Principal Solicitor

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 | [email protected] | [0439 936 199](tel:0439 936 199) for a confidential discussion and or a copy of the position description and selection criteria.