Paralegal

We don't follow trends. We start them. We drive change and deliver more to make a tangible difference for our clients and communities.

That's our commitment. This is your opportunity.

A unique opportunity has become available for an experienced Paralegal to join our Australian Responsible Business team. This role will ideally be based in our Melbourne office, however we will consider suitable applicants from Sydney or Brisbane. 
The Pro Bono Paralegal will support the Australian Responsible Business team in managing, coordinating and executing the firm's Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), sustainability and pro bono strategy. You will work closely with the Australian Pro Bono Director and Australian Pro Bono Solicitor.    

DLA Piper's Responsible Business team values lived experience expertise and aims to amplify voices of rightsholders in its work. The ideal candidate will have lived experience of being a refugee, stateless person or forcibly displaced person to provide invaluable input into the design, delivery and evaluation of our forcible displacement programs. 

Main duties and responsibilities

The Pro Bono Paralegal will be responsible for tasks such as (but not limited to):

• Legal research and drafting basic court documents
• Coordinating legal awareness programs with marginalised communities
• Coordinating pro bono clinic programs
• Coordinating legal research projects
• Preparation of content for internal communications and commercial pitches
• Internal and external reporting and basic data analysis
• Onboarding of pro bono clients including preparation of engagement letters
• Supporting with local administrative tasks

About you

To be successful in this role, you will have 

• A legal background (Australian or overseas), gained through work or study 
• A demonstrated commitment to social justice or human rights issues
• Proven time management and organisational skills
• Excellent communication skills (both written and oral)
• Strong attention to detail 
• Ability to work independently, but also to collaborate with team members 
• Proficiency in MS suite

About us

DLA Piper is a global law firm with lawyers and business service professionals located in more than 40 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific. Our global reach ensures that we can help businesses with their legal needs anywhere in the world. We strive to be the leading global business law firm by delivering quality, service excellence and value to our clients and offering practical and innovative legal solutions to help them succeed. Our clients range from multinational, Global 1000, and Fortune 500 enterprises to emerging companies developing industry-leading technologies, as well as government and public sector bodies.

Our values

In everything we do connected with our People, our Clients and our Communities, we live by these values:

• Be Supportive – we are compassionate and inclusive, valuing diversity and acting thoughtfully
• Be Collaborative - we are proactive, passionate team players investing in our relationships
• Be Bold - we are fearless and inquisitive, challenging ourselves to think big and find creative new solutions
• Be Exceptional - we are strategic and driven, exceeding standards and expectations

Diversity and inclusion

At DLA Piper, diversity and inclusion underpins how we live our values and everything we do. We believe that everyone has a voice, and that everyone’s voice counts. We know that the rich diversity across our firm makes us stronger, more innovative and creative, which helps us to better serve our clients and communities. We are committed to providing an inclusive working environment and culture across our global firm, where everyone can bring their authentic self to work.

Diversity of perspective, thought, background and culture combine to make us the leading global law firm; that’s why we actively seek to build balanced teams. We welcome the unique contribution that you will bring to our firm and actively encourage applications from all talented people – however your talent is packaged, whatever your background or circumstance and regardless of how you identify.

Hybrid working

We recognise that people have responsibilities and interests outside of their career and that as a business, we all benefit from working flexibly. That's why we are open to discussing with candidates the different ways in which we are able to support requests for agile working arrangements.

Pre-engagement screening

In the event that we make an offer to you, and where local legislation permits and where relevant, we will conduct pre-engagement screening checks that may include but are not limited to your professional and academic qualifications, your eligibility to work in the relevant jurisdiction, any criminal records, your financial stability and work-related references.

Apply now