• 2+ years PAE in civil and/or family law
• Full-time, preferred – 18 month contract

TEWLS is a 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.

TEWLS provides high quality, responsive and culturally appropriate legal advice, casework and representation, community legal education, and advocacy in the areas of civil and family law to women living in the Greater Darwin region.

In 2020, TEWLS received funding to commence a wrap-around, in-reach and on-site legal clinic for the four women’s shelters located in the Darwin region.

The Women’s Shelters Solicitor reports to the Managing Solicitor, and will:

1. Provide an outreach family and civil law legal advice and casework service to women at free legal advice clinics per the women’s shelters project, including court representation at Territory and Federal courts;
2. Develop and deliver service-provider training (legal education) for staff at each of the respective women’s shelters;
3. With the assistance of other TEWLS staff, identity the legal issues relevant to women within the Darwin region and develop law reform projects in these areas;
4. Provide TEWLS with feedback on a regular basis concerning the legal needs of women within the Darwin region;
5. With the assistance of other TEWLS staff, identify the legal issues relevant to women within the Darwin region and develop and present appropriate community legal education seminars and materials in these areas;
6. Liaise and meet regularly with key stakeholders who work with women within the Darwin region;
7. Represent TEWLS at meetings as required;
8. Undertake personal administrative duties within TEWLS as required;
9. Participate in staff meetings and other TEWLS planning activities; and
10. Other duties as direct by the Managing Solicitor.

Selection criteria

The position requires an organised and self-motivated individual to form part of our dynamic team.

Please address the selection criteria in your application:

Selection Criteria Essential

1. Hold or eligible to hold a Practising Certificate in the Northern Territory, with two or more years PAE in Family and/or Civil 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, women experiencing domestic and family violence, and women in prison.
3. A commitment to promoting the interests of women.
4. A demonstrated ability to provide high quality legal information advice, casework services and court experience in family and/or civil law.
5. High level verbal and written communications.
6. Demonstrated ability to deal with confidential and sensitive issues with discretion and integrity.
7. Demonstrated ability to perform and interact as an efficient and productive team member and use initiative with minimum supervision.
8. Holder of a current driver’s licence.
9. Experience in using Microsoft computers, and a willingness to perform administrative duties.
10. Ability to provide a National Criminal History Check and obtain a Northern Territory Ochre Card or already have these.

Selection Criteria Desirable

11. Relevant experience in the development and delivery of community legal education.
12. Relevant experience in law reform and lobbying.

A position description is attached.