IMPORTANT: This Advertiser has requested that applicants MUST be National Residents / Valid Work Permit-holders. Other applicants need not apply.
Selection Criteria
• An undergraduate degree in law.
• A sound understanding of environmental policy development processes.
• A NSW practising certificate, or eligibility for admission to legal practice in NSW.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including an ability to communicate clearly in plain English.
• Demonstrated high level research skills, including attention to detail.
• An excellent understanding of NSW, national and international environmental legal issues.
• The ability to work with minimal supervision and to tight deadlines.
• Commitment to the protection of the environment and public interest environmental law.
An Assistant Policy Lawyer position may be offered based on experience, or where the applicant has relevant tertiary qualifications in environmental law, but does not yet have a practicing certificate, or is not yet eligible for admission to legal practice.
Duty Statement – Policy Lawyer
The duties of the Policy Lawyer are:
1) Policy and law reform
• responding to State and federal government policy and legislative proposals on important public interest environmental and planning law issues
• preparing written submissions and proactive discussion papers on topical issues, and appearing at parliamentary inquiries
• preparing drafting instructions for legislative proposals and amendments
• developing policy positions on specific public interest environmental and planning law issues
• undertaking legal consultancy work on behalf of conservation groups
• liaising, and attending meetings, with relevant stakeholders, including Environmental Liaison Office (ELO) meetings
2) Community Education
• participating in conference and legal education work generally
• preparing and presenting papers and workshops
• writing plain English educational materials
• preparing articles for EDO publications
3) Legal advice
• providing written and telephone advice to the public on a wide range of public interest environmental and planning law issues under supervision
4) Administration
• assisting with office administration, such as library, computer and precedent systems
• maintaining appropriate records and files
• word-processing of own work
5) General
All staff have a responsibility to:
• develop and maintain a good knowledge of the EDO’s role and policies
• represent the EDO in a positive and effective manner
• attend, and contribute actively and constructively at staff meetings
• seek opportunities for personal and professional development, particularly related to the team and position’s specific areas of responsibility
• assist in organising and supervising volunteers
• respond to requests by clients and fellow staff in a knowledgeable, professional, constructive and polite manner
• provide accurate and timely data on activities for the information of funding bodies Legal Aid NSW.