Criminal Solicitor, Women’s Homelessness

• Improve outcomes for women charged with criminal offences
• Join a team providing specialist holistic legal, and non-legal support
• Full time, 24-month fixed term contract

The Justice and Equity Centre (JEC) is a leading social justice law and policy centre. We build a fairer, stronger society by helping to change laws, policies and practices that cause injustice and inequality.

We offer a diverse and inclusive workplace where:

• Wellbeing is actively promoted and flexibility is supported
• We are committed to the professional development of our staff
• Advantageous salary packaging options are available

Part of the Homeless Persons’ Legal Service (HPLS), the HPLS Women’s Service provides women including trans and gender diverse women with specialist, holistic support – including both legal and non-legal assistance. It particularly seeks to reach victim-survivors of domestic and family violence who:

• are at risk of being evicted, homeless, and/or facing other barriers to accessing and maintaining safe and stable housing and/or
• have been policed or charged with criminal offences.

You will advise and represent women charged with criminal offences, particularly women who are victim / survivors of domestic and family violence or sexual assault. Additionally, you will:

• provide advice to HPLS legal clinic lawyers in criminal matters
• develop legal and policy responses to systemic issues for women experiencing homelessness
• contribute to submissions, reports, and media releases to communicate the JEC’s policy positions

You are a criminal solicitor, eligible for a practicing certificate in NSW and at least three years’ post-admission experience in criminal law, with an awareness of legal issues and barriers facing victims of domestic and family violence or sexual assault and/or who are experiencing homelessness. Additionally, you have capacity to:

• identify best practice and innovative legal strategies for achieving better outcomes for women before the criminal legal system
• provide accurate and appropriate legal assistance and to manage relationships with clients
• conduct outreach in the community, including in non-legal settings

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and people with disability are strongly encouraged to apply.

If you can protect and promote the human rights of women who are at risk of or experiencing homelessness and who are in contact with the criminal legal system, please send your resume along with a covering letter and responses to the knowledge, skills and experience section included in the position description.

Inquiries should be directed to Rachael Barwick, Senior Solicitor, HPLS Women’s Services via jobs@jec.org.au

How to Apply

Please send your application to jobs@jec.org.au, including ‘Criminal Solicitor Women’s Homelessness’ in the subject field.  Please note there is no application close date, and we invite you to apply as soon as possible.  

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