Solicitor, The Shopfront Youth Legal Centre

The Opportunity

We are seeking a Solicitor to join The Shopfront Youth Legal Centre. The Shopfront is a joint project of Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, Mission Australia and The Salvation Army. It provides free legal services and related social support for young people aged 25 and under who are experiencing homelessness or significant disadvantage.

In this role you will work closely with Shopfront staff (including HSF Kramer secondee solicitors) and volunteers. You will also have some contact with the broader HSF Kramer pro bono team, various HSF Kramer staff members who assist on Shopfront matters, and a range external agencies.

Responsibilities

• Legal representation and advice for victim/survivors, including:
  • Assist with victims support applications (mainly for survivors of sexual assault/family violence)
  • Provide advice and support for victims and witnesses around criminal charges and AVO applications
  • Advocate with police and other agencies
  • Refer clients for redress or civil claims
• Criminal defence:
  • Represent defendants (mainly in Local Court) with complex needs and varied case severity
• Broader legal advice and referrals:
  • Covering areas such as family law, care and protection, fines, civil and administrative law
• Legal education
  • Deliver community legal education
  • Update legal resources for young people and youth services
• Policy and law reform work:
  • Contribute to policy and law reform based on expertise
• Support for The Shopfront's operations:
  • Respond to new client instructions
  • Help maintain internal legal and other resources
  • Mentor and train junior legal staff and volunteers

To be successful in this role, you will have

• At least 2 years' post-admission experience
• Expertise in at least one of:
  • applications for victims support (under the NSW statutory scheme or a similar scheme);
  • criminal law advocacy;
• Demonstrated capacity to develop further expertise in the other.
• Demonstrated experience working with clients with high and complex needs, especially people with trauma history, mental health issues and cognitive impairments
• A trauma-informed approach; sensitivity toward clients with histories of abuse and neglect
• Good understanding of legal, human rights and policy frameworks relating to children and young people
• Commitment to principles of social justice and social inclusion
• Ability to handle high-volume and changing workload
• Excellent file management and organisational skills
• Initiative, flexibility, ability to respond to unforeseen circumstances
• NSW Working with Children Check clearance

The Team

You will work as part of a multidisciplinary team which includes lawyers and a legal assistant (employed by HSF Kramer), caseworkers and/or intake and engagement workers (employed by Mission Australia), paralegals and volunteers.

The Shopfront also partners with the Justice and Equity Centre on the First Nations Social Justice Graduate Program, and there is usually at least one graduate (or paralegal/lawyer) participating in this Program at The Shopfront.

What you can expect from us

• We're a world leading international law firm with a global team of over 6,000 professionals across 26 offices. As the market leader in Australia, we are committed to high performance, collaboration, diversity and digital innovation. We are client-centred, commercially driven, and renowned for our solution-focused expertise. We will align your growth with our ambitions.
• We make your personal and professional growth our business. And as part of the team, our ambition is yours too. Wherever you are in your career: grow and help the firm grow with you.
• We will provide opportunities to learn on the job as well as a mix of learning opportunities tailored to you. Daily experiences, supportive challenges, team collaboration, mentors, and structured learning opportunities help you to expand your knowledge and reach your goals.
• We value your wellbeing, both at home and work and we place a strong emphasis on mental health. If you need support, you'll have it and we'll empower you to harness your personal strengths, navigate uncertainty, embrace opportunities, and effectively manage things within your control.
• For more benefits on offer such as our 26 weeks paid parental leave, holistic wellbeing fund or home office allowance please click/copy this link into your browser -
• Join us to be part of a human, bold and outstanding team at Australia's market leading law firm.

We are committed to attracting people from all backgrounds and creating a respectful and inclusive culture where everyone thrives. We see this as essential to our success, including our ability to innovate and achieve sustained high performance. This is a key part of our Values—Human, Bold, and Outstanding.

Contacts

For any questions or a confidential discussion, please contact Donella Gressieux, Senior Recruitment Advisor at or Jane Sanders, Principal Solicitor, The Shopfront Youth Legal Centre on

Working Pattern

Full time

Location

Sydney

Contract type

Permanent Contract

Diversity & Inclusion

We are committed to attracting people from all backgrounds and creating a respectful and inclusive culture where everyone thrives. We see this as essential to our success, including our ability to innovate and achieve sustained high performance. This is a key part of our Values—Human, Bold, and Outstanding.

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