This new and exciting position will drive strategic, public interest litigation for family violence survivors experiencing police duty failures and/or police accountability issues. They will provide advice, legal assistance and representation to family violence survivors experiencing police duty failures and/or police accountability issues, and will contribute to the overall strategic direction of the project. The solicitor plays a central role in supporting the team of secondees, volunteers and other lawyers as well as supporting collaborative sector advocacy for systemic police accountability and just outcomes for survivors.

The Policing Family Violence - Senior Lawyer will be a committed and experienced lawyer with a passion for systemic and survivor-centric advocacy and social change, supporting survivors in achieving police accountability. They will work closely with the Advocacy Coordinator and the whole Police Accountability Project team to ensure the overall success of the Policing Family Violence - Changing the Story Project.

The Policing Family Violence: Changing the Story project drives collaborative, sector-based advocacy for law reform and police accountability. It combines legal assistance and outreach support directly to family violence survivors experiencing police duty failures, documenting evidence and conducting multi-level strategic advocacy and legal education. It is funded via the Legal Service Board and the Integrated Services Fund.

This is a four-day (0.8EFT or 30 hour per week) part-time contract position. The position is a 12-month contract with intention to extend for a second year. Days and hours of work are negotiable and will require flexibility and include some out of hours work. Family friendly, flexitime and time in lieu arrangements are available.

The Policing Family Violence Senior Lawyer will:

• Provide advice and representation in strategic, public interest civil litigation for family violence survivors experiencing police duty failures and/or police accountability issues. This will include taking instructions, legal research, merits assessment, case coordination, negotiations and referrals;
• Contribute to, inform and help drive collaborative sector advocacy to improve police accountability and achieve better outcomes for survivors;
• Supervise civil litigation casework undertaken by secondees, volunteers and junior lawyers and support other solicitors within the Police Accountability Project legal practice;
• Work closely with the Advocacy Coordinator- Family Violence and the Outreach Support Worker to support survivors undertaking media and public advocacy;
• Manage and build strong and effective relationships with pro-bono partners, law firms and barristers and other organisational supports;
• Liaise regularly with key project partners, public institutions, partner law-firms and barristers including on client referrals, trends and key findings from the work.