duty lawyer

Legal Services Commission

Job reference: req174

Location: ADELAIDE

Job status: Long Term Contract

Eligibility: Open to Everyone

The Organisation

Legal Services is passionate about ensuring justice is available and accessible for all South Australians. As the largest legal assistance service in SA, we ensure that South Australians have access to a trusted lawyer when they need help to be heard, easy ways to learn about their rights and responsibilities, and service to answer any legal questions.

Each year 140,000 South Australians benefit from the services we deliver.

The Opportunity

Join our dynamic criminal law division and open the door to a future filled with growth and advancement. As a valued member of our team, you will have access to a range of opportunities designed to elevate your career.

As a Duty Lawyer, you will represent defendants in court, particularly focusing on bail applications and simple guilty pleas, and providing advice to those charged with a criminal offence. You will attend to members of the public who are in urgent need of representation including overnight custodies.

You will also manage a file practice consisting of lower complexity criminal law mattes within the Magistrates Courts and/or Youth Courts. Duty lawyers work across our sites within the Adelaide and metropolitan Magistrates Courts.

If you feel you have what it takes to be successful in this role, apply now

Total Indicative Remuneration Package

$81,620 - $88,499 per annum (pro rata) including salary, superannuation and leave loading.

As a not-for-profit organisation, Legal Services is able to offer its employees attractive salary sacrifice arrangements, including up to $15,900 pre-tax Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) year for general living expenses.

Term of Employment

Positions will be retained within a pool of recommended candidates for upcoming and potential vacancies. The pool will be valid for 12 months from completion of the recruitment process.

Appointments from within the pool will be offered 24 month temporary contracts at the LSC1 classification level.

What You Need for Success

The ideal candidate will:

• Be an admitted practitioner of the Supreme Court of South Australia or eligible for admission.
• Hold a Category C Practicing Certificate or currently eligible to apply for a Category C Practising Certificate.
• Relate well to members of judiciary, support staff, government and non-government agencies, other professional agencies, fellow legal practitioners and members of the public.
• Communicate effectively with persons from a wide range of backgrounds including differing socio-economic and cultural backgrounds.
• Possess a strong commitment to the principle of equality of access to justice for all persons.

Workplace Benefits

We provide a range of financial and non-financial benefits to our employees that include:

• The opportunity to work alongside passionate and dedicated colleagues in a supportive workplace that is concerned about employee well-being.
• Generous salary sacrifice benefits through Smart Salary (as outlined above).
• Flexible working arrangements.
• Payment of Practising Certificate for legal staff.
• Payment of relevant Professional memberships.
• Support for employees and their family through our inclusive Employee Assistance Program.
• Supported training and development opportunities in areas including working with vulnerable clients, cultural sensitivity and trauma informed practice.
• Access to a comprehensive in-house legal Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program.
• Contemporary workplace accommodation.
• Career development opportunities within the team and the organisation.
• Payment of employment screening checks.
• Access to Fitness Passport: a workplace health and fitness program that give you and your family access to wide choice of gyms and pools across South Australia.

Next Steps

To apply for this role, you will need to click on the Apply now button. Have your resume, preferably in a PDF version ready to be attached and a cover letter.

Should you require any further information please direct your query to Leah Annese, Senior Lawyer and Team Leader, Duty Lawyers on

Please click here for the Position Description - LSC1 Duty Lawyer CLPD

We welcome applications from everyone. We are an inclusive employer, and support diversity and inclusion by recognising our staff for their unique qualities, ideas, and insights.

Applications close: 15/10/2025 11:59 PM

Flexibility Statement

The South Australian public sector promotes diversity and flexible ways of working including part-time. Applicants are encouraged to discuss the flexible working arrangements for this role.