Solicitor - Sexual Violence legal Service (Level 5)

Employment Status Full Time (Fixed term 2 years)

Classification SCHADS Level 5

Reports To Principal Solicitor

Location Hobart/Launceston/Burnie

ORGANISATONAL OVERVIEW

Women’s Legal Service Tasmania (WLST) is more than a statewide community legal service; we are a lifeline for women across

Tasmania, offering comprehensive legal advice, together with an integrated practice of in-house financial counselling and

social work services. Our legal services span a dedicated telephone advice line, face-to-face appointments, community legal

education, outreach, law reform submissions, and referrals to crucial support services. As an integrated practice, our clients

are also supported by in-house financial counselling and social work services. With offices in Hobart, Launceston, and Burnie,

WLST is funded by the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department, recognising that in addition to the general legal

problems that can affect everyone, there are some areas of law in which a woman’s experience is different – as a victim of a

crime, as a primary carer of children, or through discrimination or lack of equal opportunity in employment or business.

Our focus is on assisting vulnerable women who have encountered family violence, sexual abuse, or discrimination. We create

a supportive work environment to maintain our staff's resilience, attuned to the diverse needs of women from various

backgrounds.

WLST is committed to protecting children, young people, and other vulnerable people from harm and will require

completion of screening checks before finalising employment.

TASMANIAN SEXUAL VIOLENCE LEGAL SERVICE (TSVLS) PILOT OVERVIEW

The TSVLS is a Commonwealth-funded pilot program (2026-2027) delivering three integrated elements:

1. Statewide Independent Legal Services: Free, trauma-informed legal advice and limited representation for

victim-survivors of sexual violence across Tasmania, delivered through a hub in Hobart with offices in Launceston

and Burnie, plus outreach to regional and remote areas.

2. Safe, Informed, Supported (SIS) Service - North-West Tasmania: A place-based pilot implementing

ALRC recommendations, including co-located Justice System Navigators (Laurel House), Safe Places to Disclose, and

independent legal services based at the Burnie Health Hub.

3. Restorative Justice Pilot: Supporting victim-survivors through restorative justice processes for young

people (10-17 years) and young adults with cognitive disabilities (up to 25 years) who have used harmful

sexual behaviours.

The TSVLS is delivered in formal partnership with Laurel House (North and North-West Tasmanian Sexual Assault Support

Service), integrating legal and therapeutic support to improve justice outcomes and recovery for victim-survivors.

POSITION OBJECTIVE

Under the supervision of the Assistant Principal Solicitor, the Solicitor will provide high-quality, trauma-informed legal

services to victim-survivors of sexual violence across Tasmania.

The Solicitor (TSVLS) will:

• Provide specialist legal advice and representation in sexual violence matters across criminal, civil, and

family law jurisdictions

• Actively coordinate with key partners, particularly Laurel House, to ensure integrated service delivery

• Contribute to the evaluation of the pilot program and evidence-based practice development

• Participate in staff professional development and wellbeing, given the challenging nature of sexual

violence work

This role involves a broad range of practice, including criminal law (sexual assault prosecutions, evidence law, victim

participation), family law (particularly child safety matters arising from sexual abuse disclosures), and civil law (victims of

crime compensation, Government complaints). Knowledge of the intersection of legal and therapeutic responses to sexual

violence is highly valued.

The provision of community legal education (CLE) workshops, contributing to law reform and lobbying submissions,

along with organisational and administrative responsibilities are also a component of this position.

Some intrastate travel may be required from time to time.

A full-time employee, the normal hours of work will be 38 hours per week, between 9:00am and 5:06pm, inclusive of a

30-minute lunch break.

KEY ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES

Legal Services

• Provide high-quality legal advice, information, referral, casework, and limited representation to TSVLS clients

where required, particularly in complex or sensitive matters, ensuring efficient, appropriate, and plain language

service delivery.

• Preparation of documents, forms, and correspondence, including:

o Victims of Crime Compensation applications

o Victim Impact Statements

o Protection order applications

o Submissions to police and DPP regarding case progression

o Communications with legal representatives in family law and civil matters

• Support the provision of integrated and holistic client services, working in collaboration with the TSVLS Justice

Navigator, Laurel House therapeutic staff, WLST social workers and financial counsellors, and other support services to

address both legal and non-legal needs of victim-survivors.

