• $140-$155K pa base remuneration + generous salary packaging + super + 5 weeks’ paid leave

• Genuine commitment to a flexible working environment that supports a diverse workforce

• Well-established, sector leading, award winning service with long-term, secure funding

The Role

You will lead and drive the Sexual Violence Legal Service, managing a multi-disciplinary team to deliver groundbreaking legal advice and representation to people subjected to sexual violence. You will be working in close collaboration with the executive leadership team to develop and deliver on strategy and manage risk and compliance.

You will

• Provide strategic leadership of the Sexual Violence Legal Service, including leading the delivery of legal services and collaboration with Victim Advocates in the team

• Develop and manage strong relationships with external stakeholders within the criminal justice institutions and frontline services agencies

• Supervise, coach and mentor your team to provide expert legal advice

• Lead law reform, public interest and advocacy work

• Provide high quality, trauma-informed legal advice, casework and representation to clients, including representation in ACT courts

• Act as a spokesperson and represent the Centre in local and national law reform forums

Skills Required

We are looking for someone who has a vision for improving criminal justice and other responses to sexual violence to build safety, respect, choice and empowerment for people subjected to sexual violence and the ability to lead and mature an important service, demonstrating the impact of multi-disciplinary support to emerging services.

You will also need to bring

• A minimum of five years’ post-admission experience in criminal law practice and eligibility to hold an ACT Unrestricted Practicing Certificate

• Experience leading legal service delivery, including active risk management

• Experience supervising legal practitioners and overseeing complex casework

• High level communication and stakeholder relations skills

• Strong systems thinking including the ability to analyse existing laws and policies and identify gaps and reforms to better protect the rights and needs of people subjected to sexual violence

• Commitment to trauma-informed legal practice, reflection and self-care practices

About the Centre

The Women’s Legal Centre ACT is an innovative, specialist community legal centre providing crucial legal and social support services to women, trans and gender diverse people in Canberra and committed to our vision to keep women safe, strong and in control of their lives.

The Sexual Violence Legal Service is a nation leading service, delivered in partnership with Victim Support ACT. It delivers legal assistance to people subjected to violence within a multi-disciplinary service model, with a focus on people engaged in the criminal justice processes. Lawyers in the service work together with Victim Support Advocates to provide integrated and trauma-informed support to clients.

Benefits & Culture

• $140-$155K pa base remuneration + generous salary packaging + super + 5 weeks’ paid leave

• Genuine commitment to a flexible working environment that supports a diverse workforce

• Well-established, sector leading, award winning service with long-term, secure funding

next steps

Click Apply Now to submit your application.

The Position Description is attached below and can be found on WLC website SVLS Principal Solicitor - Women’s Legal Centre.

Contact for more information:

Carla Stocks, Director of Legal Service 02 6257 4377 or cstocks@wlc.org.au using the subject line: Principal Solicitor - Sexual Violence Legal Service enquiry via EthicalJobs.

The Centre highly values lived experience of intersectionality and welcomes applications from women from migrant and refugee women and women of colour and women with other relevant lived experience.