Through its staff, students, research, and experiential teaching, Sydney Law School is aware of the considerable pressure on lawyers who provide frontline legal assistance services.These lawyers have very little time to pause, reflect, research and refresh.

This has many consequences, one of which is that they are not able to further develop, or share widely, their intimate knowledge of marginalised communities, legal needs, issues of access to justice, and the practice of community law into considered research.

With the support of the Kim Santow Law and Social Justice Fund, Sydney Law School offers frontline legal assistance lawyers an opportunity to be appointed as Social Justice Practitioner-in-Residence (SJPR). The residency provides dedicated time and space for practitioners to reflect critically on their work, develop new insights, explore opportunities for law reform and system improvement, undertake research, and share their expertise with students, academics, and the broader legal community.

During their residency, the SJPR will spend between six and twelve weeks (30 – 60 workdays) physically in the Law School, reflecting on their work, conducting research, and in discussion with Law School staff and students, with support and guidance from legal academics with relevant knowledge.

The SJPR will contribute to the Law School community during their residency by:

1. Producing a paper which interrogates or reflects on a social justice issue within their experience or expertise, presenting to staff and students at the end of residency with the possibility of broader dissemination or publication; and
2. Hosting an informal workshop with Sydney Law School research students with similar interests or expertise.

The residency is not available remotely but is available on the same days and hours as the SJPR’s principal employment arrangements. Flexible working arrangements, including work-from-home days can be accommodated.

You are invited to apply if you are a legal practitioner who is employed in non-government legal assistance services (Family Advocacy and Support Services; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services; Community Legal Centres; Specialist domestic violence services and health justice partnerships; Family Relationship Centres; and Family Violence Prevention Legal Services) or in the provision of legal assistance services through the broader not-for-profit sector.

You are welcome to apply if you have been employed in non-government legal assistance services but are not in current or stable employment. You must have completed a law degree and have at least one year’s post-admission experience in Australia.

Note: Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

The SJPR will receive their usual salary for the period of secondment, and their employer will be reimbursed in accordance with the secondment arrangement. Alternative remuneration arrangements will be made for an SJPR who is not in current or stable employment.

The SJPR will have access to the resources of the university, including desk space, library resources, academic connections, law school classes, seminars and conferences.

To express your interest, you must submit:

•  A statement of purpose (max. 500 words) which:
  • Briefly describes your existing practice;
  • Outlines a research or reflection proposal;
  • Explains how the residence will advance your social justice work, or an understanding of an issue of social justice; and
  • States the preferred period (between six and 12 weeks) and preferred timing in 2027. Please advise if you would like to complete your residence in one block or part-time over a longer period;
• Your CV including any publications and research experience; and
• If your research plan is to conduct human research, such as interviews, a 1 page ethics statement that explains whether the risk is high or low and mitigation strategies. More information can be found in the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research. This does not need to be exhaustive but should demonstrate consideration of potential ethical issues and any ethics approval requirements.

A short list of interviewees will be selected by a panel from the Law School’s Social Justice Advisory Group, having regard to:

1. The novelty of the proposal and its potential to advance social justice;
2. Alignment of the proposal with the applicant’s existing or previous practice; and
3. The apparent feasibility of achieving the proposed outcome.

Interviews will be conducted in late 2026 and the successful applicant will be chosen before the end of the year. The SJPR will commence their full-time residency in February 2027 or by negotiation.

Expressions of interest, and any questions, should be addressed to Dr Ben Mostyn: benjamin.mostyn@sydney.edu.au by 5.00 pm Sunday 1 November.