Lawyer to join our team
Central Desert is seeking an admitted lawyer with experience (ideally 2+ years PQE) who is looking for a unique and busy role in a supportive and passionate legal team.
This role will involve assisting some very remote desert clients with some very interesting and novel native title matters, including instructing counsel in court matters, corporate governance and major land access negotiations. A great opportunity to bring your skills to this great team.
The legal team is collegiate, supportive, energetic and hardworking, with a vision to achieving the best possible outcomes for our clients, to enhance the capacity of the PBCs to take advantage of the opportunities of native title and to drive legal developments in the sector.
We are seeking applications to join our team to provide legal advice to PBCs in relation to general native title matters, heritage, mining matters, land tenure and acquisition, compensation claims, corporate governance matters.
The position is based in our East Perth office, and involves travel to regional and remote Western Australia allowing the opportunity to see parts of outback Australia and meet some of its many characters.
Central Desert is a fast paced, value driven organisation doing rewarding and important work for its clients. If you are interested in working in the not-for-profit sector and making a difference in the lives of Indigenous Western Australians, then this could be the perfect fit.
Qualifications, Skills, Knowledge and Experience:
1. Appropriate legal qualifications.
2. An understanding of relevant jurisdictions in one or more of the following areas of law: native title, litigation, property, corporate, trusts or resources.
3. Aptitude in relating to and to receiving instructions from Aboriginal People.
4. Proven ability to prepare complex work with excellent attention to detail.
5. Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
6. Willingness to work in multi-disciplinary teams.
7. High-level time management and organisational skills.
8. Competence in the use of computers and word processing packages.
9. Willingness and ability to travel to remote locations.
10. Current driver’s licence.
In addition to a rewarding and dynamic position, Central Desert can offer benefits such as:
- A flexible and supportive work environment, with working from home options available
- Enjoy the benefits of salary packaging with the up to $15,900 per annum tax free
- A 3% salary increase from July 2026
- Additional paid leave between Christmas and New Years
- One additional annual Wellness Leave Day
- Leave loading of 17.5%
- Long Service Leave available pro rata after five years of continuous service
- Paid parental leave, available after 12 months of service
- Free onsite parking, as well as being in close proximity to public transport
The salary offered is up to $124,755 per annum, plus superannuation depending on years of post-admission experience.
Interested?
For a detailed Duty Statement can be requested by emailing
To apply
1. Complete a detailed cover letter clearly addressing the criteria above (a maximum of three pages); and
2. Submit your cover letter with your resume in PDF format to
Before an offer of employment can be made, Central Desert requires a National Police Clearance, no older than 6 months and evidence of an unrestricted manual driver’s license.
Please note: You are advised to submit your application as soon as possible as we reserve the right to close this vacancy early if a suitable candidate is found. Only suitable candidates will be considered and contacted if short listed immediately.
Unsolicited resumes and contact from recruitment agencies will not be accepted.