Civil, Driving & Traffic Solicitor

• Permanent, full-time (35 hrs/week)
• Bankstown office location
• Community Legal Centre incorporating domestic and family violence services
• Salary: SCHADS Level 5.1-7.1 (subject to experience)
• Flexible work conditions, salary packaging, 5 weeks annual leave (pro-rata) + leave loading, extra Christmas leave

Are you committed to social justice and delivering community-focused legal services? Do you enjoy advocacy, working directly with clients, building strong relationships with community partners and delivering engaging community legal education? Are you ready to take on a diverse and meaningful legal practice within a leading Community Legal Centre?

Justice Support Centre is seeking a solicitor to provide high-quality legal services across Civil Law (including Victim Services, motor vehicle accident property damage, social security, and employment law) and Driving & Traffic matters, with the opportunity to develop expertise in new legal areas. Senior lawyers are strongly encouraged to apply, and salary will be commensurate with experience.

About Us

Justice Support Centre is a Not-for-Profit Community Legal Centre providing accessible, high-quality legal services to people facing economic, social, and structural disadvantage. We specialise in serving people experiencing domestic and family violence, financial hardship, vulnerable groups and communities with limited access to legal services.

We deliver:

• telephone and face-to-face legal advice
• court advocacy and duty work
• casework and representation
• community legal education (CLE)
• outreach legal services
• law reform, policy and systems advocacy

We work collaboratively with a wide network of community organisations and stakeholders across South West Sydney.

About the Role

This role provides legal advice, casework, representation and CLE across Victims Services, Civil Law, and Driving & Traffic matters. The role includes participation in the Driving Offence Legal Service (DOLS), a vital service assisting clients facing traffic-related offences.

Participation in DOLS will make up approximately 50% of the role.

The role is ideal for lawyers who:

• have experience in one of the focus areas and are eager to develop in others
• enjoy a varied generalist CLC environment
• value trauma-informed, client-centred practice
• are enthusiastic about CLE, partnerships, outreach and community engagement
• want the opportunity to contribute to law reform and systemic advocacy

This is a collaborative role working closely with the Principal Solicitor, Assistant Principal Solicitor, and broader multidisciplinary teams across JSC.

Key Responsibilities

Legal Advice & Assistance

• deliver trauma-informed, accurate and accessible telephone legal advice, information and referrals
• provide ongoing assistance and targeted casework for clients experiencing disadvantage according to JSC’s eligibility criteria including VS applications and reviews, Centrelink FOI applications and Criminal sentences hearings
• support clients who may require ongoing assistance due to financial hardship
• monitoring legal, procedural and media developments in the focus areas and providing briefings and updates to relevant JSC staff
• staying informed about legislation, practice and procedural developments relevant to the role
• promote accessible, respectful and inclusive service delivery for all clients
• engage in reflective practices consistent with our commitment to providing a trauma-informed, client centred and culturally safe legal practice.

Duty Lawyer Services

• represent clients in the Local Court as part of our Driving and Traffic Duty Lawyer Service (approximately 1–2 days per fortnight), and provide back-up coverage for DOLS as required
• ensure that clients understand their options by providing clear advice in accessible language.

Community Engagement and Education

• develop and deliver community legal education, plain-language resources and information sessions
• build and maintain relationships with local community organisations, particularly those supporting CALD and refugee communities
• support outreach activities and contribute to strengthening referral pathways for clients experiencing vulnerability
• represent JSC in relevant networks building strong