Domestic Violence & Family Law (DVFL) Senior Solicitor

• Permanent full time hours (35hpw)
• Bankstown office location
• Community Legal Centre incorporating domestic and family violence services.
• Salary range: Level 7.1 7.3 (subject to experience)
• Flexible work conditions salary packaging to increase take-home pay 5 weeks annual leave (pro rata) plus leave loading additional leave at Christmas.

Are you a passionate and driven lawyer with a strong interest in social justice Do you have advanced skills and experience in court advocacy Are you seeking an exciting new challenge in this year by skilling up in a new area of law If so we have the perfect position for you. You will join an amazing team of dedicated professionals committed to making a meaningful impact in the lives of individuals facing legal challenges.

About Justice Support Centre

Justice Support Centre is a Not-for-Profit organisation committed to providing timely effective and high-quality legal services to the community. We focus on delivering legal support through telephone advice face-to-face consultations legal representation community legal education and participation in law reform activities. We primarily assist clients who are financially-disadvantaged as well as victim-survivors of domestic violence & family violence in addition to other priority criteria.

About the role

The DVFL Senior Solicitor provides accessible and trauma-informed advice and assistance to people living in South West Sydney with a focus on victim survivors of family and domestic violence and family law. The role supports clients navigating intersecting legal issues including Family Law Victims Support and AVOs using a holistic and culturally responsive approach.

As a senior practitioner the role brings significant technical expertise and leadership to JSCs domestic and family violence practice. The DVFL Senior Solicitor provides mentoring peer support and technical supervision to lawyers paralegals interns and volunteers. The role also contributes to community outreach legal education stakeholder engagement and law reform to improve outcomes for victim-survivors.

All work is delivered consistent with JSCs commitment to trauma-informed client-centred and culturally safe practice.

Nature and Scope of Position

Justice Support Centre is a generalist community legal centre providing legal advice casework and community education across family law domestic violence crime and civil law. JSC works closely with internal casework teams and external partners to deliver integrated and wrap-around responses for people experiencing disadvantage particularly women experiencing domestic and family violence.

The core function of all solicitors at JSC is delivering accessible phone advice with the DVFL Senior Solicitor also playing a leading role in undertaking more complex casework matters and advocacy. The DVFL Senior Solicitor also manages targeted JSC outreaches managing key stakeholder relationships and strengthening referral pathways.

Focus Areas of Law

This role primarily covers:

• Family Law advice and representation at mediations with a strong domestic and family violence focus
• Apprehended Violence Orders (AVOs) including Local Court representation
• Victims Support advice applications internal reviews and related advocacy.

You may also contribute to other practice areas depending on community needs and Centre priorities.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Legal Advice & Assistance

• deliver trauma-informed accurate and accessible legal advice
• provide ongoing assistance and targeted casework for clients experiencing disadvantage according to JSCs eligibility criteria including VS applications and reviews Legally Assisted mediations and Local Court AVO hearings
• explore opportunities for targeted or strategic litigation to advance systemic outcomes for victim-survivors
• monitor legal procedural and media developments in the focus areas and share updates with the team
• engage in reflective practices consistent with our commitment to providing a trauma-informed client centred and culturally safe legal practice.

Mentoring and Supervision

• work collaboratively with the APS to provide technical mentoring peer support and guidance to junior lawyers in the Family Law team
• supervise technical aspects of junior lawyers work including file reviews
• supervise and support paralegals interns and volunteers
• contribute to the development of best-practice tools precedents and resources
• support the APS in strengthening consistency quality and capability across the practice area.

Community Education Outreach and Stakeholder relationships

• key role in developing and delivering community legal education plain-language resources and information sessions
• lead and manage outreach services
• build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders
• collaborate with internal casework teams to provide holistic support for victim-survivors
• represent JSC in interagency and network meetings
• support the PS and APS in developing and monitoring projects and initiatives within the focus areas.

Teamwork and Collaboration

• work collaboratively with lawyers caseworkers and other staff to provide integrated and client-centred services
• participate actively in team meetings reflective practice and supervision
• promote a supportive respectful and professional workplace culture aligned with JSC values of teamwork respect transparency and accountability.

Law Reform Policy and Strategic Contribution

• contribute to law reform and advocacy related to victims support and family law and related areas of law
• assist with submissions consultations and research aligned with JSC priorities
• contribute expertise to organisational planning program development and evaluation.

General Functions and Responsibilities

• accurately record client work and outcomes and contribute to internal and external reporting including to funding bodies
• stay informed and contribute to discussions on policy and social issues affecting communities in Liverpool Fairfield and Bankstown
• contribute to the Centres publications and resources
• maintain up-to-date knowledge of law policy and practice and comply with professional and continuing legal education requirements
• ensure availability for client services such as telephone advice sessions and outreach and manage court attendance schedules accordingly
• respect and follow Centre policies and codes of behaviour.

Essential Criteria

• holds or is eligible to hold a Current NSW practising certificate
• minimum of 3-year post-admission experience with demonstrated experience in family law AVOs and/or Victims support
• strong understanding of domestic and family violence and trauma-informed practice
• experience mentoring supervising or providing technical guidance other legal or support staff
• experience working with culturally and linguistically diverse clients and a commitment to culturally safe practice
• demonstrated capacity to work holistically with victim-survivors experiencing complex and intersecting needs
• excellent written and verbal communication skills including the ability to explain complex legal issues in plain language
• demonstrated commitment to social justice particularly for women CALD communities DV survivors and people experiencing systemic disadvantage
• ability to work both independently and collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams
• competence using legal case management and ICT systems
• experience delivering community legal education or outreach services
• access to a registered insured vehicle for work-related travel.

Desirable Criteria

• experience working or volunteering in a Community Legal Centre
• experience undertaking Court and Tribunal work as well as alternative dispute resolution advocacy on behalf of clients
• experience using Actionstep
• familiarity with integrated or multidisciplinary service models.

Whats on offer

We are offering an attractive total remuneration depending on skills and experience.

In addition Justice Support Centre also offer excellent employee benefits which include:

• a range of flexible work arrangements including hybrid WFH arrangements
• 9 weeks paid parental leave
• access to Long Service Leave after 5 years
• generous leave benefits (5 weeks annual leave 5 Gratis days at Christmas 17 days sick/personal leave per year)
• 35 hour working week which can be worked over 4 or 5 days within the working week
• learning and development opportunities.

How to apply for this position

1. Apply online with your cover letter detailing how your skills and experience meet the essential and desirable criteria along with your resume.
2. Please address the essential and desirable criteria in full. Applications that do not address the essential criteria will not be considered.

Closing Date: Friday 6 March 2026 5pm

Contact Person: Enquiries about the roles should be emailed to Liz Simpson Principal Solicitor

The preferred applicants will be required to undergo a Working with Children Check and a National Police Records Check.