Principal Legal Officer

• Achieve justice and equity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
• Interim executive position, 6-month contract based in Sydney
• Lead legal strategy, governance and advocacy across NSW / ACT

The Organisation

Born out of a protest movement over 50 years ago, the Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT) Limited (ALS) is a fearless advocacy organisation, committed to achieving social justice and equity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, families and communities. The primary objective of the ALS is to deliver high-quality, culturally safe legal and support services for Aboriginal people in NSW and the ACT.


Benefits & Culture

Purpose Driven Impact: Join a dynamic organisation deeply committed to justice and equity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Your work will directly contribute to meaningful, systemic change.

Career with Purpose: Experience the rewarding challenge of applying your expertise within a not-for-profit setting, knowing your contributions aid social justice and support vital services for communities in need.

Generous Salary Package with Tax Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary with significant tax-effective packaging options that maximise your take-home pay, tailored for the charitable sector.

Work-Life Balance and Flexibility: Benefit from a flexible working environment with options for some hybrid / remote work and a central Redfern office.


The Role

This executive interim position reports to the CEO and is a key member of the Executive Leadership Team, guiding ALS’s legal direction by providing high-level legal advice, strategic leadership, and professional oversight across all ALS Legal Practices.

You’ll ensure the organisation delivers culturally strong, high-quality legal services while driving policy, governance, and sector influence. You will also:

• Lead and oversee all legal practices, ensuring consistent, ethical and culturally appropriate service delivery
• Drive policy development, law reform initiatives and strategic advocacy across State and Federal jurisdictions
• Build and strengthen relationships with governments, courts, agencies and key justice sector stakeholders
• Lead, mentor and develop senior legal teams while fostering cross-practice collaboration
• Oversee governance, compliance, legal risk, budget oversight, and responses to emerging legal issues

Skills Required

This interim position requires an experienced legal professional with a strong commitment to advancing justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. You’ll combine exceptional legal expertise with strategic insight, integrity, and a commitment to strengthening ALS’s influence across the justice sector.

You also bring:

• Senior legal qualifications, including Practice Management accreditation and an unrestricted NSW practising certificate
• Experience in criminal law, legal representation and executive-level legal advisory
• Strong knowledge of legal policy, law reform, governance and advocacy within the justice sector
• Exceptional leadership, people management, communication, negotiation and stakeholder engagement skills
• Cultural capability, genuine respect for the experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and understanding of community expectations and the role of ALS within the justice sector.

If you are interested in an executive interim position and motivated to use your legal expertise to make a lasting impact within a not-for-profit organisation, please submit your resume together with a cover letter responding to the skills required section above quoting ref 1464572. Alternatively, please call (02) 8243 0570 or email debbie.jardine@ngorecruitment.com

Please note there is no formal closing date for this role, if you are interested, we would encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

NGO Recruitment values equitable recruitment practices and is committed to representing candidates reflective of the diverse organisations and communities we work with. We welcome and encourage applications from all backgrounds, ages, and identities, and are happy to adjust our recruitment process to support accessibility needs. If you are interested in this position and have most of the skills or experience we are looking for, please go ahead and apply.