• Contribute to community legal education activities and resources specific to sexual violence, including myth-

busting, consent education, legal rights information, and sector training on trauma-informed responses.

• Maintain and develop relationships with key stakeholders in order to deliver outreach services to the

community, with a focus on working in an integrated and collaborative manner.

• Assistance with research, preparation and presentation of law reform and lobbying submissions, working in

consultation with other staff and key stakeholders to prepare submissions with reference to Women’s Legal

Service Tasmania’s Strategic Plan, that integrate lived expertise voices and priorities.

Organisational Responsibilities

• Carry out the responsibilities of the position in accordance with the Position Description, the funding

requirements and the overarching vision, mission and values, policies and procedures and Strategic Plan of

Women’s Legal Service Tasmania.

• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, including financial counsellors and social workers, to provide holistic

client services. Participate in regular case management meetings and contribute to team knowledge sharing.

• Contribute to organisational reporting, including reports to the Board, funders and other organisations.

• Be responsible for your own administrative work. The administration team provides some administrative

support, however the nature of funding for community legal services does not enable full administrative

support.

• Demonstrate the competencies in accordance with Women’s Legal Service Tasmania’s Core Competency

Model. For reference, the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services (SCHADS) Award

competencies for Level 6 are listed within this document.

KEY ROLE COMPETENCIES

Universal Competencies

Collaborative Approach

• Takes time to listen to and understand the perspectives of others.

• Uses language that demonstrates respect for colleagues and stakeholders at all times.

• Helps others consider new perspectives.

• Treats constructive feedback as a developmental opportunity.

• Welcomes the opportunity to discuss competing points of view.

Diverse and Inclusive

• Displays a willingness to engage with all people in a non-judgmental or non-discriminatory way.

• Demonstrates unconditional positive regard toward internal and external stakeholders.

• Ensures own conduct aligns with the values of WLST.

• Identifies and challenges behaviours that contravene the values of WLST.

Efficient and Contemporary

• Sets priorities and monitors workflows, including establishing programs and activities.

• Sets priorities, plans outcomes and organises their own work and that of lower classified staff/volunteers, and

establishes the most appropriate ways to deliver a program.

• Provides reports on progress of program activities, including recommendations.

• Delivers a variety of appropriate outputs, demonstrating a high level of knowledge and expertise.

• Undertakes analysis/design for project development, and/or complete programming in specialist areas.

• Meets commitments effectively and efficiently and delivers results on time.

• Actively completes planning, study or research for particular projects, service design or implementation of

procedures and presentation.

Healthy Workplace

• Practices self-care for good mental health and wellbeing.

• Recognises the significance of policy and procedures that guide workplace behaviours.

• Monitor and interpret legislation, regulations and other agreements relating to occupational health and safety.

• Undertake duties that require knowledge of procedures, guidelines or statutory requirements relevant to the

organisation.

Quality Practices

• Displays motivation to engage in quality improvement projects and processes.

• Demonstrates program effectiveness with data.

• Undertakes analysis/design for the development and maintenance of projects in specialist areas.

• Improves practices, increasing effectiveness and achieving efficiency and actively supports the application of

sound quality practices.

Organisational Culture

• Actively engages in supervision (reflective practice) and professional development opportunities.

• Establishes, builds and sustains effective relationships with colleagues and stakeholders.

• Acknowledges others’ skills and expertise, encourages and contributes to the sharing of knowledge, and

creates learning opportunities for others.

• Provides expert advice to staff classified at lower levels and to volunteers.

Client Related Competencies

Evidence based best practice

• Has an understanding of trauma and its impact across the lifespan.

• Is able to complete comprehensive assessments, identify key stressors and plan support in response.

• Identifies important issues for clients (e.g. mental, physical, social, occupational and spiritual needs) and

collaborate with other team members at WLST to integrate support.

• Delivers a variety of appropriate interventions demonstrating a high level of knowledge and expertise.

• Undertakes analysis and design for project development and completes programming in specialist areas.

• Actively completes planning study or research for particular projects, service design or implementation of

procedures and presentations.

