Court Officers

Court Officers are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people employed by the Aboriginal Legal Service of WA Ltd (ALSWA) to provide a vital service to our clients.

One of the main duties of an ALSWA Court Officer is to represent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in court.

Court Officers work in the adult courts and in Children’s Courts, across WA. A Court Officer’s authority to appear in court comes from a certificate granted under Section 48 of the Aboriginal Affairs Planning Authority Act 1972 (WA). Court Officers represent clients in court for remands, pleas of guilty, not guilty and bail applications. Court Officers also assist in ensuring strong and successful communication between ALSWA lawyers and clients.

There are Court Officers based in Perth and ALSWA’s regional offices. Most Court Officers are from local communities. They therefore have a full understanding of local issues, protocols and understand local languages.

Court Officers do not need any formal qualifications, because intensive in-house training and supervision is provided by ALSWA. This training includes legal procedures, substantive law and advocacy. Continuing legal education is provided throughout a Court Officer’s employment.

Being a Court Officer is a unique career path. There are several Court Officers from ALSWA who have gone on to study law and have qualified as lawyers. There are also ALSWA employees who have worked as Court Officers in their communities for over thirty years!

ALSWA’s Court Officers provide a vital service in Western Australia. Without Court Officers, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples living in many regional and remote areas in Western Australia would have reduced access to a legal service, and within the metropolitan area ALSWA’s capacity to service Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples would also be affected.

If you’d like more information about becoming a court officer, contact ALSWA’s Human Resources Unit on 08 9265 6666 or email HR@als.org.au.