NEW POSITION

This a unique opportunity to be involved in establishing a new legal program for working women. The Working Women’s Centre NSW will form part of a national network of Working Women’s Centres that have been funded in each state and territory to deliver employment law legal services to women.

We are seeking a dedicated senior solicitor who is passionate about our mission to advance gender equality. You will have expertise in the law and legal processes in areas of work relevant to the work of the Working Women’s Centre (workplace rights, underpaid entitlements, dismissals, discrimination and sexual harassment) including managing and litigating complex cases and an understanding of the work of WLS NSW more generally (in domestic, family and sexual violence). If you share our commitment to driving meaningful change and empowering women, we invite you to join us in the fight for women’s safety and economic security.

THE ROLE

You will provide high-quality, culturally safe, trauma-informed, and holistic legal services to women across NSW with workplace issues, focusing on workplace rights, underpaid entitlements, dismissals and discrimination and sexual harassment. In this role, you will manage strategic casework files and provide counsel on litigation, collaborating closely with the team at Women’s Legal as well as private solicitors and barristers offering pro bono support. Beyond casework, you will have the opportunity to shape law and policy reform, develop and deliver training to community workers, and create legal education materials to support working women and the broader community.

ABOUT US

Women's Legal Service (WLS NSW) advocates for an end to gender-based violence and for gender equality in Australia. As a state-wide specialist women’s legal service, we assist women across NSW to obtain legal advice and representation from our trauma informed, holistic legal practice to address women’s safety and economic security.

We use our experience gained from working with over one hundred thousand women and our expertise in a feminist analysis of social issues and the law to determine where we can make the most meaningful and impactful interventions that make positive change structurally and systemically. We have invested in the development of our specialist expertise to advocate for structural changes in legislation and policy through law reform and through the provision of education and training to our colleagues in the legal profession, the community services sector, and the community.

We advise and represent women in a range of practice areas including discrimination, employment, sexual harassment, family law, domestic/family and sexual violence, and compensation and victims support for victims of crime.

WORKPLACE OF CHOICE

WLS NSW promotes gender equality through creating a workplace of choice for women that is:

• Safe. We have clear and effective policies on sexism, discrimination, harassment, bullying and abuse.
• Diverse. We acknowledge, encourage and respect diversity and lived experience.
• Culturally safe. We acknowledge and respond to the need for cultural safety for First Nations staff.
• Flexible. We acknowledge and support flexible work arrangements accommodating caring responsibilities, disability or health issues and study commitments.
• Professional Debriefing. We work in a trauma informed practice that acknowledges the vicarious trauma associated with our work and provide debriefing on an as needed basis whilst also having a requirement for regular external professional debriefing supervision.
• Career Growth and Development. We facilitate career advancement by offering opportunities to expand knowledge in legal practice, leadership, and strategic organisational development, equipping professionals for success in evolving roles.

WLS NSW seeks to close the gender pay gap by providing job and economic security with an Enterprise Agreement that pays above Award and provides generous leave provisions. You have the option to salary package which can add up to $15,900 in tax-free pay annually.

Salary range 2024-2025:

• Senior Solicitor $ 121,248.22 - $ 134,690.93 p.a plus salary packaging

The position is based in our office at Lidcombe. The role will require travel across Greater Sydney as well as to rural, regional and remote NSW and nationally.

WLS NSW considers being a woman is a genuine occupational qualification for this position under s. 31 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW).

A Position Description and Guide for Applicants is attached. Selection criteria must be addressed for your application to be considered.

For enquiries about the position please contact Katrina Ironside, CEO, at [email protected] using the subject line: Senior Solicitor - Employment, Discrimination and Sexual Harassment - Working Women's Centre NSW enquiry via EthicalJobs.