Careers at the Law Society

Work with us!

The ACT Law Society is the peak body for legal practitioners in the ACT. The Society represents, advances, and defends the interests of an independent legal profession in the ACT. We also protect the public interest in the ACT system of justice through efficient regulation of the profession.

We are a small, dedicated, and supportive team of staff working with more than 3000 members across all parts of the legal profession in the ACT. The Society advocates for the profession with key stakeholders and provides a range of services for members, including providing information resources and guidance, and delivering a range of continuing professional development and networking activities throughout the year.

Staff benefits include a 35-hour full time work week, opportunities for further training, an employee assistance program for confidential counselling support, free annual flu vaccinations, and additional paid leave days between Christmas and New Year and two additional wellbeing days per year.

Internal positions vacant

  • Canberra, ACT
  • Full-time (35 hours) or part-time/school hours
  • Competitive salary

About us

The ACT Law Society is the peak body for solicitors in the ACT. We’re proud of our role in maintaining high standards of legal practice and championing good law for the ACT community. The Society advocates on behalf of the profession and provides a range of services to members including continuing professional development, information resources and guidance, and networking activities. The Society also has important regulatory responsibilities, including licensing legal practitioners in the ACT and investigating the conduct of practitioners and the affairs of law practices in relation to application of trust money.

About the role

Reporting to the Regulatory Services Manager, the role will contribute to the Society’s regulatory functions in relation to legal practitioner compliance with trust account obligations. The role will also assist the Society investigate the affairs of law practices to detect when trust money has been improperly applied, including dishonest defaults. Educating law practices about legislative trust accounting requirements and good trust accounting practices is a key responsibility of this role. This is a newly created role to support the growth in our regulatory team. This position is located in Canberra and available on either a full or part time basis.

Overview of key responsibilities

  • Administer a program to monitor compliance of law practices with legislative trust accounting provisions and prepare relevant reports
  • Review and respond to enquiries from law practices regarding legislative requirements for trust accounts
  • Provide technical support to team members responding to trust account enquiries
  • Investigate the affairs of law practices to assess compliance and detect when trust money has been improperly dealt with
  • Support legal conduct investigations in relation to potential trust account issues
  • Develop and maintain guidance on trust account requirements for practitioners
  • Prepare and deliver training on trust account requirements and good trust accounting practices
  • Support appointments of external intervenors and discharge functions as Supervisor of a law practice trust account as required
  • Ensure that quality, timely and customer-focused services are provided to the profession

Skills and experience

  • Tertiary qualifications in Accounting, Business or equivalent which provides immediate eligibility for CPA or CA certification
  • Sound knowledge of contemporary accounting and financial auditing practices and principles
  • Ability to interpret and apply the provisions of legislation applicable to the operations of law practice trust accounts
  • Ability to examine legal accounting records and client files to ascertain whether client funds have been properly dealt with
  • High level written and oral communication skills with the ability to prepare complex reports and recommendations
  • Ability to collect, analyse and evaluate evidential information
  • Excellent problem solving and analytical skills
  • Ability to prepare and deliver training to internal and external parties
  • Desirable: Previous experience as an investigator/compliance officer and knowledge/understanding of the legal services sector

Benefits:

  • Flexibility: Our staff enjoy a 35-hour full time work week, as well as access to a mix of part-time, compressed hours, flexible start/finish time, and work from home arrangements that support the business achieve our goals while also supporting work/life balance
  • Wellbeing: Staff have access to additional leave days between Christmas and New Year as well as two wellbeing days each year. You also have access to our EAP and free annual flu shots.
  • Purpose: Contribute to our important role in upholding standards of legal practice in the ACT for the protection of the public.

View the Position Description for this role.

To apply for the position please email a 2-page cover letter addressing how your interest, skills and experience relate to the requirements for the role, together with a current CV to mail@actlawsociety.asn.au by Friday 11 October 2024.

Enquiries about the role can be made via the same email.

 

As a service to our members, we also maintain a positions vacant page for legal roles available in the ACT region.