Join ECLC in an exciting opportunity to help reshape the way in which victims of crime receive assistance under a new scheme set to put the victim at the forefront.

• Fixed Term; 12 month Contract
• Part-time roles (0.8 FTE) 30 hours per week

• Caring, supportive and professional organisation culture

• Attractive employee benefits include a friendly and supportive work culture, salary packaging, leave loading, additional paid leave over Christmas/New Year and on-site parking.

About Us 

Eastern Community Legal Centre (ECLC) is a multidisciplinary legal service that works to prevent problems, progress fair outcomes and support the wellbeing and resilience of communities and community members in Melbourne’s East.

About the role

The Community Lawyer- Victims Legal Service will work within ECLC’s Community Law Program in a new Victims Legal Service, partnering with victim support services in Melbourne’s East.

The aims of the Victims Legal Service (VLS) is to:

• provide victims of crime with trauma-informed, specialised legal advice and assistance related to state-funded financial assistance Victims of Crime (VOCAT)/Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS) and Restitution and Compensation Order (RACO) matters

• ensure victims of crime understand their rights, entitlements and available supports regarding state funded financial assistance and restitution and compensation from the offender

• support victims of crime to feel validated, heard and have their experience recognised

• enable victims’ immediate legal needs to be identified and responded to in a timely manner to provide high quality, trauma informed casework service to victims of crime who seek to utilise both the VOCAT and FAS schemes. ECLC is committed to working with its community utilising a variety of direct legal services and community development strategies

This position will provide victims of crime casework services to people at a range of outreach locations within ECLC’s partner agencies.

As a part of the community law program, the Community Lawyer – Victims Legal Service will work within a collaborative and positive team of lawyers and other professionals, receive regular resilience and debriefing training and training in trauma informed practice and client care.

About you

You will be eligible to hold an unrestricted Victorian Practising Certificate and have at least two years demonstrated post-admission client legal experience in a broad range of legal matters.  You will be comfortable operating both autonomously and within a cohesive team, and have the ability undertake projects recognising the relationship between casework, community development and community legal education.

Specifically, you will have: 

• Demonstrated post-admission experience or ability to acquire, in a broad range of matters, particularly victims of crime, family law/family violence, and generalist legal advice

• Demonstrated understanding and application of trauma informed practice in a legal service provision context

• Demonstrated ability to work with diverse communities including those experiencing marginalisation and isolation

• Demonstrated high level written and oral communication skills, including the ability to simplify legal jargon and to work well within a team environment
• Demonstrated commitment to meeting the legal needs of disadvantaged groups

For more information please see the attached application pack below.