First Nations careers

Legal Aid Queensland is committed to being an employer of choice for First Nations people. We aim to help reduce the disadvantage and overrepresentation of First Nations people in the justice system and develop cultural capability to provide best practice legal services for clients.

Our values

Not just lawyers! Opportunities galore!

• First Nations community engagement officers
• Client information officers
• Customer service officers
• Litigation support officers
• Social workers and psychologists
• First Nations graduate lawyers
• Family lawyers
• Criminal lawyers
• Civil lawyers
• Grants officers
• Communications, IT, policy, HR, finance and facilities roles

Roles open only to First Nations candidates

We advertise two types of roles that are only open to First Nations candidates.

Identified: First Nations

Under s25 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991, there is a genuine occupational requirement for the incumbent for these roles to be Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. Being a First Nations person gives a person an advantage when performing the duties of the role. For example, a policy officer in our First Nations Strategic Planning and Policy team.

Targeted: First Nations

The duties of this role don’t need to be performed by a First Nations person, but we have limited the advertising to increase our First Nations workforce.

These roles are an equal opportunity measure—under section 105 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 it is a requirement the incumbent be Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.

Applicants for identified and targeted roles must be able to demonstrate they:

• are of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent
• identify as an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person
• are accepted as an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community in which he or she lives.

To allow confirmation of eligibility to be considered for this role, the successful applicant will be required to submit either a confirmation of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander status or a Statutory Declaration attesting to their status as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person.

The successful applicant may be required to nominate, as a referee, two Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander individuals who are recognised within the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community to attest to their eligibility.

Why us?

• Supportive cultural connections with monthly catch-ups to have a yarn
• First Nations mentoring program
• Free confidential counselling sessions for you and immediate family members with a First Nations provider
• Annual First Nations conference
• Flexible work arrangements and cultural leave
• Dedicated clerkships, graduate programs and emerging lawyers programs for First Nations people
• Opportunities to consult on First Nations work being done
• Compulsory cultural awareness and safety training for all staff

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.