Outreach Solicitor
Job No:
33514
Location:
Katherine, NT
- See the glorious NT while you work Monday - Friday... the weekends are yours!
- If you are passionate about legal issues that affect women, Katherine Women's Information & Legal Service needs you!
- 12 month fixed term contract with the opportunity of extension!
- Excellent benefits including attractive remuneration circa $60K-$70K commensurate with experience with salary packaging options plus super!
- Further benefits include 5 weeks annual leave + relocation assistance + travel allowance!
- Professional development is encouraged!
About the Organisation
Katherine Women's Information & Legal Service (KWILS) is a free service for all women throughout the Katherine Region. The service provides assistance across a range of practice areas including Family Law, Child-In-Need matters (welfare) and Civil (including but not limited to employment, debt, superannuation, compensation).
The service has expanded in the last few years and in doing so has been able to develop strong relationships with outlying Indigenous communities. The service has a strong representative presence in the local, regional and national landscape of social justice. The all female team at KWILS is committed to providing diverse, culturally appropriate, effective and efficient service delivery - therefore it embraces a creative approach to community legal education, law reform activities and significant networking opportunities.
About Life in Katherine
Katherine, with a population of over 10,000, is situated 300 km southeast of Darwin in the "Top End", the third largest community in the Northern Territory. The Region offers an abundance of experiences, boasting many natural attractions while providing a diverse outdoor and outback lifestyle for its residents.
Katherine is a naturally stunning part of the Top End, attracting tourists from around the world, with outstanding weather conditions - sunshine every day during the dry season (May temp 18-32), and a spectacular wet season! Nitmiluk National Park near the town features many activities such as camping, swimming, fishing (lures only), sightseeing, canoeing, boat cruises and bush walk trails, all in a landscape coloured by incredible sunsets.
In addition to its unique natural beauty, Katherine is home to several churches, schools, sporting clubs, parks, a well kept golf course, a showground and a RAAF Base.
About the Opportunity
Katherine Women's Information & Legal Service (KWILS) has an exciting opportunity for an excellent lawyer and communicator with a passion for social justice to fill the position of Outreach Solicitor with their established CLC in the Northern Territory.
Reporting directly to the Principal Solicitor you'll be providing legal advice to rural, remote and Indigenous women on civil law matters as well as assistance and support in family law and domestic violence related matters.
More specifically, some of your duties will include:
- Conducting ongoing casework on behalf of clients of the service;
- Providing information generally about, and making appropriate referrals to, other community services, legal aid, private legal practitioners and government agencies;
- Providing outreach services to areas identified;
- Working collaboratively with staff and providing ongoing reports on the outreach program;
- Participating in law reform projects as relevant to the needs/concerns of KWILS clients; and
- Providing support to the Principal Solicitor in the development and provision of community legal education to community members generally and to other service providers and community groups.
The successful applicant will possess relevant tertiary qualifications in Law and will be eligible for admission as a solicitor and barrister of the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory. Demonstrated PAE experience of civil law and family law is required, as is experience working within a community based service.
The solicitor will need to be self-directing and have energy and vision plus an understanding of community development principles in order to, in conjunction with the management committee, drive the strategic expansion of the service. The ability to 'think outside the box' when working with you clients is essential as is the ability to ability to remain professional during sometimes unorthodox situations.
In addition, you will need to display cross-cultural awareness and sensitivity and be able to demonstrate the capacity to work respectfully with people from diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. You'll also need a current Australian driver's licence with a willingness and ability to travel to regional, rural and remote areas on a regular basis throughout the week. Ideally, you'll be comfortable driving a 4WD, on both dirt roads and sealed roads, though training will be provided if necessary.
Additional requirements include computer skills sufficient to type and produce correspondence and reports, along with the ability to use an online client database and undertake research online.
In return for your dedication you will be rewarded with attractive remuneration circa $60K-$70K (commensurate with experience) plus super, with salary packaging options.
You will also receive 5 weeks annual leave including 17.5% leave loading, PLUS an additional 1 week leave/year after 12 months service. You will also enjoy 10 days personal leave, a satellite phone, laptop and relocation assistance!
A company vehicle during work trips will be provided, as will travel allowances, allowing you to see all the beauty of the Australian outback while getting paid to do it!
Assistance in accessing real estate agents and finding rental property will be provided for the right applicants.
Use your skills and knowledge to be an advocate for women, the community and the law! Apply Now!