This Solicitor/Senior Solicitor role is a unique opportunity to be involved in establishing the Working Women’s Centre in NSW. Join us in the fight for women’s safety and economic security.

New Position

This a unique opportunity to join a new legal centre for working women. The Working Women’s Centre NSW is part of a national network of Working Women’s Centres that have been funded in each state and territory to deliver employment and discrimination law services to women.

We are seeking a dedicated solicitor and/or senior solicitor who is passionate about our mission to advance gender equality. You will have at least 3 years PQE in the law and legal processes in areas of work relevant to the work of the Working Women’s Centre (e.g. workplace rights, underpaid entitlements, dismissals, discrimination and sexual harassment) including managing and litigating complex cases. Ideally, you will have an understanding of the work of WLS NSW more generally (in domestic and family violence, sexual violence and family law).

THE ROLE

You will provide high-quality, culturally safe, trauma-informed, and holistic legal services to women and non-binary people across NSW with workplace issues, focusing on workplace rights, underpaid entitlements, dismissals, discrimination and sexual harassment.

In this role, you will manage strategic casework files and advise on litigation, collaborating closely with our team of specialist lawyers at WLSNSW 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 Services 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 and non-binary people across NSW to obtain legal advice and representation from our trauma informed, holistic legal practice to address women’s safety, economic security, empowerment and equality.

We use our experience gained from working with over one hundred thousand women and our feminist analysis of social issues and the law to determine where we can make the most meaningful and positive change. We advocate for systemic change through policy and law reform and through the provision of education and training to the legal profession, the community services sector, and other key stakeholders.

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

Solicitor Grade 5 $96,794.51 - $117,251.58 p.a plus salary packaging

Senior Solicitor Grade 6 $121,248.22-$134,690.93 p.a plus salary packaging

Being a woman is a Genuine Occupational Qualification for the purposes of WLS service provision (Section 31 Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW)).

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.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Selection criteria must be addressed for your application to be considered.

Essential for ALL SOLICITORS :

• Eligible to hold a current NSW Practising Certificate
• Eligible to hold a Working With Children Check.
• At least 3 years PQE in the law and legal processes in areas of work relevant to the work of the WWC (workplace rights, underpaid entitlements, dismissals, discrimination and sexual harassment) and an understanding of the work of WLS NSW more generally (in domestic, family violence and sexual violence).
• Demonstrated ability to provide sound legal advice in areas of law relevant to the work of Working Women’s Centre.
• Demonstrated understanding of, and commitment to, social justice issues for women, particularly First Nations women, and women in deep and persistent disadvantage (social, economic and cultural disadvantage) and lack of access to legal services.
• Understanding of cross-cultural issues faced by women including domestic and family violence and sexual violence and abuse.
• Ability to design and implement community legal education and engage in law reform and policy development.
• Demonstrated high level oral and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work in an electronic environment including the use of word processing, email and web browsing tools and the capacity to acquire a working knowledge of the WLS case management system.
• Ability to travel across Greater Sydney and to rural, regional and remote NSW.

Additional Criteria for Senior SOLICITOR:

• Substantial post admission experience in the law and legal processes in areas of work relevant to the work of the WWC (workplace rights, underpaid entitlements, dismissals, discrimination and sexual harassment) including managing and litigating complex cases.
• Understanding of the strategic function of community legal education, law reform and policy work, and the demonstrated ability to design and implement community legal education and law and policy reform initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability in managing projects and volunteers / students
• Capacity to undertake a mentoring role and supervision of less experienced solicitors.

Being a woman is a Genuine Occupational Qualification for the purposes of WLS service provision (Section 31 Anti-Discrimination Act 1977).

Questions:

Please contact Sharmilla Bargon, Director, Working Women's Centre at [email protected] or call (02) 8745 6900, using the subject line: Working Women's Centre NSW - Employment and Discrimination Solicitor / Senior Solicitor enquiry via EthicalJobs.