Legal Services Commission
Job reference: req370
Location: 5001 - ADELAIDE
Job status: Long Term Contract
Eligibility: Open to Everyone
The Organisation
Legal Services is passionate about ensuring justice is available and accessible for all South Australians. As the largest legal assistance service in SA, we ensure that South Australians have access to a trusted lawyer when they need help to be heard, and easy ways to learn about their rights and responsibilities, and service to answer any legal questions.
Each year 140,000 South Australians benefit from the services we deliver.
The Opportunity
The Chief Counsel is the principal advocate and representative of Legal Services within the South Australian courts and tribunals, and is recognised as a senior figure within the legal profession. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the Chief Counsel will conduct the most complex trials and appellate matters, principally in the criminal jurisdiction, and is pivotal to ensuring the delivery of exceptional legal representation and advocacy services for legally aided clients. As a key leader within Legal Services, the Chief Counsel advises the CEO on strategic legal and policy issues, including law reform, and builds strong relationships with private legal practitioners and the judiciary. The Chief Counsel works closely with Legal Services' senior leaders, particularly within the Criminal Division, to promote high quality counsel work, and will support the training and professional development of current and future legal counsel.
If you feel you have what it takes to be successful in this role, apply now!
Salary Range
SAES1: $192,382 to $295,973 per annum
As a not-for-profit organisation, Legal Services is able to offer its employees attractive salary sacrifice arrangements, including up to $15,900 pre-tax Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) year for general living expenses.
Term of Employment
This is an executive role with an initial 3 year contract.
What You Need for Success
The ideal candidate will:
- Be admitted as a practitioner of the Supreme Court of South Australia or eligible for admission, hold or be eligible to hold an unrestricted Category C Practising Certificate, and have a minimum of eleven years post admission experience in criminal law (with additional experience in other areas highly regarded).
- Be a highly respected member of the legal profession and have demonstrated experience as trial and appellate counsel in complex criminal cases in superior court jurisdictions.
- Have exceptional leadership abilities, the ability to foster collaboration and cohesion, and the utmost commitment to ethical and respectful practice.
Workplace Benefits
We provide a range of financial and non-financial benefits to our employees that include:
- The opportunity to work alongside passionate and dedicated colleagues in a supportive workplace that is concerned about employee well-being.
- Generous salary sacrifice benefits through Smart Salary (as outlined above).
- Flexible working arrangements.
- Payment of Practising Certificate for legal staff.
- Payment of relevant Professional memberships.
- Support for employees and their family through our inclusive Employee Assistance Program.
- Supported training and development opportunities in areas including working with vulnerable clients, cultural sensitivity and trauma informed practice.
- Access to a comprehensive in-house legal Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program.
- Contemporary workplace accommodation.
- Career development opportunities within the team and the organisation.
- Payment of employment screening checks.
- Access to Fitness Passport: a workplace health and fitness program that give you and your family access to wide choice of gyms and pools across South Australia.
Next Steps
To apply for this role, you will need to click on the Apply now button. Have your resume, preferably in a PDF version ready to be attached and a cover letter.
Should you require any further information please direct your query to Annmarie Lumsden, Chief Executive Officer on 08 8111 5843.
Please refer to the position description for more detail.
We welcome applications from everyone. We are an inclusive employer, and support diversity and inclusion by recognising our staff for their unique qualities, ideas, and insights.
Applications close: 14/06/2026 11:59 PM
Flexibility Statement
The South Australian public sector promotes diversity and flexible ways of working including part-time. Applicants are encouraged to discuss the flexible working arrangements for this role.
Chief Counsel
