Solicitor, The Shopfront Youth Legal Centre

Solicitor, 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. The role involves working closely with Shopfront staff, secondee solicitors, and volunteers, with contact to the broader pro bono team and external agencies.

We are seeking a Solicitor to join The Shopfront Youth Legal Centre.

• Legal representation and advice for victim/survivors, including applications for victims support (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.
• Represent defendants (mainly in Local Court) with complex needs and varied case severity.
• Broader legal advice and referrals in areas such as family law, care and protection, fines, civil and administrative law.
• Legal education: deliver community legal education and update legal resources for young people and youth services.
• Policy and law reform work based on expertise.
• Support for The Shopfront's operations: respond to new client instructions, maintain internal legal resources, and mentor/train junior legal staff and volunteers.

• At least 2 years' post-admission experience.
• Expertise in at least one of: victims support applications (under NSW statutory schemes or similar); criminal law advocacy; demonstrated capacity to develop further expertise in the other.
• Demonstrated experience working with clients with high and complex needs, especially those 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.

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.

We're a world-leading international law firm with a global team of over 6,000 professionals across 26 offices. 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. 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, with 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 manage what is within your control.

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 andCreating a respectful and inclusive culture where everyone thrives. This is essential to our success, including our ability to innovate and achieve sustained high performance.

For any questions or a confidential discussion, please contact Donella Gressieux, Senior Recruitment Adviser, on Donella.Gressieux@hsfkramer.com or Jane Sanders, Principal Solicitor, The Shopfront Youth Legal Centre on jane.sanders@theshopfront.org.

Note: This description relates to the Solicitor role at The Shopfront Youth Legal Centre and does not include other job postings.