• Part time (0.8FTE/ 30.4 hours/week), negotiable
• Fixed term to 30 September 2025
• Location: Fitzroy and Reservoir

ABOUT FLS

Fitzroy Legal Service (FLS) is dedicated to assisting the most marginalised members of the community with legal information, advice and representation, as well as championing law reform and conducting public interest litigation.

Fitzroy Legal Service provides legal services for communities who are disproportionately impacted by law and policy, and those who face systemic barriers to accessing justice. We provide various multidisciplinary outreach programs reaching communities of colour, people at risk of or experiencing homelessness, LGBTIQA+ communities and people who use drugs.

Our vision: A fairer Victorian community, where the legal and social systems support equality and justice for all.

Further information about FLS can be found on our website: fls.org.au.

ABOUT THE ROLE

You will make a difference by:

• Conduct family law casework in parenting and property matters for clients experiencing intersectional disadvantage and/or who are victim/survivors of family violence.
• Advocate for victim/survivors of family violence and other parties by appearing as a duty lawyer at the Specialist Family Violence Court at Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court and at the Neighbourhood Justice Centre.
• Provide community outreach legal advice at our Health Justice Partnerships, including at the Connie Benn Centre, Mercy Hospital, NEMA Orange Door and North Richmond Community Health Centre, as required.
• Contribute to law reform submissions and systemic advocacy work of the organisation in relation to family law and family violence.

See attached position description for more information.

ABOUT YOU

To be successful in the role you will ideally have:

• Been admitted, or be eligible for admission, to practice as an Australian Legal Practitioner.
• Demonstrated understanding of, and commitment to, social justice and the philosophy and values of Fitzroy Legal Service and a demonstrated interest in the area of Family Law specifically.
• Demonstrated ability to work with people who have experienced family violence and an understanding of the legal and other issues that impact on their access to justice.
• An understanding of the drivers of gender-based violence, the impact of family violence on the community and the intersections between family law and family violence.
• High level verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong analytical skills including the ability to effectively apply family law and family violence legal principles to different factual scenarios.
• Ability to work in a high pressure, fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated ability to self-start, manage competing demands and work within a team.
• Good self-care and stress management skills.

If you meet some, but not all, of the above, we encourage your application. We appreciate that people obtain skills and experience in a range of ways, and value people’s curiosity and openness to learning.

WHAT WE OFFER:

• 5 weeks annual leave, 17.5% leave loading plus paid leave over the Christmas shutdown period.
• Above-award salary and the ability to increase your take-home pay by accessing salary packaging benefits (use this link to see how much this benefit could mean to you).
• A range of leave options, including 16 weeks parental leave for primary carers, gender affirmation leave, cultural and ceremonial leave, the ability to swap public holidays as well as purchase additional leave.

For more information about this position, please contact Amy Frew, Director of Legal Practice, [email protected], using the subject line: Community Lawyer - Family Law / Family Violence - Fitzroy / Reservoir enquiry via EthicalJobs.

Fitzroy Legal Service is an inclusive employer and complies with the laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of age, race, sex, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, family responsibilities, irrelevant criminal record and other protected attributes. We strongly encourage and welcome applications from members of diverse communities and people with relevant lived experience.

To be eligible to apply for this position you must be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, permanent resident, or hold a valid work permit or visa.

The successful candidate must undergo a National Police Check.

NOTE: Disclosure of a criminal record does not necessarily preclude employment with FLS, but if needed, we invite applicants to address this issue early in the application phase. Should a criminal record disclosure be advised by a candidate, FLS will endeavour to provide clarity over whether the conviction would preclude a candidate from being able to carry out the position duties.