Description

Do you need a change? Do you want to get meaning from your work? Are you passionate about gender justice and committed to driving meaningful change? Join us in advocating for women’s safety and economic security in a dynamic, feminist organisation that puts values into practice every day.

We are looking for a Senior Strategic Solicitor to bring strong expertise in the law and legal processes within the areas of employment and discrimination law. Your legal work will be high-quality, holistic, and trauma informed. 

This role is in the Working Women’s Centre at the WLSNSW which focuses on workplace issues including underpayment of entitlements, unfair dismissal, discrimination, and sexual harassment for working women and non-binary people.

Key accountabilities

• Provide high quality legal advice, assistance and representation in accordance with legislation, directions, policy, guidelines and practice standards.  
• Undertake complex litigation, including preparing legal documents, court applications, affidavits and submissions, brief counsel and represent clients in courts and tribunals.  
• Maintain an active and well-managed caseload while prioritising client needs and managing legal risk.
• Provide mentoring, coaching and file review support to legal and non-legal staff.  
• Contribute to setting legal priorities, responding to sector-wide legal developments and contributing to organisational planning and policy development.
• Maintain accurate data and reporting for internal and external accountability purposes, report and mitigate legal practice risks and ensure compliance with legal practice standards and professional obligations.
• Contribute to law reform through drafting submissions, discussion papers, consultation responses, identifying systemic issues and participating in stakeholder consultations and advocacy campaigns.  
• Develop and deliver legal education and training for stakeholders across NSW, review development of material by solicitors and the Education, Training and Engagement team, manage community engagement, outreach and stakeholder relationships to enhance service reach and effectiveness. 

Organisational context  
 
Women’s Legal Service NSW works to end gender-based violence and achieve genderequity. With decades of experience and a feminist understanding of how law,systemsand power impactwomen’s lives, we drive structural and systemic change throughlegal action, law and policy reform,advocacy,and education to improve women’s safety and economic security. 
Our legal practice spans three specialist programs: the Women’s Rights Program, the First Nations Women’s Legal Program, and the Working Women’s Centre. Together, they provide free, trauma-informed, culturally safe, client-centred legalservices, grounded in a gender justice framework. 

Requirements

Selection criteria must be addressed for you to be considered for an interview.

Essential criteria

1. Commitment to Social Justice and Gender Equity. Demonstrated understanding of, and commitment to, social justice issues for women, particularly First Nations women, and women experiencing deep and persistent disadvantage (social, economic and cultural) and lack of access to legal services.
2. Qualifications. Admitted as a Solicitor in NSW with a current unrestricted NSW practising certificate.
3. Legal Ethics and Risk Management. Demonstrated understanding of legal practice obligations under the Legal Profession Uniform Law.
4. Legal Knowledge and Practice Areas. At least 5 years post-admission experience, including litigation and managing a range of complex legal matters and providing high-quality legal advice in discrimination, employment and sexual harassment law.
5. Client-Centred and Trauma-Informed Legal Practice. Proven ability to work with clients facing disadvantage, trauma and legal complexity across diverse client groups and demonstrated experience in providing client-centred trauma-informed, culturally safe, legal advice, casework, and court/tribunal representation.
6. Legal Research and Analysis. Excellent legal research, analysis and drafting skills.
7. Communication and Interpersonal Skills. Excellent interpersonal, collaboration, negotiation, and written and verbal communication skills.
8. Technical & Systems Proficiency. Proficiency in Microsoft Office and legal practice management tools, (e.g. Actionstep) and data reporting.
9. Time Management and Organisational Skills. Excellent organisational, project management, and problem-solving skills with capacity to independently manage competing deadlines and priorities.
10. Law Reform and Advocacy Engagement. Proven ability to identify and lead law reform initiatives including strategic litigation.
11. Legal Education and Community Engagement. Ability to design, deliver and evaluate legal education and training spanning the range of Women’s Legal Service NSW practice areas.
12. Leadership and Mentoring. Strong mentoring skills.

Additional criteria

1. Pre-Employment Screening. Satisfactory Working with Children Check.
2. Willingness to Travel. Ability to travel in line with work commitments.
3. Professional Development. Commitment to ongoing professional development and compliance with Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements.

Desirable criteria

1.  Sector Experience. Experience in the legal assistance sector.

Being a woman is a genuine Occupational Qualification for the purposes of Women’s Legal Service NSW service provision (Section 31 Anti-Discrimination Act 1977).