• We are looking for qualified lawyers to join our growing legal practice, advocating and representing people experiencing family violence with associated family law, criminal and child protection legal issues.
• Be part of a courageous, supportive, well-regarded, collaborative and innovative team committed to delivering life outcomes to economically and socially disadvantaged clients.
• Provide meaningful community-led services to clients experiencing poverty, homelessness, insecure employment and other access to justice barriers.
• Assist in addressing improvements to the family violence, family law, child protection and criminal system through law reform, research projects, community education and key community stakeholder engagement.
• Duty lawyer and case work experience is highly desirable.
• If you are keen to grow and diversify your skills helping our community in the Western suburbs of Melbourne, we’d really like to hear from you.

THE ORGANISATION

WEstjustice are a leading community legal centre providing free services to vulnerable and disadvantaged people. From our offices in Footscray, Werribee and Sunshine and through our outreach services we provide advice on a broad range of issues including employment, discrimination, consumer disputes, tenancy, credit and debt, family disputes, family violence, criminal law and more.

WEstjustice believe in a just and fair society where the law and its processes do not discriminate against vulnerable people. We provide free legal education, undertake law reform activities and work in partnership with their local communities to deliver projects that improve access to justice.

WEstjustice’s purpose is to service the legal needs in the West in a way that addresses the systemic nature of disadvantage.

BENEFITS & CULTURE

• Salary range $85,000 - $110,000 (commensurate with experience) with additional financial benefits of 17.5% leave loading, generous salary packaging of up to $15,900 for general living expenses, accommodation and meal packaging plus statutory employer funded superannuation paid on top of the base salary.
• Advocating for clients who really need help during very challenging times in their life
• Be part of that client’s journey to safety, recovery and stability, including helping families who have experienced family violence.
• Passionate, professional, supportive and dedicated team producing high quality outcomes for women and their children.
• Flexible work practices (hybrid – mix of onsite and work from home)
• Contribution to important social justice community legal work, varied client base and engagement with community stakeholders
• Focus on career development through access to professional development and community engagement.

• Professional growth and development with access to mentoring and supervision from experienced leaders in the team
• Flexible working conditions including hybrid work arrangements

• Full or part-time work
• Up to 5 hours study leave per week
• Competitive salary with generous salary packaging
• Based in the Footscray office, with Court and Outreach work at other sites in the Western Suburbs

ABOUT THE ROLE

Our legal practice is growing, so we are looking for qualified lawyers (salary commensurate with experience) to join our well-regarded Family Violence and Family Law Program. Positions will commence for a period of 12 months, with permanent employment being offered subject to continued funding and growth of our practice. Part-time candidates also encouraged to apply.

We recognise that family and gender-based violence are serious community concerns that disproportionately affect women, gender diverse people and children. Our vision is for our clients to feel safe and secure. We do this by representing clients in family violence intervention order proceedings, family law (parenting, property division disputes and divorce), criminal proceedings where they have been misidentified as the primary perpetrator and providing early intervention legal advice to clients being investigated by the Child Protection.

If successful, you will join a high performing supportive team delivering legal services in family law, family violence, criminal law and child protection with an early intervention focus. As we are s29A panel certifiers, we also undertake legally aided casework by applying for grants of legal assistance for clients who qualify under VLA’s family law, family violence, criminal and child protection guidelines.

This role is primarily based at our Footscray office, however we are planning to move our office to Sunshine in 2024. You may also be required to undertake outreach legal services at our key health justice partner sites in the Western suburbs, and also represent our clients in intervention order proceedings in the Sunshine and Werribee Magistrates Court on a rostered basis. From time to time, you may also be required to work from our Werribee office and/or partner organisation sites, depending on Program needs.

SKILLS REQUIRED

The person we are seeking will have:

• Minimum two years post admission experience (Lawyer)
• Minimum of four years post admission experience (Senior Lawyer)
• Demonstrated legal experience in any of our key legal areas:
  • Family law (highly desirable)
  • Family violence (highly desirable)
  • Child protection (highly desirable)
  • Criminal law (desirable)
• Duty lawyer experience (highly desirable)
• Dedicated interest and commitment to social justice legal practice and improving outcomes for clients who face life barriers in accessing justice.
• Excellent time management and file management skills.
• Advocacy and litigation experience or the demonstrated ability to develop these skills.

The successful applicant will require a current Working with Children’s Check and a National Police Check, or be prepared to apply for both.

Applicants must possess the right to work in Australia.

For enquires, call Cleona Feuerring, Legal Director, Family Violence and Family Law Program, on 03 9749 7720 for a confidential discussion.

A position description is attached.