Women's Legal Service Tasmania – Launceston TAS
Women's Legal Service Tasmania (WLST) provides a statewide community legal service for women in Tasmania, providing legal advice and information about legal and non-legal options through a dedicated telephone advice line, as well as face-to-face appointments, community legal education, outreach, drafting of law reform submissions and referrals to appropriate support services. Our clients are also supported by in-house financial counselling and social work services. WLST operates from three offices in Hobart, Launceston, and Burnie.
WLST is a community legal service funded by the Commonwealth Attorney-General's Department in recognition 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.
Some women also face additional barriers in accessing justice due to factors such as cost, childcare responsibilities, and feelings of intimidation in going to Court or dealing with a male-dominated legal profession and judiciary. Our work focuses on the needs of vulnerable women who often have experienced family violence, sexual abuse, child sexual abuse and or other forms of discrimination or abuse. We understand this is challenging work, and we offer staff a supportive environment that helps maintain their resilience. Other issues, such as language barriers, cultural backgrounds, disability, sexuality, or geographical isolation, can compound to make access to a legal service intimidating and difficult. Workers at WLST are sensitive to the diverse needs of women, both as individuals and as part of the community.
WLST's mission is to promote justice, equality, and safety for women, particularly those who are disadvantaged or facing discrimination. WLST also auspices a Working Women's Centre.
About the role
Under the supervision of and reporting to the Principal Solicitor, the Assistant Principal Solicitor will lead Women's Legal Service Tasmania's strategic law reform agenda, advocacy initiatives, and external partnerships to advance systemic change for women's justice, equality, and safety across Tasmania.
This role requires expertise in identifying systemic legal issues affecting women, translating client experiences into evidence-based reform proposals, and building collaborative relationships with government, peak bodies, and community organisations. The Assistant Principal Solicitor will represent WLST in key forums and consultations, positioning the organisation as a leading authority on women's legal rights and the prevention of gendered violence.
What You'll Be Doing
Legal Services
Provide high-quality legal advice, information, and referrals to clients through the telephone advice line and face-to-face appointments, maintaining a connection with client experiences that inform law reform priorities.
Work collaboratively with WLST's social workers and financial counsellors to provide integrated, holistic support to clients.
Identify systemic issues and trends emerging from client work to inform law reform and advocacy priorities.
Law Reform and Advocacy
Lead the identification, research, and development of law reform priorities based on systemic issues identified through WLST's casework, client experiences, and sector trends.
Prepare high-quality, evidence-based law reform submissions to government, parliamentary inquiries, law reform commissions, and other bodies, working collaboratively with staff and stakeholders.
Represent WLST in coalitions, working groups, and forums focused on women's legal rights, family violence, sexual assault law reform, and gender equality.
Develop and implement advocacy strategies to influence policy, legislation, and systems change that advance women's access to justice and safety.
Monitor legislative developments, case law, and policy changes affecting women in Tasmania and nationally, and contribute to WLST's strategic responses.
Partnerships & Stakeholder Engagement
Develop and maintain strategic partnerships with government agencies, community legal centres, specialist women's services, peak bodies, universities, and other key stakeholders.
Build collaborative relationships to strengthen integrated service delivery, information sharing, and coordinated advocacy efforts.
Represent WLST at sector forums, conferences, consultations, and community events to profile the organisation's expertise and build sector capacity.
Identify and pursue opportunities for collaborative projects, joint submissions, and partnership initiatives that advance shared goals.
Facilitate knowledge exchange and sector collaboration through participation in networks, working groups, and communities of practice.
Community Legal Education & Sector Capacity Building
Develop and implement a statewide, organisational community legal education plan, with input from staff, stakeholders, and community groups.
Be responsible for maintaining the currency of organisational community legal education resources.
Design and deliver community legal education initiatives and resources on women's legal rights, with particular focus on family violence, family law, and discrimination.
Develop training and education programs for sector workers, community organisations, and other professionals to build an understanding of legal issues affecting women.
Collaborate with partners to deliver integrated community legal education that addresses both legal and non-legal needs of women.
Evaluate the impact of community legal education delivery against WLST' Outcomes Framework.
What We're Looking For
Demonstrated knowledge and experience in practice of law in areas relevant to women - family law, family violence, child safety - and the ability to advocate, negotiate and liaise effectively in a trauma-informed way.
Demonstrated experience working in an interdisciplinary way with other professionals, and experience in working with a similar community sector organisation, or with a genuine understanding and desire to work within the not-for-profit sector.
Demonstrated experience in law reform, policy development, and advocacy, including the preparation of evidence-based submissions to government, parliamentary inquiries, or law reform bodies on issues affecting women's access to justice.
Proven ability to develop and maintain strategic partnerships with government, community organisations, peak bodies, and other stakeholders, with demonstrated capacity to represent an organisation in high-level forums and consultations.
Well developed organisational and time management skills, and the ability to set priorities and monitor your own workflow.
High-level verbal communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders, deliver presentations and training, and represent WLST professionally in public forums.
Strong project management and organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple law reform and advocacy projects simultaneously, meet deadlines, and work independently with minimal supervision.
Demonstrated experience in leading and managing a team of legal professionals, fostering a collaborative and high-performance culture, with an ability to monitor and evaluate team performance, providing constructive feedback and ensuring accountability for the quality and timeliness of legal work.
While management experience is desirable, WLST is committed to building capacity of women to hold these positions and will support the acquisition of management and leadership skills for an applicant who will commit to a professional development plan and who shares the values of the organisation.
What We Offer
At Women's Legal Service Tasmania, we are committed to providing a supportive and rewarding work environment. As an Assistant Principaln Solicitor within our organisation, you will have the opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of women in our local community.
Extra Leave: Enjoy an additional week of annual leave (pro rata) to support your wellbeing, with 17.5% leave loading.
Parental Leave:12 weeks of paid parental leave (pro rata) for employees with a minimum of 12 months' service.
Salary Packaging:Generous not-for-profit salary packaging and a Meal & Entertainment Card of up to $18,530 annually through Eziway, increasing your disposable income.
Wellbeing Support:Employee health and wellbeing support, flexible working practices, and bi-monthly professional supervision/counselling sessions through Relationships Australia.
Professional Development:Opportunities for conferences, events, and a dedicated training budget for your professional growth.
Apply Now
https://www.womenslegaltas.org.au/careers
This link takes you to our careers page on the WLST website where you can download a copy of the Position Description (which includes the Selection Criteria to be addressed in an application). When you're ready to apply, email through a current resume and a statement addressing the selection criteria to*******@womenslegaltas.org.au.
Please note that applicants must address the selection criteria to be considered for the position. Applications close COB 14 April 2026.
If you have any queries about this position, please reach out to our friendly team via our careers email and we'll get back to you as soon as possible. Apply now to join our passionate and dedicated team!
This position is advertised relying on an exception in the Anti-Discrimination Act, as a special measure. Accordingly, this position is open to women applicants only.
Women's Legal Service Tasmania is committed to protecting children/young and vulnerable people from harm and require completion of screening checks prior to finalising employment.
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