Be the voice of justice for our communities' most marginalised peopleEnjoy comprehensive professional development programmes and career opportunitiesFocus on criminal defence - become an expert in your area of lawTe ahuatunga a te turanga/About the RoleWe are looking for a junior level lawyer who has completed (or is eligible to complete) duty lawyer training and has obtained or is close to obtaining PAL 1 approval, and who has a strong desire to develop their career in the specialist area of criminal advocacy.The Public Defence Service (PDS) is New Zealands largest criminal law practice, providing high quality legal advice and representation in a full range of criminal cases. Aimed at helping people access justice, the PDS promotes the values of respect, integrity, service and the delivery of excellent service to its clients.You will find challenge and satisfaction with a varied caseload, including trials and appearances. You will have expert and talented colleagues around who will mentor you and support your development to the next level of your career. The PDS is well known for its comprehensive professional development programme in criminal litigation and is considered an excellent training ground and full of opportunities for a successful legal career.Mo te tima/About our TeamAt Tahu o te Ture - the Ministry of Justice, we're committed to working together for a fair and safe Aotearoa.The successful candidate will be joining our team in our office in Albany. This is a small team of around 10 legal and support staff with clients at the North Shore District Court as well as the higher courts. As a small team we are particularly good at sharing knowledge and supporting one-another in our busy and genuinely interesting work environment.Joining the Ministry of Justice means you will become part of an inclusive organisation that values you and the communities we serve. It's our promise to ensure our workplace is one where our people feel healthy and safe, supported and able to be themselves at work. We value respect as the foundation for building a positive workplace culture and one where diversity is welcomed and celebrated.He pukenga tou/Skills and ExperienceTo be successful you must be passionate about criminal justice issues and be qualified to practice law in New Zealand. You will be developing an ability to build credibility with judges, peers and others in the legal community. As an important member of a close-knit team you will enjoy exchanging ideas and brainstorming - and providing support and light relief when required. You will have empathy and the ability to relate to a wide range of people. This is a challenging but truly satisfying job and our lawyers love what they do.We are looking for someone with:The ability to multi-task and work accurately and efficiently under pressureHigh attention to detail and accuracyAccurate and efficient touch-typing skills (minimum 60wpm with 95% accuracy at draft stage)Strong problem solving and decision-making capabilities and attributesStrong skills developing and managing relationships with senior level managersAbility to prioritise and manage work flows to meet deadlinesA high level of written and verbal communicationStrong customer-focusHigh personal flexibility, adaptability and responsiveness to changeAble to work both independently and as part of a teamTono mai/How to ApplyTo apply, click the Apply button below to be directed to our Careers Website. You can view a detailed position description here, as well as complete an online application form by attaching your CV and cover letter.Applications close on 2nd August 2020 and the salary range for this role is $60,092 - $77,766If you have any questions please contact **********
