Careers at the Legal Services Commission
The Commission employs staff in administration, policy and research, project management, and the provision of legal services.
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General Information
General information about careers within the Legal Services Commission is available below.
Legal Officer/Lawyer positions
Paralegal Officer positions
Vacancies
Legal Officer/Lawyer positions
Work may involve preparing legal documents, providing representation at court or legal advice or undertaking other work of a litigious nature. Not all legal work requires an appearance before courts or tribunals. In criminal matters, the Director of Public Prosecutions or the Police prosecutes while the Legal Services Commission and private practitioners defend. Lawyers at the Legal Services Commission also act for parties in family law (including child support) matters and some limited civil matters.
Other lawyers also work in the policy, advice, community legal education and assignments sections. The level of responsibility and pay for lawyers varies depending on their experience and the complexity and nature of the work being performed.
Requirements: Bachelor of Laws. Admitted as a practitioner in the Supreme Court of SA
Paralegal Officer positions
Some paralegal officers process assignments of both Commonwealth and State law matters to legal practitioners (both internal and external) according to a means test, a merits test and prescribed guidelines. Others provide legal advice to members of the public requiring assistance with most types of legal problems across the practice areas of family (including child support), civil and criminal law.
Requirements: There are no prescribed qualifications. A law or social work degree or TAFE Certificate 4 in Justice Studies (Legal Studies) is desirable. A comprehensive knowledge of the law and an ability to advise in plain English is vital. The aim is to assist clients to deal with their problems by providing practical solutions. Legal advisers require excellent communication skills and an ability to deal with people from diverse backgrounds. Some law graduates work as paralegal officers to gain practical experience before obtaining professional legal positions.
Vacancies
Many vacancies at the Legal Services Commission are filled from within the State public sector.
From time to time, vacancies that cannot be filled from within the public sector are advertised in the “The Advertiser” newspaper. Duty Solicitor positions in the Criminal Law Section are usually advertised in November each year for 12 month contracts.
The Commission does not normally accept volunteers but a limited number of law students can undertake an unpaid work experience placement in Clinical Legal Education or Practical Legal Training.
In addition, entry into the Legal Services Commission or the public sector may be gained through specific recruitment programs for graduates, people with disabilities and indigenous persons.
The Graduate Recruitment Program aims to increase the number of university graduates achieving employment in the South Australian public sector. It is a 12 month training and development program that provides a comprehensive introduction to a public sector career path.
To seek more information about the Graduate Recruitment Scheme, please contact: Graduate Recruitment Unit, Office for the Commissioner for Public Employment, Department of the Premier and Cabinet
Telephone (08) 8226 2827, graduate@saugov.sa.gov.au
There are also a number of equal opportunity initiatives that may be available to you, depending on your circumstances.
The Strategy for the Employment of People with Disabilities in the South Australian Public Sector aims to identify and place eligible people with a permanent disability, who are considered to have an employment restriction due to their disability, in South Australian public sector agencies, including Justice agencies.
For inquiries, please contact the Disability Recruitment Coordination Service on
(08)8326 6511 or the Office for the Commissioner for Public Employment on (08)82262196.
If you are an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person planning to study full-time next year, you have 2 other study/employment options. You may apply for a cadetship on the National Indigenous Cadetship Program and get a study allowance (depending on your year of study) of up to $14,000 while studying. Cadets also get paid work experience during the long vacation breaks and the opportunity to get a job when you finish your studies. On successful completion of your degree and work experience, you can expect an offer of a temporary position (up to 12 months) in your sponsor Government department, related to your professional qualifications. For more information or to apply, contact the Indigenous Employment Program phone 1802 102 or visit their web-site at: http://www.apsc.gov.au/publications01/indigenousrecruitment.htm
The State Public Sector Aboriginal Recruitment and Career Development Strategy offers opportunities for training and employment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The Office of Employment and Youth has established and manages an Aboriginal Employment Register to identify Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who can be considered for vacancies in the SA Public Sector. To seek more information about the Strategy, or to register for one of its programs, please contact:
Indigenous and Youth Initiatives Unit, Office of Employment and Youth, Department of Education, Training and Employment, 11th floor, 100 Waymouth Street, ADELAIDE
Telephone: (08) 8463 5514
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