Amplify your civil law career with one of Queensland’s largest law firms where you’ll have a high degree of control over your work and a focus on test litigation in your area of practice. With access to mentors, continuing professional development and other learning and development programs, you will have access to varied and interesting cases.
Areas of practice
Our civil lawyers work across:
- anti-discrimination
- human rights
- employment law
- consumer protection
- social security appeals
- National Disability Insurance Scheme appeals
- farm debt mediation.
What you will do
In our civil law teams, you will prepare cases and advocate for clients. Through a mix of providing legal advice, case work and preparing policy submissions, you will develop skills in assessing, initiating and responding to claims, gathering and presenting evidence and negotiating settlements. There may also be opportunities to contribute to legal cases in the Australian and Queensland Human Rights Commission, Fair Work Commission, Administrative Appeals Tribunal, and Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, and contribute to crucial law reform.
Why become a civil lawyer?
Directly impact communities by defending fundamental rights and upholding high standards of treatment for everyone. Legal Aid Queensland’s civil law teams are recognised as a leading service provider where you can expand your experience by undertaking interesting and varied case work and law reform. Unlike other community legal organisations, we offer a high degree of control over workload and potential cases, with the resourcing needed to progress test litigation across areas of practice.
Personal strengths
Working in the legal system requires a specific skill set where extensive technical legal expertise is only part of the equation. To excel in this area, you will need highly developed communication skills, a high degree of persuasiveness, research skills, and honesty with a high attention to detail. If you are passionate about maintaining or advancing the rights of people, you will find a career in our civil law team rewarding.
I can be doing case work or writing a policy submission and the next day be providing training on employment law … there’s nothing quite like it.
How to gain more experience
We offer clerkship opportunities and litigation support officer roles to gain administrative exposure in your desired area of specialised practice while you are still studying. Relevant experience working in a not-for-profit environment, insurance, banking, employment law, administration law or personal injury law will help you develop transferrable skills.
How do I become a lawyer?
To become a lawyer in Queensland, you must:
- complete an approved law degree
- complete an approved practical legal training course, which awards you a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice
- be eligible for admission with the Queensland Law Society.
Benefits that matter
Work/life balance
We offer a 36.25-hour full time work week, time in lieu and accrued time off options, flexible work hours, and work from home options.
Regional & remote incentives
Staff in our regional offices receive an extra annual leave, locality allowances, relocation assistance and paid travel for professional development.
Leave entitlements
Staff have access to a wide variety of leave entitlements - generous family leave, an extra paid leave day over the Christmas closure period, domestic and family violence leave, option to purchase extra leave, study leave & career break options.
Financial benefits
Enjoy 17.5% annual leave loading, practising certificates costs reimbursed, novated leasing options, study assistance and generous salary packaging of up to $30,000 FBT which reduces your taxable income and increases your take home pay.
Diversity and inclusion
Enjoy an inclusive workplace that is committed to cultural safety, has an active First Nations employee network, an annual First Nations conference and access to culturally capable external providers.
Health and wellbeing
Staff are supported with free confidential counselling sessions for themselves and their immediate family, the fitness passport program, free flu and other vaccinations, corporate health insurance rates and more.
Rewards and recognition
We celebrate our staff with annual awards including length of service awards, team awards, individual service awards and CEO awards plus corporate events throughout the year.
Professional development
Maintain your skills with in-house CPD events, annual conferences, mentoring and leadership programs, annual conferences for legal and support staff and access to the in-house research library.