Senior Solicitor - Regional, Rural & Remote Team

Senior Solicitor RRR Opportunity

Women’s Legal Service Queensland (WLSQ) provides high quality legal and social support services to women, specialising in the areas of family law, domestic violence, child protection, financial abuse legal protection and sexual assault through our counselling notes protect program.  WLSQ is committed to the creation of a society in which every woman: 

Is safe from violence; 

Is able to tell her story, have it heard and respected; and 

Receives a fair and just outcome from legal and social welfare systems. 

The Senior Solicitor role will sit within the multidisciplinary Regional, Rural and Remote (RRR) Team providing legal and social support services to women in identified target communities. WLSQ is looking to expand our reach into regional, rural and remote regions of Queensland in recognition of the unique vulnerabilities women in these communities experience, the scarcity of services and the distance women must travel to access domestic and family violence services. The RRR Outreach Program is a pilot project and will include a solicitor, social worker, financial counsellor and community legal education officer who will work collaboratively to provide integrated and holistic services that address a range of legal, financial, welfare and safety needs for women impacted by domestic and family violence in RRR areas.

The RRR team will travel on a rotating basis to high-need RRR regions across Queensland to deliver legal and social support advice clinics. The RRR team will also deliver community education workshops for community service providers (including police and key referral agencies) to increase their knowledge and understanding of domestic and family violence and the support available to women. The team will be responsible for providing face to face and phone appointments in relation to legal and financial assistance, safety planning, practical welfare advice and case work management where appropriate.

About This Role

Key Responsibilities:

1. Undertaking the delivery of WLSQ legal services at outreach clinics in RRR priority communities under the supervision of the Legal Practice Director including:

• Providing legal advice in the areas of family law, domestic violence and child safety matters to clients including at outreach clinics in RRR priority communities.  
• Providing services to women through a trauma informed practice framework. 
• Providing legal services in accordance with WLSQ policy and practice according to the National Association of Community Legal Centres Australia (CLCA) Risk Management Guide.  
• Providing duty lawyer services for domestic violence matters in designated Magistrates Courts as required. 
• Working collaboratively with RRR staff to provide support to vulnerable women experiencing domestic violence in RRR communities including:
• Providing holistic services to clients in the RRR priority areas taking into account the legal and social needs of the client including supporting her to obtain safety from domestic violence.

2. Developing and maintaining stakeholder engagement with key agencies who work with priority access groups and make referrals where services are more appropriately provided or should be supplemented through accessing another service.

• Working collaboratively with WLSQ social workers and other non-legal staff.
• Ensuring risk assessment and safety considerations are routinely and comprehensively addressed in legal work undertaken providing support, information and advice to clients experiencing domestic violence. 
• Fostering a collaborative team culture for staff and volunteers which is professional, productive, supportive and consistent with the WLSQ values and feminist principles.
• Travel to RRR outreach locations will be required at a minimum of one week every month to provide legal advice and assistance at outreach clinics; Travel between our offices at Annerley, Caboolture, Southport, Ipswich, Brisbane CBD may also be required.
• Work outside of office hours, including weekends will be required from time to time.
• Any other tasks as requested by the Practice Director’s.

3. Development and delivery of community legal education for employees, volunteers and external stakeholders including in RRR priority communities:

• Being eligible to act as a Nominated Person according to the Risk Management Guide.
• Contributing to law reform activities of WLSQ as required. 

4. Support the Practice Director to undertake the following day to day functions for the team in accordance with WLSQ policy:

• Coordinating workflow and workloads to ensure the smooth running of the team, appropriate utilisation of people and monitoring performance against targets.
• Overseeing the provision of quality legal and non-legal work, including conducting file reviews and quality audits, facilitating case management meetings and investigating client complaints.
• Participating in the recruitment, selection, induction and training of solicitors and legal support staff in consultation with the Practice Director may also be required.

Skills and Capabilities:

1. Eligibility to hold an Unrestricted Solicitor’s Practicing Certificate and a minimum of 3 years’ post admission experience in family law and domestic violence, is a requirement.
2. Experience in child safety matters and child support is desirable.
3. Accreditation as a domestic violence duty lawyer is highly desirable.
4. High level of computer literacy including use of Microsoft Office.
5. High level of knowledge about referrals both legal and non-legal that are appropriate for women who experience domestic violence and require assistance with family law matters.
6. Ability to communicate effectively and work sensitively with clients from diverse backgrounds including vulnerable clients:

• Who may have experienced domestic violence and/or trauma.
• With a disability.
• From culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds; and/or

• From Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander backgrounds

7.Well-developed relationship management and interpersonal communication skills including the ability to engage with a range of audiences and stakeholders internal and external to WLSQ with the ability to work collaboratively in a multi-disciplinary environment.

8. Sound knowledge and understanding of legal and social issues affecting women, particularly the gendered nature of domestic violence.

9.Ability to develop and provide community legal education activities where relevant to community agencies and other stakeholders.

10.Ability to work under pressure, to set work priorities and to meet competing and tight deadlines.

11. Demonstrated commitment to the mission and values of the WLSQ and an ability to work within a feminist framework.

12.Being a woman is a genuine occupational requirement for this position (section 25 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 (Qld))

MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS:

• This role requires the incumbent to have a clear National Police Check.
• Eligibility to hold an Unrestricted Solicitor’s Practicing Certificate.
• This role also requires the incumbent to hold a current Open Queensland Driver’s Licence.

REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS

In addition to having a meaningful and rewarding career, you will receive:

An attractive remuneration package from $102,554 to $107,079 plus super.

Generous leave entitlements with additional paid leave over Christmas and New Year.

Attractive salary sacrifices options.

APPLY NOW!

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are encouraged to apply for this position.

To apply for this position, click on 'apply' and upload a copy of your cover letter and CV.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.