Client focused

• Establishes, builds and sustains effective relationships with clients and their supports.

• Demonstrates respect for family members and carer roles, acknowledging diverse family capacities and value

systems.

• Seeks feedback on client satisfaction and takes remedial action as required.

• Expresses hope and optimism, applying a strengths-based approach and valuing client and family/carer

knowledge.

• Seeks to understand service needs from the client’s perspective and ensures that the client’s standards are

met.

• Seeks to understand how the client relates to their own culture/s and community and, where relevant, how the

client relates to the culture of their family.

• Anticipates client needs and recommends potential solutions in compliance with WLST’s regulations, rules

and policies.

Knowledge and application

• Provides care and support to clients within the boundaries prescribed by law and professional, national and

local requirements, and codes of ethical practice.

• Participates in professional development relevant to role and professional interests.

• Engages in reflective practice.

• Supports less experienced colleagues and peers to develop rapport and facilitate engagement and

communication with complex clients and families or carers.

• Guides less experienced colleagues and peers in assessing and responding to risk.

• Demonstrates an extensive knowledge of resources and services for information and referral of clients.

Outcome evaluation

• Invites and involves clients in providing feedback on services and in service planning.

• Demonstrates program effectiveness with data.

Leadership Competencies

Supporting and collaborating

• Encourages and values input from others.

• Creates an environment of trust and open communication.

• Provides supervision to assigned staff.

• Actively build cooperation between staff.

Critically evaluating

• Is sought by others for advice and solutions on how to best interpret and use information.

• Establishes clear goals and outcomes for a work area.

• Provides reports on progress of program activities, including recommendations.

Achieving results

• Sets priorities and monitors workflow in specific area.

• Undertakes responsibility for a project or activity, including planning, coordination, implementation and

administration.

Leading and deciding

• Provides expert advice to team members and management.

• Actively leads others in achieving outcomes.

• Operates as a specialist in a relevant discipline, making decisions in line with allocated delegations.

Strategic thinking

• Displays high level knowledge of the role of WLST, its structure and services.

Managing resources

• Looks for better ways to perform routine aspects of job or assignments.

• Puts things in sequential and logical order in preparation for accomplishing a goal.

• Identifies emerging risks and takes action to address.

SELECTION CRITERIA TO BE ADDRESSED IN AN APPLICATION

Essential

1. Admitted in the Federal Court of Australia and the Supreme Court of Tasmania, or eligible to hold a

Tasmanian Practicing Certificate with demonstrated experience in the practice of family law and an

understanding of family and domestic violence through a gendered violence lens.

2. Knowledge of laws relevant to women, including but not limited to family law, family violence and child safety

matters, and the ability to advocate, negotiate and liaise effectively on a client’s behalf in a non-judgmental

manner, assessing their safety, identifying risks and developing effective strategies which address their needs

in a trauma informed way.

3. Excellent verbal communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively with diverse

groups, including working collaboratively within a team environment, supporting colleagues and contributing to

a positive workplace culture.

4. High level written communication skills, including the ability to maintain accurate and complete client files in

accordance with Women’s Legal Service Tasmania procedures, and the ability to draft complex reports,

collating statistics to demonstrate program effectiveness and case studies highlighting client outcomes.

5. Well-developed organisational and time management skills and ability to set priorities and monitor workflow.

6. Ability to work within and positively advance the mission and values of Women’s Legal Service Tasmania,

including a commitment to the social justice, equity, and empowerment of women, with an ability to drive

innovation and continuous improvement in service delivery.

7. Hold a current Tasmanian Working with Vulnerable People (WWVP) Employment registration, and current

and clear National Police Check (no more than twelve months old) or ability to obtain.

Desirable

1. Some knowledge of integrated and trauma-informed practice, as well as a familiarity and understanding of the

role and challenges faced by the community services sector.

2. Demonstrated success in developing and maintaining community networks.

1. High level computer and system skills, including Microsoft Office suite, word processing, spreadsheets,

databases, email and calendars, and competence in Apple computers preferred. Experience in using legal

information programs such as Actionstep will be an advantage for this role.

2. Current First Aid Certificate.

3. Full driver’s license.

4. Prepared to travel intrastate as required.