* Alice Springs or Tennant Creek, NT
* Full-time | 2-Year Contract (with possibility of extension)
* Remote work considered for lawyers with 2+ years PAE
Central Australian Women's Legal Service (CAWLS)
If you're a lawyer driven by purpose, looking for meaningful connection, and wanting your work to truly matter, this role offers something rare:
The chance to stand beside women at some of the most critical moments of their lives — empowering them to move forward with safety, dignity, and confidence.
At the Central Australian Women's Legal Service (CAWLS), every day your work directly supports women experiencing domestic, family and sexual violence. You become part of a team that is reshaping access to justice across Central Australia — particularly for First Nations women and women in remote communities, who experience some of the highest rates of violence and systemic disadvantage in the country.
This is not just another legal role. It is life-changing work — for the women you support, and for you.
To learn more about us, please visit:
Why CAWLS? A Workplace Built by Women, for Women
CAWLS is a multidisciplinary, trauma-informed, women-led organisation supporting over 1,900 clients each year, with 71% experiencing violence, and delivering more than 2,261 legal advice annually Impact Report.
We walk alongside women on their journey to safety, healing, and independence.
Working with CAWLS means:
You help women rebuild control in moments of crisis
Our civil practice provides immediate assistance for issues affecting safety and stability — domestic violence orders, tenancy, employment, child protection, financial abuse, and more.
You are part of a deeply supportive, multicultural team of women
Our staff come from across Australia and share a strong belief in equity, dignity, and cultural safety. The Impact Report describes our "dynamic CAWLS team" whose dedication and passion underpin every service we deliver
Your work strengthens entire communities
We partner with hospitals, schools, Aboriginal community-controlled organisations, and frontline services. Your legal practice is integrated with education, prevention, and advocacy — ensuring your impact reaches far beyond individual representation.
You experience continuous professional growth
CAWLS lawyers receive ongoing supervision, trauma-informed practice training, CLE experience, law reform involvement, and opportunities for travel to remote communities.
Women choose CAWLS because it offers meaningful work in an environment where they feel supported, valued, and connected.
About the Opportunity
As a Civil Lawyer, you will provide legal advice, representation, and holistic support to women across Central Australia, including those facing domestic and family violence, housing insecurity, financial abuse, employment issues, and interconnected civil matters.
More specifically, your responsibilities include but are not limited to:
* Providing legal advice, representation, and referrals across areas including family law, domestic violence, tenancy, and employment
* Representing clients in courts and tribunals, including as a duty lawyer
* Collaborating with a multi-disciplinary team to deliver holistic, trauma-informed support
* Participating in outreach work, including occasional remote travel
* Delivering community legal education and building legal literacy
* Building partnerships and engaging with community-based organisations
* Participating in law reform and advocacy projects
* Maintaining legal files, reports, and administrative compliance
* Undertaking professional development and contributing to internal staff training
This role is challenging and meaningful in equal measure, and CAWLS provides strong support structures to ensure your ongoing well-being and growth.
About You
You will thrive in this role if you are:
* Eligible to hold a Practising Certificate in the Northern Territory
* Ideally 2+ years PAE (remote working considered at this level)
* Passionate about social justice, gender equality, and community legal advocacy
* Skilled or interested in civil law and domestic and family violence matters
* Confident working with First Nations women and CALD communities
* A clear communicator with strong interpersonal skills
* Reflective, resilient, and committed to self-care in trauma-informed practice
* A collaborator who values teamwork and shared purpose
This is a female-identified role under the Sex Discrimination Act 1984.
About the Benefits
* Competitive salary plus 12% superannuation
* Relocation assistance up to $3,000
* Six weeks annual leave plus 12 days personal leave
* Salary packaging options
* A workplace that prioritises staff wellbeing and psychological safety
* Paid professional development and ongoing training
* A supportive, warm team culture
* Additional benefits for staff based in Tennant Creek
Life in Central Australia: Alice Springs or Tennant Creek
Working in Central Australia offers the opportunity to contribute to meaningful change in a region where your impact is both immediate and visible. Many lawyers describe their time here as the most rewarding chapter of their careers.
Remote work may be considered for lawyers with appropriate experience, although many staff find the in-person connection to community and colleagues deeply enriching.
Ready to Create Real Change?
If you want your legal career to empower women, strengthen communities, and contribute to systemic reform in one of Australia's most unique and impactful regions, we encourage you to apply.
Become part of a team where your work truly matters.
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