• Competitive salary in the range of $105,000 to $116,000) (pro rata)
• Salary Packaging
• Employer funded superannuation
• Paid leave during the festive season office closure period
• Annual Leave Loading
• Paid Practising Certificate
• Above Award Long Service Leave entitlements
• Professional training and growth opportunities
• Flexible working options considered

A unique opportunity exists within our centre for an experienced solicitor to work in and lead our specialist Family Violence Unit (FVU).

We are looking for a solicitor with a passion for advocacy and social justice and human rights.

You will work with women survivors of family and domestic violence from all walks of life to support them in their recovery journey.

You will lead a small team of like-minded individuals in a multidisciplinary team providing legal advice, advocacy, representation, counselling, financial counselling and other support. You will also have the opportunity to get out into the community to raise awareness of family and domestic violence and the barriers our clients face every day. There will also be opportunities to influence law and policy through your work.

Excited yet? Want to know more? What is in it for you?

About SCALES

SCALES Community Legal Centre is a not for profit incorporated association based in Rockingham providing a range of free legal services for over 27 years to the south coastal metropolitan region of Kwinana and Rockingham.

SCALES partners with Murdoch University to host the Student Law Clinic. Legal services include family law, family and domestic violence, tenancy, criminal, criminal injuries compensation, fines and fines enforcement, traffic matters, humanitarian migration issues and other civil matters.

The FVU is funded by the Commonwealth Government as part of the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032.

The focus of the FVU is on providing intensive, trauma informed, culturally safe, legal and non-legal assistance, targeting the most vulnerable and at-risk women affected by family and domestic violence.

In order to fit the bill, you must understand and be committed to the principles of holistic, trauma informed and culturally safe legal practice; have strong emotional resilience and excellent interpersonal skills.

The Position

As the FVU Senior Solicitor, you will lead a small multi-disciplinary team including family and domestic violence solicitors, admin/paralegal, client advocate, financial counsellor and counsellor while ensuring that the objectives of the funding grant are achieved through the following outcomes:

• Wrap-around, intensive legal and non-legal support delivered and targeted to women affected by family and domestic violence with the greatest need.
• Client centred legal services appropriate, proportionate and tailored to each woman’s individual needs.
• Empowering and supporting women to take action to protect themselves and their children.
• Developing and maintaining strong collaborative relationships with other legal and non-legal service providers to holistically address women’s legal and related problems.
• Participating in community networks and community legal education and outreach programs.

The primary focus of the role is the provision of legal information, advice and representation to women at high risk of harm due to family and domestic violence. You will work closely with social workers, support workers and other services to provide holistic and wraparound services for clients.

About the SCALES Family Violence Unit

SCALES Family Violence Unit is based at our Rockingham office working with and alongside the staff of the broader community legal practice and services.

The role includes:

• Being the team leader for the family violence service.
• Direct client services in family and other law including drafting court documents and representation.
• Working collaboratively to meet the client’s legal and non-legal needs. For example, family law, family violence restraining orders, criminal injuries compensation, tenancy (private and social housing), criminal law and other civil matters.

Key responsibilities

• Coordinate and manage all aspects of the FVU service delivery including representation, casework and advice.
• Supervision of staff including junior solicitors, advocates and volunteers.
• Develop and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Development and implementation of community legal education programs relevant to women experiencing family violence.
• Identify barriers to access justice and lobby through law and policy reform projects to make the change.

Essential requirements of this position

• Holds, or is eligible to hold, an unrestricted current practising certificate in WA.
• At least 3 years unrestricted practice in a relevant area of law and a willingness to practice in other areas.

• Demonstrated experience in providing high quality legal advice, casework and representation services.
• A strong commitment to social justice principles.
• Demonstrated knowledge or experience working with women affected by family violence.
• The capacity to work effectively, independently and collaboratively.
• Well-developed oral and written communication and interpersonal skills.
• Well-developed legal research skills.
• Sound computer skills and ability to prepare reports, court documents, and letters.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively and sensitively with Aboriginal women and women from cultural and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Desirable

• An understanding of and commitment to the work of community legal centres.
• Supervising and mentoring experience.
• Knowledge and experience in restraining order matters.
• Unrestricted practising certificate.

Personal Attributes

• Ability to take initiative and accept responsibility.
• High ethical standards and values, and ability to act with integrity and confidentiality.
• Team player able to engage people, problem solve and achieve results.
• Exhibits cultural competency.
• Energy and enthusiasm.
• Resilience (as you will be dealing with sensitive and confronting material.)
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Strong leadership skills.
• Trauma informed.
• Lateral thinker.

Remuneration and benefits

This role is a full time position (37.5 hours per week) although part time applications will be considered for the right candidate.

Remuneration package including salary in the range of $105,000 to $116,000 and employer funded superannuation, plus salary packaging and additional above award benefits including paid leave during Christmas period shutdown, paid Legal Practising Certificate, annual leave loading, professional training and growth opportunities and flexible working options considered.

Conditions under the SCHADS Industry Award (MA 000100) at Level 7 dependent on experience with a probation period.

Enquiries about the position should be directed to Gai Walker, SCALES Managing Director on 08 9550 0410 or [email protected] using the subject line: Senior Solicitor - Team Lead - SCALES Family Violence Unit enquiry via EthicalJobs.

A position description is attached.