Family Solicitor - Canberra

• $115,550 - $133,050 per annum plus super
• Maximum term to Sept 2027, with extension potential
• Full-time or part-time, flexible working arrangements
• Full salary packaging options which add approx. $5.5K per annum to your take-home pay!

Want your work to mean more? Bring your family law expertise to a specialist feminist legal service where you can do challenging legal work, work alongside social workers and community services, and make a genuine difference to women’s lives.

Who we are

At WLC we improve women’s lives through specialist legal representation, support and advocacy, working alongside our clients to improve their safety, security and access to justice. Our work is grounded in feminist principles, trauma-informed practice and a commitment to creating meaningful, lasting change.

We also believe that doing meaningful work should not come at the expense of having a life outside work. We are committed to being a feminist employer of choice, with working practices that recognise and support the realities of our employees’ lives. We support our people to balance work with personal, family, cultural and community responsibilities, and place genuine importance on wellbeing, gender equity and sustainable working practices.

If you're looking for a workplace where you can use your professional skills to make a difference, while being supported to build a career that works with the rest of your life, WLC could be the change you're looking for.

What you will do

Our Family law solicitors provide advice and representation in relation to divorce and separation, care arrangements for children, property and financial matters following separation, family violence orders and early intervention in care and protection matters. Our practice is focused on early intervention and early resolution. You’ll use advice, negotiation, dispute resolution and advocacy skills to find practical solutions for client’s that prioritise safety. Where litigation is the right pathway, we represent clients in ACT and Commonwealth Courts, including to Final Hearing.

This is a varied and rewarding role where you will provide high-quality legal advice and representation while working collaboratively with social workers, case workers and community service providers to ensure clients receive coordinated legal and social support that responds to their broader circumstances. Community-based practice is an integral part of this role. Family solicitors are rostered to work offsite each week at one of our partner locations including the Child and Family Centres in Gungahlin, West Belconnen and Tuggeranong. This provides an opportunity to deliver specialist legal assistance in settings where clients already access support and to build strong relationships with professionals working alongside them. 

About you

You’re a capable and experienced family lawyer who is looking for more than a traditional private practice career. You may be looking for a change from billing targets and time recording, and want to spend more of your time helping people, solving problems and using your legal skills to make a meaningful difference.

You bring strong family law skills, sound judgement and a genuine commitment to social justice. You understand that behind every family law matter is a person navigating a significant life transition and that good legal practice starts with understanding the person and their experiences, not just the legal problem.

You will be someone who:

• identifies as a woman, trans or non-binary person
• has solid experience in family law and is keen to continue developing your technical and advocacy skills
• enjoys complex legal problems and finding practical solutions that make a real difference in people's lives
• wants to work in a client-centred and trauma-informed environment
• values working collaboratively with social workers, case workers and other professionals
• is comfortable working with clients experiencing family violence, disadvantage and other complex circumstances
• is motivated by access to justice, women's safety and social change
• wants to use your legal expertise in ways that have an impact beyond an individual file and
• is excited by the opportunity to do excellent legal work differently

You don't need to have worked in the community legal sector before. If you're a family lawyer who is ready for a change and wants your work to have greater purpose, we'd love to hear from you.

WLC values diversity and recognises the importance of lived experience. We welcome applications from First Nations women, women from migrant and refugee backgrounds, women with disabilities and women from the LBTIQA+ community.

What we will offer you

We want our people to do excellent work without sacrificing their life outside work. We offer:

• flexible working arrangements and hours
• generous leave provisions
• a generous paid Christmas/New Year shutdown
• salary packaging of everyday living expenses, meals and entertainment which has the ability to increase your take-home pay
• a supportive, feminist, and trauma-informed workplace
• opportunities to work alongside experienced legal, social work and community professionals
• opportunities to build technical expertise, advocacy and negotiation skills across complex and intersecting areas of family law and family violence

What you need to do

Provide your resume and a statement of suitability (max 2 pages) addressing the selection criteria. Our Recruitment Team may be in contact if we wish to find out more information before being offered an interview.

Further information can be sought by emailing recruitment@wlc.org.au using the subject line: Family Solicitor - Canberra enquiry via EthicalJobs.

Applications will be reviewed progressively, so get your application in now!

A position description is attached.