• 5+ years PAE in civil and/or family law
• 12-month contract For Service

TEWLS is a high achieving not for profit specialist women’s legal service providing free legal services for women in the Top End of the Northern Territory. Our purpose is to advocate to achieve justice for women, to promote women’s human rights, and to redress inequalities experienced by women.

As a small collegiate team of 5, with 3 additional project positions, the service provides high quality, holistic and culturally secure legal advice, casework and representation, community legal education, and advocacy in the areas of civil and family law.

TEWLS client base includes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women, women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and women in prison Current service locations to the Greater Darwin Region include two urban sites, 6 Indigenous communities, 4 women’s shelters, Darwin Correctional Centre, and multiple Cultural and Linguistically Diverse sites.

The Managing Solicitor reports to the Management Committee, and will:

1. Coordinate the day to day operations of TEWLS.
2. Report to the Management Committee and receive direction on the operations of TEWLS.
3. Supervise and induct TEWLS staff and volunteers, in both their legal and non-legal work. Ensure that staff receive the training they require, in particular that legal staff meet their professional development training requirements.
4. Oversee the financial accounts of TEWLS and ensure that appropriate reports are provided to funding bodies and the Management Committee.
5. Along with other staff members, provide referrals, legal advice and representation to women in the Top End, and in particular at Darwin Correctional Centre.
6. Identify further opportunities to provide legal advice and assistance to women and, in particular, targeted groups of women in the Top End.
7. Along with other staff members, identify issues of concern to women in the Top End, and conduct law reform activities and advocacy around these issues.
8. Along with other staff, develop and deliver community legal educations programs and materials.
9. Along with other staff, attend network meetings, conferences and forums as and when required.
10. Liaise with other service providers to ensure that appropriate services are being provided and to engage in law reform and community education activities.
11. Undertake other duties as the need arises for the running of TEWLS, including administrative tasks such as filing, data entry and answering telephones.

Selection criteria

Please address the selection criteria in your application:

Essential

1. Hold or eligible to hold an unrestricted Practising Certificate in the Northern Territory, with 5 years PAE in civil and or family law.
2. An understanding of the issues facing women in the NT, particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) women and women in prison.
3. A commitment to promoting the interests of women.
4. A demonstrated ability to manage a small team which will include solicitors, project officers and general administrative staff.
5. Ability to work effectively with a management committee.
6. Knowledge of budgeting and financial management of an organisation.
7. A demonstrated ability to provide high quality legal information, advice, casework and litigation services.
8. High level verbal and written communication skills.
9. An ability to communicate with women from a range of backgrounds, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and culturally and linguistically diverse women.
10. Demonstrated ability to deal with confidential and sensitive issues with discretion and integrity.
11. Demonstrated experience in managing a legal practise, with law reform and community legal education activities.
12. Holder of a current driver’s licence.
13. Experience in using computers, and a willingness to perform administrative duties.
14. Ability to provide a National Criminal History Check and obtain a Northern Territory Ochre Card or already have these.

Previous applicants need not apply. All applications will be considered.

A position description is attached.