Solicitor - Litigation

Join a high performing legal team that embraces challenges, tackles complex issues, and enjoys working together in a time of innovation and evolution
- Bring your legal expertise and relationship building skills to our growing litigation team and work on a wide range of litigation matters involving Ara Poutama Aotearoa - Department of Corrections
- Advise our large operational organisation with a unique role in New Zealand's public life, to make good decisions and learn from its challenges

**Mo te tunga | About the role**

The Legal Services Unit works to identify and manage legal risks so that Ara Poutama can achieve its goals to improve public safety, reduce reoffending and reduce overrepresentation of Maori. United by a strong set of values, we are reflective, insightful and proud to work in the justice system. We are always thinking about how we can make improvements to the way we work, how we support our colleagues and make more impact in our organisation.

Solicitors in our litigation team manage legal claims and proceedings, and we aim to ensure that we identify opportunities to strengthen process and decision making along the way.

This is a unique opportunity to work in a busy team on a wide range of litigation matters, including judicial review, civil claims coronial inquests, and proceedings before Tribunals and Courts. You will also advise on post detention orders and the exercise of public powers with significant impact on the people we manage, and community safety. The work is contributing directly to the Department's core outcomes.

If you are looking for varied, challenging, and meaningful work with real world impact, and the chance to be part of a growing and collaborative legal team, we would love to hear from you. We are currently recruiting Solicitor roles across all levels of experience in our litigation team.

**Nga pukenga me nga wheako | Skills and experience**
- Excellent communication and relationship skills.
- Openness to feedback, learning and improvement.
- Experience assisting with or managing legal files, including research, drafting, and liaising with counsel or clients.
- Strong legal research and writing skills, with the ability to draft clear, well-reasoned advice and documents.
- Experience managing competing priorities and meeting deadlines in a professional setting.
- Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues, external counsel, and operational staff.
- Awareness of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its relevance to public sector legal work.

**Nga painga | The benefits**

The midpoint of the salary range is $91,234 per annum and the full range (85%-120%) is $77,549 - $109,481 per annum. Appointment and remuneration will reflect skills and experience relevant to the role.

**Mo matou | About us**

Join Ara Poutama Aotearoa - Department of Corrections, where your work will contribute to improving public safety, reducing re-offending, and address the overrepresentation of Maori in correctional facilities. As a values-led organisation, we use the principles of rangatira (leadership), manaaki (respect), wairua (spirituality), kaitiaki (guardianship), and whanau (relationships) to guide our work and achieve the goals of our Hokai Rangi strategy.

We value inclusion and diversity in our workforce, and as a Public Service organisation we are committed to building a workforce that reflects the public we serve. We strive to make our recruitment process fair, and we encourage you to discuss reasonable accommodations with us if required.

When applying, submit a tailored **CV and a cover letter** describing your motivation for joining the department highlighting relevant skills and experience and the alignment to our work.

**Applications close on: Sunday 31**st** August