Principal Solicitor

Flexible salary range + super + salary packaging

• Leaders in trauma informed lawyering in the ACT
• Manage and mentor a team to support women's safety and financial independence
• Canberra based | flexible workplace | min 4 days p/wk | relocation assistance

The Organization

The Women's Legal Centre ACT (WLC) is an innovative, specialist community legal centre providing essential legal and social support services to women in Canberra, dedicated to their vision of empowering women to stay safe, strong and in control of their lives. Family law stands as one of the primary legal focus areas for the Centre, offering comprehensive services to clients within a trauma-informed practice model, emphasizing early intervention and resolution.

Benefits & Culture

• Competitive remuneration, excellent salary packaging, 5 weeks paid leave
• Yearly health and wellbeing stipend, paid cultural and reproductive health leave
• Strong commitment to a flexible work environment
• Established sector-leading and award-winning service with secure, long-term funding

The Role

In this role, you will oversee the family law department, leading a team of solicitors to generate impactful outcomes for clients. You will collaborate closely with the executive team to formulate and implement strategies, manage risks, and ensure compliance. Focusing on enhancing the internal capabilities, you will work across the organization to integrate and advance innovative and trauma-informed legal services, while also:

• Supervising, coaching, and mentoring the team to offer expert legal guidance
• Driving law reform, advocacy work, and public interest matters
• Handling a caseload involving representation in Commissions and Federal Courts
• Establishing partnerships and overseeing stakeholder relationships
• Serving as a spokesperson and representing the Centre in law reform discussions at local and national levels

Skills Required

We are looking for a collaborative, ambitious, and creative individual with a mix of strategic leadership, management, and mentorship experience. You should possess extensive knowledge and technical skills in family law and demonstrate a genuine passion for addressing gender disparities. Your background might be in community legal services, justice-related roles, or private law firms, with a proven commitment to social justice causes for women. In addition, you should have:

• ACT Unrestricted Practicing Certificate eligibility
• Experience supervising legal practitioners and managing complex casework
• Interest in coaching, mentoring, and promoting team members' professional growth
• Strong skills in partnership development, community engagement, and stakeholder relations
• Dedication to trauma-informed practices, reflective approaches, and collaboration across organizations and external entities

Please be aware that under s34 of the Discrimination Act 1991 (ACT), being a woman is a legitimate occupational requirement for this role. We strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, women with disabilities, and women from diverse cultural backgrounds.

If you are eager to leverage your leadership and legal expertise to deliver impactful outcomes that enhance women's safety and financial independence, please submit your resume along with a cover letter addressing the required skills. Alternatively, feel free to reach out via phone or email for any specific inquiries.

Given that there is no specified application deadline, we recommend submitting your application at the earliest opportunity.

NGO Recruitment upholds fair recruitment practices and strives to represent candidates reflecting the diverse organizations and communities we engage with. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, ages, and identities and are willing to accommodate accessibility requirements during the recruitment process. If you feel you possess most of the desired skills or experience for this position, we encourage you to apply.