Principal Solicitor
- Lead and manage the organisation’s legal practice including advisory services and document review.
- Supervise a small team of lawyers, secondees, interns and volunteers, ensuring high-quality service delivery.
- Contribute to national policy and law reform through submissions and advocacy work.
Principal Solicitor – National Community Legal Centre (IP / Commercial Law) Salary: Negotiable depending on experience + salary packaging
Location: Sydney (NSW practising certificate required)
Role type: Full‑time, ongoing
Travel: Interstate, regional and remote travel required
A national community legal centre supporting Australia’s creative sector is seeking an experienced Principal Solicitor to lead its legal practice. This is a senior leadership role overseeing legal services, supervising a small team, and contributing to national policy and law reform.
About the Role As Principal Solicitor, you will:
- Lead and manage the organisation’s legal practice, including advisory services, document review, and a specialist First Nations program.
- Supervise lawyers, secondees, interns and volunteers, ensuring high‑quality, culturally safe service delivery.
- Provide legal advice on copyright, contracts, commercial law, moral rights, ICIP, defamation, governance and employment issues.
- Oversee the development and updating of legal resources, publications and contract templates used across the creative industries.
- Ensure compliance with the Community Legal Centres Australia Risk Management Guide and Professional Indemnity Scheme.
- Deliver workshops, seminars and training to creators, arts organisations, tertiary students and First Nations communities.
- Contribute to national law and policy reform through submissions and advocacy work.
- Work collaboratively in a small, friendly, hands‑on team environment.
About You You will be a confident, collaborative legal leader with:
- Eligibility to hold an unrestricted NSW practising certificate authorising you to be a principal.
- 5+ years PQE in copyright, IP and commercial/contract law.
- Demonstrated experience supervising lawyers or managing a small legal team.
- Strong communication skills and the ability to explain complex legal issues to non‑lawyers.
- Experience in legal drafting, publications or template development.
- Experience in policy or law reform work.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and comfort using CRM systems.
- Ability to travel nationally.
Desirable:
- Experience in community legal centres or arts organisations.
- Experience working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients or communities.
- Experience delivering legal education.
First Nations candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
Why this role?
- Lead a respected national legal practice with real social impact.
- Work at the intersection of law, culture, creativity and community.
- Contribute to protecting artists’ rights and strengthening Australia’s creative sector.
- Collaborative, supportive, purpose‑driven environment.
- Salary packaging available.
How to Apply Please contact Rachel Townes‑Vigh | rachel@eliasrecruitment.com | 0439 936 199 for a confidential discussion and or a copy of the position description and selection criteria.
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