Step into a family law role where your work supports real justice outcomes

• Competitive salary from $83,232 to $101,907 PLUS Super, based on experience and classification
• Salary Packaging benefits and a 35-hour work week supporting work-life balance
• On-call Allowances, additional payments and paid time off following weekend on-call shifts
• No billable hours, meaningful client work, and support from senior legal practitioners
• Build your advocacy skills within an Aboriginal community-controlled organisation

A Legal Service Built on Community, Culture and Change

The Tasmanian Aboriginal Legal Service (TALS) is a community-controlled organisation committed to improving justice outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across Tasmania.

Established in 2020, TALS represents a significant step toward self-determination, returning legal services to Aboriginal leadership and community control.

TALS delivers services across criminal, family (parenting matters only) and child safety, alongside its specialist Family Violence Prevention Legal Service, SiS Tasmania.

What sets TALS apart is its holistic, culturally grounded approach. Lawyers work alongside Aboriginal Liaison Officers and support staff to address not only legal issues, but the broader challenges impacting clients, including housing, health, and community connection.

This work contributes to long-term justice reform and TALS’ broader goal of reducing the negative contact Aboriginal Tasmanians have with the justice system.

For more information: https://www.tals.net.au

One Family Lawyer Opportunity | Level 1 or Level 2 Appointment

TALS is seeking a full-time Family Lawyer to join its Hobart office.

Reporting to the Senior Lawyer, this role will provide culturally appropriate legal advice, casework, and representation in family and child safety matters across southern Tasmania.

This is one Family Lawyer opportunity, with appointment at either Level 1 or Level 2 under the TALS Enterprise Agreement depending on your experience, confidence, and level of independence.

While both levels contribute to meaningful family and child safety work, each has a distinct focus:

Level 1 Family Lawyer
Build your legal practice with support from experienced lawyers while undertaking client appointments, advice work, court appearances, and simple to medium level family and child safety matters. This level is suited to newly admitted or early-career lawyers with a genuine interest in advocacy, social justice, and working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

To read the full position description, Level 1 Family Lawyer

Level 2 Family Lawyer
Manage simple to medium family and child safety matters with greater independence, including contested work, while providing guidance and support to junior lawyers and staff. This level is suited to developing family lawyers with practical experience in family, parenting or child safety matters, including experience in court, and the ability to manage files day to day with greater independence.

To read the full position description, Level 2 Family Lawyer

More specifically, your responsibilities include:

• Conducting casework in family, child safety and related matters for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients
• Appearing as an advocate in various courts, with the level of complexity matched to your classification and experience
• Providing clear legal advice to clients experiencing complex and vulnerable circumstances
• Preparing correspondence, advice, court documents and related legal materials
• Participating in community legal education, law reform and other TALS projects
• Building collaborative relationships with Legal Aid, community organisations and other legal services
• Participating in the on-call roster providing out-of-hours legal assistance to clients taken into custody by Tasmania Police

About You - What Really Matters

To qualify, you will need admission or eligibility for admission as a legal practitioner in Tasmania, a current registration to work with vulnerable people, and a current National Police Check.

For Level 1, this role will suit a junior or developing lawyer who is ready to build practical experience in family and child safety law. You may be newly admitted or have early post-admission experience, and you will bring a genuine interest in advocacy, social justice, and working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

For Level 2, you will bring stronger practical experience in family, parenting or child safety matters, including the ability to manage matters with greater independence. Experience appearing in court, handling contested matters, and supporting junior lawyers or staff is required to be classified at this level.

Additionally, you will bring:

• Experience, or a strong interest, in family law, parenting matters and child safety matters
• Confidence appearing in court or a genuine willingness to develop advocacy skills
• Experience working with vulnerable clients or clients experiencing trauma, family violence or complex social issues
• An understanding of the social issues faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
• Strong written communication skills and the ability to prepare advice, correspondence and court documents
• Most importantly, you will be someone who communicates clearly, works collaboratively, shows resilience, and can balance empathy with professional boundaries when supporting clients through difficult circumstances.
• Success in this role comes from combining legal capability with cultural humility, resilience, and a genuine commitment to improving outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Tasmania

Working in Hobart - Purposeful Work, Sustainable Pace

Build your legal career in a role where the work is meaningful, the team is supportive, and there are no billable hour pressures.

Based in Hobart, this role offers the opportunity to practise family and child safety law in a community-controlled setting while maintaining a sustainable working rhythm. With a 35-hour week, access to experienced lawyers, and a team committed to high-quality advocacy, this is an opportunity to grow your capability without losing sight of why you entered the profession.

Benefits That Support You to Do Your Best Work

You will receive a competitive annual salary from $83,232 to $101,907 + Super, based on skills, experience and classification under the TALS Enterprise Agreement.

You will also receive a range of benefits including:

• Salary Packaging options to increase take-home pay
• 35-hour work week supporting work-life balance
• 23 days of annual leave per year for full-time employees
• 17.5% annual leave loading
• 15 days of personal/carer’s leave per year for full-time employees
• Cultural and ceremonial leave provisions
• Paid parental leave provisions, where eligible
• On-call Allowances, including approximately $1,000 for weekend on-call shifts (to provide advice and undertake welfare checks for Aboriginal people in custody), plus paid time off the following Monday
• Additional weekday on-call payments, rest-time provisions and applicable penalty arrangements
• Travel and meal allowances where required
• Professional development support and ongoing legal training
• A collaborative, culturally grounded and purpose-driven team environment

Weekend on-call is generally shared across lawyers and may occur approximately once every three months, with weekday on-call occurring around one to two times per month.

Why This Role Matters and What Success Looks Like

This role offers the opportunity to build your family law career while supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients through matters that can have a profound impact on their lives, families and futures.

In your early months, you will build relationships with clients, courts, colleagues and community partners while developing confidence across advice, casework, court appearances and file management. As you grow, you will take greater carriage of matters, strengthen your advocacy capability, and contribute to consistent, culturally appropriate legal services across southern Tasmania.

If appointed at Level 2, success will also include supporting junior lawyers and helping strengthen capability within the family law team.

Make Your Next Move Matter

This is an opportunity to develop your legal career in a role where your work has genuine impact, your growth is supported, and your contribution matters.

If you are ready to build your advocacy skills, work with purpose, and contribute to meaningful change, we encourage you to APPLY NOW!