Senior Solicitor

Are you passionate about arts and culture?

Would you love WFH flexibility and a compressed work week?

The Arts Law Centre of Australia is committed to meaningful equity and diversity in our workforce, and strongly encourages applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples for all of our positions.

Remote working will be considered for the right candidate!

ABOUT US

Arts Law is Australia’s independent national community centre for the arts, providing free or low cost specialised legal advice, education and resources to Australian artists and arts organisations.

We strengthen value and respect for arts and culture to make a better world, working to empower artists and creative communities through the law.

Our staff are our life blood, and our collaborative, inclusive and passionate culture is something we are incredibly proud of.  

ABOUT THE ROLE

Reporting to the Principal Solicitor (and with a dotted line to our Head of Innovation, Growth and Engagement), the Senior Solicitor is responsible for the day-to-day provision of legal advice and related services to Australia’s artists and creative communities, with a particular emphasis on the delivery of the Arts Law fee for service work.

On a day-to-day basis, your work will include (but not be limited to):

Legal Practice

Reviewing, amending and drafting contracts and/or policies for a variety of clients including government, for profit and not for profit entities including for art projects, the creation and use of copyright, collaborations and commissions.

Developing the drafting capability of Arts Law’s small legal team to enhance the delivery of our social enterprise.

Providing legal advice to individual artists, arts organisations (including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and arts organisations) with arts related legal problems. This advice covers a wide range of legal areas including copyright, contracts, debt, business structuring, and ranges from high level general advice to strategic, commercial and/or contractual review and drafting assistance. This includes delivery of the Artists in the Black service for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander artists, including outreach to draft wills for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander artists.

Education and professional development

Participation in Arts Law’s professional development program for creators, arts workers, Indigenous artists and other stakeholders in areas of law relevant to practicing artists and arts organisations, including contracts, copyright, defamation, employment, governance and business structures.

Publications and website

Assisting with the development of professional and self-help materials, including information sheets, checklists and guides, and drafting or reviewing contract templates for use by Australia’s creative communities.

Advocacy on Law and Policy Reform

Contributing to the law and policy reform work for Arts Law, including participation in the organisations committee and the development of our advocacy plan. This may also include the preparation of submissions and participation in other law and policy reform strategies as directed by the CEO.

THE OFFER/WHAT YOU GET

Your legal expertise, as well as your commitment to our mission, will be rewarded with an attractive remuneration package that is commensurate with your skills and experience. Operating within a collegiate environment, you will have to opportunity to broaden your skills and capabilities and further your career, as well as empower artists and arts communities across Australia.

Added to this, you’ll also benefit from:

• An annual salary package of up to $149,175, including super.
• The benefit of a four-day compressed work week; we are all about that work/life balance!
• Flexible working arrangements, including a hybrid home/office model.  
• Ongoing commitment to your Professional Development.
• Working for an organisation that cares for its people, providing initiatives such as leave gifted over the Christmas/New Year period, a further 1% of your gross salary paid to your superannuation fund, and plenty of team lunches and outings.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

• Hold, or be eligible to hold, a current unrestricted practicing certificate in NSW (or the State/Territory in which you live).
• 7+ years post-admission experience in intellectual property (copyright) and contracts/commercial law in a commercial, local government, inhouse environment or private practice.
• Well-developed management and organisational skills.
• Diverse legal drafting skills including the preparation of contracts relating to the creation or use of intellectual property.
• Demonstrated experience in providing strategic, relevant legal advice to creators and/or arts organisations and/or small to medium businesses.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, in particular, the ability to explain complex legal issues to individuals and groups with a predominately non-legal background.
• Skillful management of short, medium and long term legal projects/task, for example, balancing day to day advice files with medium term drafting tasks.
• Well-developed organisational and administrative skills, including own file management and being administratively autonomous.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a small office team environment.

Read the position description here.

To apply

Please apply via email and include your resume and cover letter addressing the selection criteria and highlighting the attitude and experience that will ensure your success in the role.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Apply at [email protected].