What is the Women’s Legal Service SA?

The Women’s Legal Service SA (WLSSA) has received funding from the Commonwealth Attorney General’s Department & the South Australian Attorney General’s Department to provide legal advice and representation services to vulnerable women in areas of unmet legal need. WLSSA provides legal assistance in relation to a number of different areas of law including:

• family law;
• child protection;
• immigration;
• debt; and
• minor criminal law.

As a member of the Women’s Legal Services (WLSSA) team, the role will support the implementation of the Women’s Legal Service’s Strategic Plan and develop, implement, and evaluate a range of legal services which contribute to the achievement of justice for women.

The Junior Solicitor in this capacity will be responsible for the provision of high-quality legal casework services in family law, migration, civil and minor criminal law matters. The delivery of community legal education may also be required under the supervision of a Senior Solicitor.
 

Key outcomes and activities

1. Provides a range of legal servicesto women in South Australia by providing telephone advice, office-based advice services, outreach services, legal assistance; legal representation and other assistance as required.
2. Ensures high levels of case work management of client files.
3. In conjunction with other staff and volunteers assists in the policy and law reformwork of the WLSSAincluding the preparation of submissions, reports,and commentaries in those areas of relevance to women.
4. Works in partnership with other organisations including women’s organisations, to promote structural and legislative changes.
5. Assists legal practitioners in the planning of service delivery, policy development, law reform and specific program areas.
6. Ensure that confidential client records, statistics and reports are maintained.
7. Attends training and conferences and represents the service in other settings as required.
8. Participates in the service’s administrative and housekeeping duties as required.
9. Some intrastate travel may be required and some out of hours work may be required.
10. The Junior Solicitor will be assigned to a specific role in the first instance but may be required to move to a different position or undertake different tasks as directed by the Senior Solicitor.
11. The Junior Solicitor will be required to enter into a performance agreement for the achievement of specific outcomes.
12. A current driver’s licence is essential.

Essential Criteria

1. An understanding of the legal system and domestic/family violence, as it affects women, living in metropolitan, rural, regional and remote areas of South Australia.
2. Demonstrated ability to foster or contribute to a supportive team environment.
3. High level of interpersonal skills, oral and written communication skills.
4. High level analytical problem solving and negotiation skills.
5. Willingness to travel intrastate and hold a current South Australian driver licence.
    

Desirable Selection Criteria

1. Experience in working in a community legal service, community services and/or the Legal Services Commission.
2. Experience in working with vulnerable groups of women including Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander women, women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and women living with disabilities.