Legal Research Officer / Research Assistant (Identified)
- Ground-breaking truth-telling project
- Research laws and policies that have impacted First Nations Peoples
- Identified Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander position – full time or part time considered
The Public Interest Advocacy Centre is a leading social justice law and policy centre. We build a fairer, stronger society by helping to change laws, policies and practices that cause injustice and inequality.
PIAC offers a diverse and inclusive workplace where:
- Wellbeing is actively promoted and flexibility is supported
- We are committed to the professional development of our staff
- Advantageous salary packaging options are available
We are seeking either a Legal Research Officer or Research Assistant to support PIAC’s work on the Towards Truth Project: towardstruth.org.au.
Towards Truth is a partnership with the Indigenous Law Centre UNSW. We are delivering a unique and ground-breaking truth-telling project that shows the impact of laws and government policies on First Nations people since 1788.
The responsibilities of this role will be tailored to the skillset of the successful candidate. A Legal Research Officer will be more involved in overseeing the work of pro bono researchers and preparing research to be published to the Towards Truth website, and a Research Assistant more focussed on carrying out research.
Responsibilities include:
- Develop and review research requests for pro bono lawyers and interns
- Substantive review of research
- Carrying out legal research and analysis
You have proven research and analytical skills and will ideally have completed (for Legal Research Officer applicants) or working towards (for Research Assistant applicants) a law degree.
This position is open only to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It is intended as a special measure for the purposes of s 8(1) of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) and s 21 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW).
If you share our commitment to truth-telling about our history, please send your resume along with a covering letter and responses to the knowledge, skills and experience section included in the position description of the relevant role: Legal Research Officer or Research Assistant.
Inquiries should be directed to Anna Harding via [email protected].
Please send your application to [email protected], including the position title in the subject field. There is no closing date for applications. We encourage you to contact us to discuss the role and submit an application as soon as possible.
Practical Legal Training Placements
Please note we are not currently recruiting for PLT positions.
PIAC regularly recruits for Practical Legal Training (PLT) placements. The placements are unpaid, however reasonable travel costs are reimbursed.
PLT placements are supervised by a Solicitor within either our strategic litigation team, our Homeless Persons’ Legal Service or our Towards Truth project team. PLT placements will have an opportunity to work with lawyers and policy officers across our organisation.
PIAC undertakes work with a strong legal component in our strategic litigation practice, the Homeless Persons’ Legal Service and the Towards Truth project team.
PIAC’s strategic litigation team conduct high impact strategic litigation that achieves positive outcomes for significant groups of disadvantaged people. We bring test cases that create important legal precedents and advocate for policy and law reform to protect human rights and promote social justice. Our current focus areas include:
- Equality and non-discrimination
- First Nations Justice
- Climate change and social justice
- A fairer NDIS
- Fair use of police powers and rights in detention
- Asylum seeker rights
Our Homeless Persons’ Legal Service protects the rights of people experiencing homelessness and helps reduce homelessness by tackling legal and systemic barriers that prevent people from accessing and maintaining appropriate, secure housing.
Our Towards Truth team uses legal research and analysis to support First Nations truth-telling as called for by the Uluru Statement from the Heart. You can see more about Towards Truth by visiting our website – www.towardstruth.org.au
The Volunteer PLT Placement contributes to the provision of a successful, innovative, and responsive legal practice through assisting with PIAC’s litigation and associated policy, research and law reform, training and administrative work.