• Join a team of women passionate about gender equity and equality, social justice, and the empowerment of women.
• Enjoy a competitive salary, excellent training, and professional development opportunities.
• Rent Subsidy & Relocation assistance is available to help make your new home in Alice Springs, NT.

About Central Australian Women’s Legal Service (CAWLS)

Central Australian Women’s Legal Service (CAWLS) is a dynamic Community Legal Centre catering to women in Central Australia and the Barkly Region, with offices in Alice Springs and Tennant Creek. Specialising in assisting women affected by Domestic and Family Violence, CAWLS adopts a holistic and culturally safe approach, offering services such as law reform, legal representation, client support, financial counselling, and community legal education.

Join a supportive legal team of multicultural women from all across Australia who are dedicated to the mission of CAWLS to enable, educate, and empower women in navigating the legal system, and ensure the respect and consideration of women's rights.

About the Opportunity

Central Australian Women’s Legal Service (CAWLS) is looking for a full-time Civil Lawyer/Solicitor based in Alice Springs, NT.

This role provides legal advice, representation, and holistic support to CAWLS clients across a range of civil law matters, reporting to the Senior Management Team and contributing to the overall success of the service.

More specifically, your responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Delivering legal advice, representation, and referrals across various civil law areas such as family law, domestic violence, tenancy, and employment
• Representing clients in courts and tribunals and participating in duty lawyer services
• Collaborating with a multidisciplinary team to provide wraparound support for clients
• Planning and delivering community legal education resources and presentations
• Building and maintaining networks with community organisations to enhance service delivery
• Engaging in policy and law reform initiatives to advocate for clients' needs
• Managing legal files and ensuring compliance with administrative systems and reporting requirements
• Participating in professional development, supervision, and team meetings

Why Female-Identifying?

Our work at CAWLS is deeply rooted in addressing issues specifically affecting women, and your role will directly involve empowering women and girls in legal matters. This requirement is consistent with the exemptions under the Australian Sex Discrimination Act, where gender can be a genuine occupational qualification, particularly for roles involving empowerment and support of a specific gender (Sections 30 to 43). Additionally, this position aligns with the Act's provisions for 'special measures,' which support affirmative action for women in employment and employment advertising as part of legitimate affirmative action programs​.

About You

To qualify, you will need to be eligible to hold a Practising Certificate in the Northern Territory and have the capacity to provide high-quality legal advice and casework in areas relevant to CAWLS' practice.

A minimum of 2 years of post-admission experience in an Australian legal practice will also be essential.

Additionally, the following skills and background will be highly valued:

• Experience working with people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) / First Nations backgrounds
• Experience and knowledge of general civil law matters, particularly domestic and family violence
• Previous experience working in a Community Legal Centre and familiarity with CLASS database
• Demonstrated understanding of legal, economic, and social issues affecting women in Central Australia and the Barkly regions

As our ideal candidate, you will possess strong teamwork and independent work skills, well-developed time management skills, and a commitment to social justice and equality. You will have excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to simplify legal jargon, and a personal commitment to reflection and self-care to build resilience and minimise the impact of vicarious trauma.

This is a vital role for a passionate and dedicated lawyer who wants to make a significant impact on the lives of women and children, helping them live with dignity and respect, free from all forms of violence and abuse.

Please note: You must also hold, or be able to obtain, a current NT Driver’s Licence, NT Ochre Card, and pass a National Police Check.

About the Benefits

You will receive a competitive base salary plus superannuation (commensurate with skills and experience), along with a great host of benefits, including:

• Relocation assistance and support provided to make Alice Springs your new home
• Remote and Travel Allowances
• Six weeks annual leave + additional 12 days personal leave
• Salary Sacrificing options
• A supportive work environment with plenty of on-the-job training
• Paid professional development and upskilling opportunities
• High priority focus on employee wellbeing
• Team bonding events and great company spirit and culture
• Mentorship and training programmes

Ready to Apply?

This is a unique and highly rewarding opportunity to use your skills to support the women in Central Australia. You'll be able to see the direct impact your work has on clients and the remote communities that CAWLS supports.

The position is subject to satisfactory completion of a 6-month probationary period.

If you're looking for the chance to bring your skills to a passionate not-for-profit organisation, that's supporting the women who need it most, don't wait - Apply Now!