• Rare opportunity for a senior employment lawyer to lead the delivery of critical legal services in the Western suburbs, in an ongoing role
• Develop and maintain innovative programs that seek to address systemic disadvantage and unmet legal need
• Be part of a well-regarded specialist service providing free employment and discrimination law advice to communities experiencing disadvantage

The Organisation

WEstjustice are a leading community legal centre providing free services to vulnerable and disadvantaged people. From their offices in Footscray, Werribee and Sunshine and through their outreach services they 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. They 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

• Competitive salary with generous salary packaging
• Up to 5 hours study leave per week
• Flexible working conditions
• Full or part time work
• Based in Footscray with outreach work at other sites

The Role

This is an exciting ongoing opportunity for an experienced senior employment lawyer keen to work in an innovative community justice environment with clients experiencing disadvantage, and to be involved in addressing the systemic issues that contribute to workplace exploitation.

Reporting to the Legal Director, Employment and Equality Law Program (EELP), you will use your employment and discrimination law experience to improve the lives of workers by managing the delivery of legal advice, casework, advocacy, information, education, and community engagement activities.

You will undertake and supervise work with a range of clients including young people, people from newly arrived communities, international students, and women experiencing family violence. Our program assists with a wide range of employment matters including underpayment of wages and entitlements, sham contracting, unfair dismissals and general protections, unsafe work practices and employment-related discrimination and sexual harassment.

In addition to direct service delivery, you take a lead role within the team in coordinating and developing its outreach services and systemic impact advocacy, including proactively identifying law reform or policy issues and opportunities to make submissions and delivering those projects. You will contribute to organisational best practice, maintain relationships with a range of stakeholders that support our services, including pro-bono partners, volunteers, and interns, and represent the EELP at external forums and working groups.

The Program Manager will be primarily based at our Footscray office but may be required to work at our other offices (located in the western suburbs of Melbourne including Sunshine & Werribee, or the CBD) and/or partner organisation sites, depending on program need.

Generous salary packaging is available (including access to Accommodation and Meal Entertainment packaging).

Skills Required

You will be qualified in law and hold an unrestricted Victorian practicing certificate or be eligible for one.

You will also have:

• a minimum of five years post admission experience
• significant legal practice experience in employment and equality law, including supervising junior staff

• demonstrated systemic advocacy experience, including leading and coordinating highly effective systemic impact work or campaigns.

The full key selection criteria are contained in the position description available below .

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

Applicants must possess the right to work in Australia.

For enquiries, please call Jennifer Jones, Legal Director, EELP, on 03 9749 7720 for a confidential discussion.