Principal Lawyer

This is an outstanding opportunity for an experienced legal professional to play a key role managing the delivery of legal services to communities in the region. As principal lawyer, you will lead a busy team of legal and administrative staff to provide efficient and effective services to the community including legal information and advice and representation in criminal law and related matters, including duty lawyer services and legal services to prisoners.

The successful candidate will play an integral role in the following:

• Lead, monitor and report on the operational performance of the team and ensure compliance with all professional and corporate responsibilities.
• Manage and supervise a team of professional and administrative staff including achievement development plans (ADP), provision of training and guidance to develop the skills of the criminal law team, provision of performance management and feedback, recruitment and other human resource activities.
• Supervise legal work and develop the legal skills of, train and guide staff within the criminal law team, Legal Aid Queensland lawyers state-wide. Provide guidance to external legal practitioners regarding particular cases, Legal Aid Queensland processes and referral pathways.
• Establish and maintain relationships with stakeholders in the justice system and allied sectors, represent the agency at stakeholder meetings and regularly liaise with counterparts from other agencies and organisations.
• Develop and deliver continuing professional development to LAQ staff and preferred suppliers and contribute to community legal education of external stakeholders.
• Ensure new initiatives and programs are effectively implemented and supported.
• Represent clients, including providing advice, preparing matters and advocating in complex criminal law and related matters.
• Coordinate and provide duty lawyer and legal advice services and manage issues about the delivery of these services.
• Help the Senior Principal Lawyer to manage resource allocation to ensure costs are contained within budget parameters.

About You

• You have and experience in preparation, representation and advocacy of complex criminal law and related matters. You comply with and maintain up-to-date knowledge of criminal law, practice, procedure, evidence and ethics.
• You have experience in managing and supervising a team of professional and administrative staff including the provision of performance management and feedback, recruitment and other human resource activities.
• You communicate in a clear, concise and articulate manner, offer convincing rationale, negotiate persuasively and engage effectively with stakeholders including clients with complex needs using the principles of trauma informed practice.

Other Competencies
Legal Aid Queensland applies the Leadership competencies for Queensland. We recognise that leadership is a part of every role regardless of classification level or management responsibilities. This role is mapped to the "Team Leader" profile. The competencies most relevant to this role are:

Results-
You build and sustain relationships to achieve shared goals.

Vision-
You role-model integrity in decision making and demonstrate transparency.

Vision-
You demonstrate a growth mindset and build confidence within challenging environments.

Results-
You inspire others to collaborate and achieve objectives.

What We Offer You

• 36.25 hrs per week (full time hours)
• Generous salary packaging
• 12.75% employer super contributions
• Flexible working hours
• Study leave for approved work-related courses.
• Locality Allowance

Occupational group
Justice & Legal