• Full-time / Part-time, fixed term to 30 April 2025
• Fitzroy and Reservoir

This role is part of Fitzroy Legal Service’s Generalist and Integrated Services Team to provide high quality, integrated legal assistance via our generalist practice, including outreach services, to the communities of Yarra and Darebin.

This is a long service leave backfill position until 30 April 2025, full time or part time (4 days per week).

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:

• Providing legal information, advice and referrals and/or conduct casework in areas of criminal law, infringements, family violence, tenancy and Victims’ Financial Assistance Scheme to individuals that meet our guidelines;
• Providing outreach services to outreach partners and/or as part of Health Justice Partnerships arrangements
• Appear in court on behalf of clients in matters including pleas of guilty, contest mentions, committal mentions, and bail applications and brief barristers to represent clients at court where appropriate;
• Appear in tribunals on behalf of clients as required;
• Apply for grants of Legal Aid, where appropriate, and ensure compliance with Victoria Legal Aid guidelines; and
• Communicate with other stakeholders regarding their clients’ legal and related non-legal issues.
• Provide secondary consultations and professional training to community workers and agencies in relation to the legal rights and responsibilities of their clients and legal issues being experienced by their clients

See attached position description for more information.

ABOUT YOU

To be successful in the role you will ideally have:

• Australian Lawyer presently eligible to become an Australian Legal Practitioner.
• Demonstrated understanding of and strong commitment to social justice and the philosophy of FLS;
• Willingness and ability to communicate empathetically with a variety of clients, including those with cognitive impairment or language barriers, people from diverse backgrounds, people with alcohol or other drug dependence and people experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness;
• Experience in the provision of high-quality legal advice, advocacy, and casework in relevant areas of law and strong court-based advocacy skills;
• High level verbal and written communication skills;
• Good understanding of issues arising for individuals that might make accessing legal services challenging;
• Demonstrated commitment to/good understanding of the necessary professional and ethical approaches and boundaries required to work in an outreach model with clients;
• Proven ability to self-start, manage competing demands and work within a team; and
• 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 bonus leave over the summer 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 at [email protected].

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.

A position description is attached.