Job description

- Package up to $208k + salary packaging
- Permanent full-time or part-time

The Women's Legal Centre ACT is seeking an experienced legal practice leader to lead our newly created Practice Integration Unit. As our legal practice has grown, we have created the Practice Integration Unit to strengthen consistency, quality and governance across our legal teams and the other professionals who work alongside them.

The Head of Practice is a recent senior leadership position and a member of WLC’s Practice Management Team, working in close collaboration with the Director Legal Services and CEO and contributing to whole-of-organisation planning and decision making.

The Head of Practice leads the PIU, including the Social Work, Client Access and Intake, and Practice Management and Improvement teams. As Head of Practice, you will:

- be accountable for WLC’s practice systems, service quality, client experience and complaints, practice modernisation, and data and reporting, overseeing the Practice Management and Improvement team through its manager
- oversee the Social Work team through its Senior Manager, ensuring social work services are delivered to professional standards and are integrated with legal practice within WLC’s multidisciplinary service model
- be accountable for WLC’s intake, triage, eligibility, referral and waiting list processes, overseeing the Client Access and Intake team through its manager

Depending on the successful candidate’s experience, the role may also be designated Deputy Director of Legal Services, including acting for the Director of Legal Services during periods of absence.

This role is ideal for an experienced legal practice leader who enjoys leading managers and multidisciplinary teams, improving systems and strengthening client experience. Experience working in an integrated legal practice, where lawyers, social workers and other professionals work side by side, is highly desirable. A strong understanding of legal practice is important,



but the focus is on people leadership, practice management and service improvement rather than carrying a caseload.

About you

You are an experienced legal practice leader with a passion for access to justice and a commitment to supporting women experiencing discrimination, gender-based violence and complex circumstances:

- Identify as a woman, trans or gender diverse person
- Hold a law degree
- Senior experience leading managers and integrated or multidisciplinary teams
- Experience in legal practice management, legal operations, service quality or client service delivery
- A commitment to trauma-informed, culturally responsive and client-centred practice
- Strong strategic thinking and demonstrated success leading organisational change

It is also desirable if you have:

- Experience overseeing a social work function
- A current practising certificate (not essential)

Most importantly, you will be motivated by the opportunity to use your legal practice knowledge and leadership experience to improve services for clients and contribute to broader systems change.

Why join us?

This role offers something different from many senior legal practice roles.

You will have the opportunity to lead a critical, cross-practice function within a respected women's legal centre with the option to work full-time or part-time in a sustainable and flexible working environment. There are no billable targets, court commitments or individual caseload, and there is a strong focus on collaboration, wellbeing and professional development.

This position may particularly appeal to:





- Experienced leaders looking to move beyond the pressures of private practice

- Parents and carers seeking greater flexibility and predictability
- Senior legal practice professionals looking for a leadership role with purpose and impact

At WLC, you will lead a multidisciplinary unit that works across the legal practice and values collaboration, innovation, reflective practice and continuous improvement. You will have the opportunity to contribute to client experience, service development, practice modernisation and broader systems change.

Who we are

At WLC, we improve women’s lives through specialist legal representation, support and advocacy, working alongside our clients to improve their safety, security and access to justice. Our work is grounded in feminist principles, trauma-informed practice and a commitment to creating meaningful, lasting change.

We also believe that doing meaningful work should not come at the expense of having a life outside work. We are committed to being a feminist employer of choice, with working practices that recognise and support the realities of our employees’ lives. We support our people to balance work with personal, family, cultural and community responsibilities, and place genuine importance on wellbeing, gender equity and sustainable working practices.

If you're looking for a workplace where you can use your professional skills to make a difference, while being supported to build a career that works with the rest of your life, WLC could be the change you're looking for.

What you need to do

Please click ‘Apply Now’ to submit your application.

For a confidential discussion about the role, please contact our Recruitment team on [email protected] using the subject line: Head of Practice - Practice Integration - Canberra enquiry via Ethical Jobs.

Applications close at midnight on the advertised closing date.

A position description is attached.

📌 Head of Practice - Practice Integration - Canberra
🏢 EthicalJobs
📍 Canberra