Senior Lawyer

**Te whiwhinga mahi/The Opportunity**

We are looking for an experienced lawyer with a speciality in criminal advocacy to join our team in Hawkes Bay office.

You will have a caseload of varied criminal work - including high profile and challenging cases, High Court and Court of Appeal appearances. You will also be involved in training, mentoring and supervising junior PDS lawyers. Our work comes to us via Legal Aid and we make sure that you are supported by an experienced administrative team - meaning you can focus on doing what you do best.

**He pūkenga tou/Skills and Experience**

To be successful in this role, you must be passionate about criminal justice issues and:

- Have a PAL 3 approval level and be qualified to practice law in New Zealand
- Have proven credibility with judges, peers and others in the legal community
- Be comfortable as part of a team who supports and relies on one another
- Enjoy sharing legal expertise, exchanging ideas and brainstorming
- 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.

**Ko wai mātou/**Who we are**

The Public Defence Service (PDS) provides 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. In this role, you are the voice of some of the most marginalised people in the criminal justice system.

The PDS is part of the Ministry of Justice and the wider justice sector. The ministry provides centralised business services, infrastructure and support to the work of the PDS.

Joining Te Tāhū o te Ture means you will become part of an organisation that welcomes and supports people of all gender identities, ages, ethnicities, sexual orientations, disabilities and religions. 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 aha ngā painga o tēnei mahi mōu**/**Why you will enjoy working here**

As an employee of the PDS you will have access to a well-designed and embedded national training programme, professional development and opportunities to attend conferences, along with access to a professional supervision programme.
- There is so much more support and collegiality than anywhere else I have worked. You have so many experts around you to bounce ideas off. (Edith)_

**Benefits**:

- Flexible work options available
- Mobile phone and Laptop provided
- Exceptional training and development

**Utu ā-tau/**Salary**

The appointing salary for this role will be between $105,545 and $137,829 based on skills and experience.

**Tono mai/How to Apply