Advocate Attorney, Apprentice Advocate, Lawyer

The Apprentice Advocate will join the Chambers as a highly motivated and dedicated junior legal professional aiming to develop a long-term career within the firm. This is a 6-month apprenticeship program, after which the Apprentice Advocate may transition to a 1-year Junior Advocate contract.

Key Responsibilities

1. Court & Station Visits

• Visits to police stations, prisons, and court appearances.

• Provide immediate legal assistance and participate in client interviews at varying hours, including emergency call-outs.

2. Case Preparation & Research

• Conduct legal research for criminal, civil, family, probate, conveyancing, and other matters.

• Collaborate with colleagues to prepare preliminary case briefs, cross-examination questions, and trial strategies.

3. Client Interaction

• Serve as a secondary point of contact for clients to provide updates, gather information, and ensure proactive communication.

• Prepare, review, and explain various agreements.

4. Document Drafting & Filing

• Draft affidavits, letters, applications, and other legal documents.

• Learn and follow the firm’s protocol for document management, including scanning, filing, naming conventions, and digital archiving.

5. Administrative & Office Support

• Support the staff with day-to-day administrative tasks, including scheduling, scanning receipts, and updating the shared calendar.

6. Professional Development

• Attend weekly and monthly staff meetings, as well as Friday training sessions.

• Seek continuous feedback and mentorship from Partners and Senior Advocates to achieve 75% self-sufficiency within 3 months.

Required Qualifications & Attributes

1. Legal Standing:

• Called to the Bar or eligible to practice law.

• Ideally has between 0–3 years of post-qualification experience (or close to admission).

2. Personal Requirements (as per firm policy):

• Minimum age of 25.

• Must have a valid driver’s license.

3. Professional & Personal Skills:

• Strong Advocacy & Communication: Comfortable speaking in court and to varied audiences and for demanding or sensitive cases.

• Flexibility & On-Call Availability: Willing to handle serious offences without reservations.

• Confidentiality & Loyalty: Understanding of client-attorney privilege and strict adherence to ethical boundaries.

• Time Management: Able to multitask and meet strict deadlines.

• Eager to Learn: Proactive approach to taking on responsibility and committed to continuous professional growth.

• Team Player: Maintains respectful collaboration with all levels of staff and fosters a positive working environment.

• Extracurricular Interests: Maintains at least one personal hobby or pursuit outside of work, reflecting personal balance.

Opportunities & Growth

• 6-month Apprenticeship: Performance-based transition to a Junior Advocate role or other upward movement.

• Mentoring & Training: Direct mentorship from Partners and Senior Advocates with decades of combined legal experience.

• Broad Exposure: Hands-on involvement in criminal, civil, probate, conveyancing, and family law matters.

• Financial Incentives: Clear remuneration structure.