• Passionate about social justice and human rights? We want to hear from you!
• Provide vital Legal Services to vulnerable community members and make a real difference in the lives of our clients
• Opportunity available in our Townsville office

Our Story

North Queensland Women’s Legal Service is a community-based legal service developed and operated by women for women. Since our inception in 1996, we have sought to enhance women’s access to justice and promote change within the justice system informed by women’s experiences.

Our clients are women. They are usually mums (and primary carers) and have limited access to financial resources. All too often, they are victims of domestic violence. We see an increased demand for our help each year, especially from women in rural and regional areas.

As the demand for our help increases, so does our team of support staff wanting to use their expertise to make a real difference in the lives of women and their children. In recognition of this, the NQWLS has recently received funding to meet this demand in new and innovative ways.

As such, we now have an exciting opportunity for a Paralegal to join our team in Townsville. Make a difference in the lives of vulnerable women today - apply now!

How You’ll Make a Difference

As our next paralegal, you will work under the direction of the Deputy Principal Solicitor and alongside the wider legal team to provide support to clients who are experiencing domestic and family violence.

You will enjoy varied and rewarding work, ranging from clerical and administrative duties, to supporting community engagement and education initiatives that will strengthen our network.

Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Providing high-quality legal services from a holistic, trauma-informed practice framework;
• Ensuring file systems and other records are up-to-date and maintained in accordance with internal procedures;
• Responding to enquiries in a timely manner; and
• Providing services at court, outreach clinics, and other locations as required

What You’ll Bring to the Team

To be considered for this role, you should have prior demonstrated experience in a similar role where you provided trauma-informed legal services, ideally in the areas of family law and/or domestic violence.

The nature of our work means that the majority of our clientele are women experiencing disadvantage, so your ability to apply an intersectional lens to your work will be critical to your ongoing success with North Queensland Women’s Legal Service.

Your highly developed communication and interpersonal skills will see you in good stead to engage with a wide range of clients and stakeholders, and your ability to build rapport in a warm and empathetic manner will ensure our diverse range of clients feel supported through every stage of their journey with our organisation.

Other requirements for the role include:

• Current Class C Queensland Driver’s License
• Willingness to undergo a criminal history check

Although not essential, a Certificate IV in Legal Services (or similar) will be highly regarded.

North Queensland Women’s Legal Service is committed to employing a workforce that reflects the diversity of our clients and the communities we serve. Candidates who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, as members of the LGBTQIA+ community, or who come from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

The Benefits

In addition to a competitive base salary, the successful candidate will enjoy the opportunity to join a dedicated and tight-knit team of like-minded professionals who are passionate about social justice and advancing human rights.

Additional benefits include:

• Access to a company vehicle for work-related travel
• 17.5% leave loading
• 3 days ex-gratia leave during Christmas and New Year period
• Access to our Employee Assistance Program
• Ongoing opportunities for professional development: We're all about promoting internally and supporting our staff to broaden their horizons. Join us as a Paralegal today and progress towards a Solicitor position while you study!

Ready to Apply?

If you’re passionate about social justice and want to put your Paralegal skills to use in an organisation that aligns with your values, we want to hear from you - apply now!