Managing Lawyer, Corporate Commercial

Managing Lawyer, Corporate Commercial

• Location: Australia-wide
• Term: Ongoing
• Full-time: 37.5 hours per week (flexible working arrangements will be considered for suitable candidates)
• Remuneration: SCHADS Level 7-8: $120,819 - $137,428 + 12% super + 17.5% Annual Leave Loading
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and members of the Global Majority* are particularly encouraged to apply.

Job title: Managing Lawyer, Corporate Commercial

Reporting to: Deputy Director, Early Legal Interventions

Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) is the largest environmental legal centre in the Australia-Pacific, dedicated to protecting our climate, communities and shared environment by providing access to justice, running ground-breaking litigation and leading law reform advocacy.

As the region’s legal experts in our field, we aim to be a brave, unified, and focused team, committed to inclusion and excellence in all that we do. We strive to be a diverse and inclusive workplace supporting a highly skilled, engaged, and effective team, where everyone can feel that they belong.

The opportunity

Are you a legal professional with the vision, drive and leadership to create lasting change? We have an exciting opportunity for a Managing Lawyer to lead our Corporate Commercial practice! This role offers the opportunity to step into a pivotal leadership role where you will be at the forefront of climate and environmental justice.

As Managing Lawyer, you will work with a passionate team on some of the most critical environmental challenges of our time and will have the opportunity to make an impact on climate and sustainability issues through the use of corporate and consumer law. The team is working on high profile net zero and sustainability claims as well as corporate disclosure issues. The Managing Lawyer is responsible for helping develop and deliver the relevant parts of the approved EDO Strategic Plan. The Managing Lawyer will have oversight of the Corporate Commercial Team and will determine the team’s workflow and priorities. The Managing Lawyer will play a key strategic role within the Systemic Change EDO and, with the Deputy Director, will be pre-eminently responsible for the design of the annual operational plan agreed to achieve the EDO’s goals in respect of our corporate and commercial work.

You are a senior litigation lawyer looking for an opportunity to use your skillset and corporate or commercial experience to work with the largest public interest environmental law centre in the region. Lawyers who think outside the box and want a chance to think creatively are strongly encouraged to apply.

EDO is a diverse and inclusive workplace. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are particularly encouraged to apply.

Key selection criteria

Core skills

• An unrestricted practicing certificate or entitlement to one, enabling you to hit the ground running.
• Proven exceptional leadership in legal supervision - you’re confident in guiding and developing both legal and non-legal staff and confident in managing a diverse and meaningful caseload.
• Demonstrated experience in supervising staff in providing legal services, including legal advice, legal education, law reform and/or litigation.
• A minimum of 5 years PAE working as a solicitor with environmental law, corporations law, administrative law or litigation experience, 8 + years PAE highly desirable
• Sharp problem-solving skills and ability to make sound judgments - you know how to weigh different perspectives and make well-reasoned decisions that inspire confidence
• Reliability under pressure - you’re organised, responsive and able to manage competing priorities to meet deadlines
• Excellent oral and written communication skills suited to a range of audiences

Substantive experience

• Demonstrated experience in corporations law, litigation, administrative or environmental law and/or related disciplines
• A deep commitment to working alongside diverse communities - you value inclusive, collaborative approaches and bring the skills and sensitivity needed to work effectively with people from all walks of life. Experience in this space is highly regarded.

Personal qualities and cultural competency

• A champion of the agreed values of the EDO
• Strong initiative and self-motivation
• Commitment to the protection of the environment and public participation in environmental decision-making