Solicitor / Community Legal Education Officer

SCHADS Level 4.1 | Full-time, permanent | Port Macquarie

Build your legal career while making a difference in your community.

Mid North Coast Legal Centre (MNCLC) is looking for a Solicitor to join our Port Macquarie team in a varied role combining legal practice, community legal education, outreach and community engagement.

This is a great opportunity for an early-career solicitor who wants to develop broad legal experience in a supportive community legal practice while also working directly with communities to improve legal knowledge and access to justice.

You’ll work with clients, provide legal advice and casework, participate in outreach, and help develop and deliver community legal education across the Mid North Coast.

ABOUT MNCLC

Mid North Coast Legal Centre (MNCLC), www.mnclegal.org.au, is part of Advocacy Law Alliance Ltd, www.advocacylaw.org.au.

MNCLC is a not-for-profit community legal centre providing civil law services across the local government areas of MidCoast, Port Macquarie-Hastings, Kempsey Shire, Nambucca Shire, Bellingen and Coffs Harbour.

We have offices in Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour and provide services across our geographic catchment.

MNCLC seeks to improve access to justice through legal information and advice, advocacy and representation, community legal education and outreach, and policy and law reform.

This position is based in our Port Macquarie office.

WHAT WE OFFER

- 38-hour working week, Monday to Friday

- Permanent position based in Port Macquarie

- Salary at SCHADS Award Level 4.1

- Up to 6 weeks' annual leave, plus 5 paid wellbeing days

- Salary packaging options to increase your take-home pay

- Access to a company vehicle for work-related travel

- Ongoing training and professional development

- Support and supervision to develop your legal practice

- Varied work across legal practice, community education and outreach

- A supportive and rewarding team culture

- The opportunity to make a meaningful difference in regional communities

ABOUT THE ROLE

This is a hybrid position combining legal service delivery with community legal education and engagement.

You will provide legal information, advice and casework while also helping MNCLC connect with communities, community organisations and other services across our region.

The role provides an opportunity to develop practical legal skills while gaining experience in community legal education, outreach, stakeholder engagement and identifying emerging legal needs within the community.

Legal Practice

You will:

- Deliver high-quality legal advice and casework in line with the Centre's Legal Practice Manual and strategic priorities.

- Provide ethical, trauma-informed and client-centred legal services.

- Undertake advocacy,



negotiation and dispute resolution appropriate to your level of experience.

- Participate in outreach legal services across MNCLC's catchment area.

- Work collaboratively with other solicitors and members of the broader MNCLC team.

- Develop your legal knowledge and practice with support and supervision from experienced practitioners.

- Contribute to accessible legal services for people experiencing disadvantage and barriers to justice.

Community Legal Education, Outreach and Engagement

A key part of this position will be taking legal information beyond the office and into the community.

You will:

- Develop and deliver community legal education workshops, presentations and resources.

- Participate in outreach activities across our service area.

- Build constructive relationships with community organisations, local services and other stakeholders.

- Identify opportunities for community legal education, engagement and team-oriented projects.

- Help identify emerging legal issues and barriers to justice affecting communities across our region.

- Contribute to publications and accessible legal information.

- Participate in policy and law reform activities as required.

- Support MNCLC's broader engagement with the communities we serve.

Planning, Practice and Compliance

You will:

- Actively participate in planning, staff meetings and organisational development activities.

- Maintain accurate records of legal advice, casework, community legal education and other service activities in AIIM.

- Comply with organisational policies, professional and ethical obligations, and accreditation requirements.

- Contribute to initiatives that strengthen legal practice and service delivery.

- Contribute to a safe, inclusive and supportive working environment.

- Collect and record data required to evaluate and report on service outcomes.

WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR

This role could suit an early-career solicitor who wants more than a traditional office-based legal position.

You might enjoy working directly with clients but also want opportunities to engage with community organisations, deliver workshops, participate in outreach and help people understand their legal rights.

You will be someone who is committed to social justice, enjoys working collaboratively and wants to develop your skills within a supportive community legal practice.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Please address the following criteria in your application:

1. Current NSW practising certificate,



or eligibility to obtain one.

2. Current NSW driver's licence and willingness to travel across the service area.

3. Legal practice experience, or demonstrated capacity to develop your legal practice, with an interest in general civil and community law.

4. Demonstrated commitment to social justice, including an understanding of issues affecting people experiencing disadvantage and barriers to accessing justice.

5. Demonstrated commitment to anti-racism and culturally safe practice, with the ability to work respectfully with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients, communities, Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations and other services supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

6. Ability to communicate legal concepts clearly and in plain English, including the capacity to develop and deliver accessible and engaging community legal education.

7. Advocacy, negotiation and dispute resolution skills appropriate to your level of experience.

8. Strong written and oral communication skills and the ability to communicate effectively with diverse communities, including First Nations people and people with disability.

9. Well-developed interpersonal and collaboration skills, including the ability to build relationships with clients, community organisations and other stakeholders and work effectively as part of a team.

10. Strong organisational, time-management and file-management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities.

HOW TO APPLY

We encourage you to apply as soon as possible, as interviews may commence while the advertisement remains open.

We want to hear about you, why community legal work interests you and what you would bring to the role. We value authentic responses that reflect your own experience, interests and motivation.

Applications that do not address the selection criteria will not be considered.

As part of our government funding requirements, staff are required to have a police criminal record check and clear Working with Children Check prior to commencement.

CALD people, First Nations people and people with disability are encouraged to apply. All applications will be assessed on merit against the selection criteria and in accordance with equal employment opportunity principles.

For more information about MNCLC, visit Mid North Coast Legal Centre.

For more information about the position, contact Sarah Dahlenburg on 02 •••• •111 or via email at ••••@mnclegal.org.au.

SUBMISSION CHECKLIST

Please include:

1. A cover letter including your contact details.

2. A document addressing each of the selection criteria above.

3. A current resume including two current professional referees.

If you have everything ready, hit Apply Now via SEEK. We look forward to receiving your application.

📌 Solicitor and Community Legal Education Officer (Port Macquarie)
🏢 Advocacy Law Alliance
📍 Port Macquarie