions are to:
• register architects;
• investigate complaints given to the Board about registered and unregistered people;
• consider whether it is necessary to take occupational discipline against registered architects, including former registered architects, and, if it is, to apply to the ACAT for occupational discipline orders;
• consider and report to the Minister about issues referred to the Board by the Minister for advice;
• advise the Minister in relation to the practice of architecture, for example, about codes of professional conduct;
• further a common and harmonious approach to the administration of legislation about architects by cooperation with local jurisdictions1;
• accredit courses of study in architecture; and
• provide general advice to consumers about the professional conduct and standards of competence expected of registered architects.
1 local jurisdiction means the Commonwealth, a State or New Zealand.

The Board operates independently, impartially and in the public interest. However, the Minister
can give a direction to the Board about its exercise of functions, if it is in the public interest to do
so. A direction cannot be given about the registration of architects, including renewal,
cancellation, disciplinary action and refusal to register. The Board's decisions about disciplinary
action can be appealed in the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
Members
The Board is made up of five members consisting of:
• one member nominated in writing by a representative body that has the promotion of the
interests of architects as a main purpose
• one member who is, or has recently been, an academic architect
• one member who is a registered architect
• one member who is a commercial lawyer with experience in either consumer protection law
or trade practices law or both
• one member to represent community interests who is not a registered architect.
Remuneration
The Board meets at least four times a year. Members are entitled to a sitting fee for attending
meetings. Current sitting fees can be found here.
Expressions of Interests
Expressions of interest must be in writing and signed by the applicant. Please include the following
in your application:
• a current CV outlining your legal qualifications and experience in consumer protection law
and/or trade practices law,
• evidence of legal qualifications (for example, degree, admission certificate)
• a statement identifying whether you have any conflicts of interest or other matters that may
affect whether you could carry out all or some functions of a Board member,
• a statement indicating any other Board or statutory positions you hold,
• a statement indicating whether you have at any time been convicted, in Australia or
elsewhere, of an offence punishable by imprisonment for 1 year or longer,
• a statement indicating whether you are currently bankrupt or personally insolvent.
You are encouraged to provide information on why you are interested in the position and any other
information you think is relevant to your application.
In accordance with government principles, advertising of upcoming vacancies and selection of
Board members is an open and competitive process.
This position is advertised on the ACT Diversity Register and the ACT Jobs site.
Lodging your Expression of Interest
Please send your written nomination in a PDF or Word format via email to:
EPSDDBuildingReform@act.gov.au with “EOI – Architects Board - Commercial Lawyer Member” in
the title.
Expressions of interest must be lodged by 11:59 pm on Thursday 5 March 2026.

Internal positions vacant

Senior Lawyer, Investigations and Litigation

The ACT Law Society is currently accepting applications for a Senior Lawyer, Investigations and Litigation, to contribute to a vital new chapter in the Society’s regulatory function.  

This newly created position is part of our recent move to bring investigation and litigation functions in-house – a strategic step to strengthen our ability to uphold professional standards and protect the public.  

As Senior Lawyer, you’ll play a critical role in supporting the Society’s maintenance of high standards of legal practice in the ACT and the protection of consumers of legal services.  

Reporting to the Principal Lawyer, Investigations and Litigation, you will have conduct of investigations into disciplinary and suitability matters and represent the Society in litigated matters before ACAT and the Courts. You will also work closely with our Professional Standards team and contribute to the Society’s broader regulatory and awareness initiatives. 

If you’re passionate about the profession and want to make a meaningful impact, we’d love to hear from you.  

Key Responsibilities 

• Conduct investigations into complaints about practitioners, trust accounts and suitability matters relating to legal practitioners under the Legal Profession Act 2006 (ACT) 

• Engage with complainants, practitioners, counsel and third parties through clear, professional communication  

• Prepare legal advice and briefing notes for Council and delegated committees on investigations, disciplinary, suitability and litigated matters in a timely manner 

• Draft applications in the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal and appear on behalf of the Society, or brief and liaise with external counsel or legal representation as required  

• Contribute to the development of internal policies, procedures and guidelines 

• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives, sharing knowledge with other teams to support education programs and resources promoting ethical and professional legal practice 

What You’ll Bring 

• Admission as solicitor of an Australian Supreme Court with a current practising certificate (or eligibility to obtain one) 

• At least 5 years PQE with demonstrated litigation and advocacy experience 

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills  

• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with proven expertise in interpreting legislation, case law and regulatory rules 

• Demonstrated sound judgment in assessing and resolving complex factual and legal issues 

• Ability to quickly master new and evolving areas of law 

• Excellent attention to detail and organisation in maintaining accurate records. 

• Experience in regulatory, disciplinary or complaint-handling environments (highly desirable) 

• Sound understanding of administrative law principles and best practices (desirable) 

• A professional disciplinary record free from any adverse findings. 

 

Core Competencies 

• High integrity and professionalism, acting consistently with honesty, trustworthiness and respect. 

• Excellent interpersonal skills, able to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders. 

• Strong planning and time-management capabilities, delivering to deadlines in a small-team setting. 

• Commitment to fostering a workplace culture that reflects the Society’s vision and objectives. 

 

What We Offer 

• Generous leave entitlements. 

• 35-hour full-time work week. 

• Flexible work arrangements available. 

• Access to Employee Assistance program. 

• A collaborative, values-driven environment where your leadership will shape the future of legal regulation in the ACT. 

Please submit your CV and a cover letter addressing the selection criteria via email to ial@actlawsociety.asn.au by 11:59 pm on 6 March 2026.

For a confidential discussion about the role, contact Caitlin Meers, Principal Lawyer, (Investigations & Litigation) by email via ial@actlawsociety.asn.au.

The Position Description can be accessed here. Part-time arrangements will be considered for the right candidate.  

 

Scholarship opportunities