Solicitor

Full-time and part-time applications will be considered. 

• Join Australia’s most important legal practice, assisting young people nation-wide to live free from violence. 
• Work remotely anywhere in Australia, or from YLA’s headquarters at UNSW.  
• Practice experience in one or more of Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, or New South Wales is highly desirable. 
• Negotiable salary.

YLA is recruiting a Solicitor to work within YLA’s Harm Practice and participate in a national program providing technology-enabled legal services to children and young people with a particular focus on family and domestic violence, sexual abuse, exploitation, cyber harm and other forms of maltreatment. 

This is an opportunity to join the most important legal practice in the country, and help lead a team dedicated to preventing and intervening early in the maltreatment of young people. 

 In this role you will be:  

• Working at the forefront of legal innovation. The live webchat service is the first and only national live webchat in the community legal assistance sector, delivering legal support in real time to any young person, anywhere in Australia, on any harm related matter.  
• Making a positive difference in the lives of young people Australia-wide.  
• Working alongside dedicated Solicitors and committed children’s rights advocates.  
• Using technology to facilitate access to justice.  

The Solicitor will report to and work under the supervision of YLA’s Principal Solicitors and will work closely with YLA’s Director, fellow solicitors, pro bono solicitors, law student volunteers, interns and trainees to provide technology-enabled legal information, advice and one-off assistance. YLA provides close supervision and a trauma informed and supportive team environment. Because YLA’s practice is paperless and delivered via YLA’s bespoke technology platform, collaboration, support, and supervision occurs within our online network of lawyers and law student volunteers.  

About you 

The Solicitor should have a commitment to children’s rights or human rights more broadly, dedication to enhancing access to justice or an interest in technology and how it can be used to enhance access to justice.  

Interested Solicitors should also have a moderate to high level of technological proficiency and be comfortable working across and learning to use multiple digital platforms, including live chat, soft phone, email and in online case management systems.    

We strongly encourage interest from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples for all positions.   

Specific Responsibilities    

• Providing verbal and written legal advice, information and referrals and assistance via telephone, online chat, and email, for or on behalf of young people (under 25) across Australia.   
• Working collaboratively with Junior Solicitors, Senior Solicitors and Principal Solicitors based in different jurisdictions to promote and deliver YLA’s services.    
• Providing detailed advice and one-off assistance such as drafting letters, complaints, applications, or support for self-represented litigants.    
• In some cases, providing ongoing support, assistance, casework, and legal representation to vulnerable young people. Please note that this role is predominately funded to provide one off legal advice, minor assistance and information rather than ongoing casework or litigation.  
• Assisting with Community Legal Education, law and legal services reform and stakeholder engagement and business development activities.   
• Collaboratively developing and maintaining accurate information sources for young people.  
• Maintaining accurate records, files, accountabilities, and reporting.   

Desirable Criteria    

• Must have or be eligible for a practicing certificate in one or more of Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, or New South Wales and have experience practicing in one or more of those jurisdictions.  
• Solicitors should have 1-2 years of post-admission practice experience. 
• Experience providing generalist legal services, or a demonstrated capability to develop a broad knowledge of and practice in the law. (This role may suit a lawyer with experience as an employee or volunteer in a Community Legal Centre, at Legal Aid, an Aboriginal Legal Service, or other justice agency). 
• Demonstrated ability to work without close supervision, set priorities, organise, manage own workloads, and meet deadlines.
• Solicitors should have experience managing their own caseload, and experience signing off on legal advice under the supervision of a Senior or Principal Solicitor. Provision of efficient, timely and accurate legal advice services is essential.    
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders, and an ability to support, supervise and train junior lawyers and student volunteers, interns, and practical legal trainees using digital platforms.    
• Experience working with clients experiencing family and domestic violence, sexual abuse and/or cyber harm is highly desirable.   
• If requiring remote work, demonstrated experience in maintaining a safe work environment while receiving support, training and supervision remotely.  
• Experience providing trauma informed telephone and electronic advice to clients who have experienced trauma or who are at risk of harm.