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, and 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
As the Manager, Counsel Section, you will provide strong leadership, management, supervision and guidance to the Counsel team within the Criminal Law Division (CLD) whilst supporting the Director, Criminal Law and Chief Counsel to develop high quality counsel skills across CLD.
You will coordinate and allocate trials and other counsel work across CLD, including appellate work alongside the Chief Counsel.
With direction from the Director, you will also develop and implement appropriate processes for all facets of the allocation and counsel work.
You will carry a significant case load of counsel work in major indictable matters, conduct trials on a regular basis in the District and Supreme Court, including the country circuit courts, act as counsel in the Court of Appeal (Criminal), and conduct the most complex/serious matters heard in Youth Court and Magistrates Court.
If you feel you have the skills and experience to be successful in this role, Apply Now!
Salary Range
$165,746 - $180,058 per annum pro rata plus 12% 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




Ongoing Contract available at the LSC5 classification level.
What You Need for Success
The ideal candidate will:
Hold an unrestricted Category C Practising Certificate or currently eligible to apply for an unrestricted Category C Practising Certificate.
Possess a minimum of eleven years post admission legal experience in Criminal Law.
Demonstrate the ability to lead, mentor and manage a team of lawyers to set direction, motivate staff and coordinate work.
Possess significant experience in the criminal justice system in South Australia particularly in the superior courts, including experience in court as counsel in complex criminal trials and appeals.
Have highly developed legal drafting skills, particularly in the preparation of criminal law forms and precedents, briefs of evidence, written legal opinions, trial voir dire notices, appeal notices, outlines of argument and other complex written legal work.
Demonstrate ability to work effectively, under limited direction, either independently or within a team to build positive working relationships with a wide range of internal and external key stakeholders.
Workplace Perks
We provide a range of financial and non-financial benefits to our employees that include:
5 weeks of Annual Leave for those employed within the LSC classification stream.




The opportunity to work alongside passionate and dedicated colleagues in a supportive workplace that is concerned about employee well-being.
Generous salary sacrifice benefits throughSmart 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.
All applications are to be submitted by 26/07/2026 at 11:59 PM.
Should you require any further information please direct your query to Chris Edge, Director, Criminal Law, via ******
Please refer to theposition descriptionfor more detail.
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.
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.

📌 Manager, Counsel Section - Criminal Law Division (Adelaide)
🏢 Legal Services Commission of South Australia
📍 Adelaide