The Role

WEstjustice is seeking to employ a full time Senior Family Violence and Family Lawyer on a 12 month, fixed term contract (with potential for a longer-term contract depending on availability of funding) to join our growing Family Violence and Family Law team.

The Lawyer will be employed as a member of the WEstjustice Family Violence and Family Law Program undertaking family violence and family law work.

primary duties will include

• Providing legal advice to priority clients in our health justice partnership in a hospital in the western suburbs of Melbourne;
• Providing weekly legal advice and court representation in our family violence duty lawyer program at Sunshine and Werribee Magistrates Courts (which includes our Early Resolution Program);
• Assessing and certifying eligible VLA family law grants of aid to support our family law work; and
• Coverage of other family law or family violence clinics as needed from time to time.

The person we are seeking will be admitted to practice with at least two years experience in family law and family violence and have the proven ability to engage with and provide holistic legal assistance to priority clients. Strong stakeholder management skills are vital to ensuring the continued success of this program.

Subject to COVID 19 restrictions, the Lawyer will be primarily based at our Footscray office and will be required to work at our other offices and/or clinic sites (located in the western suburbs of Melbourne including Sunshine & Werribee, or the CBD). Currently clinics are operating remotely. Subject to clinic and court requirements, the successful applicant will be able to work flexibly from home with those days to be negotiated directly with the direct line manager.

A position description is attached.

Remuneration

Salary range - $86,000 – $91,000 per annum (depending on experience), plus employer funded superannuation in accordance with Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992 (Cth). In addition, generous salary packaging is available (including access to Accommodation and Meal Entertainment packaging).

About WEstjustice

WEstjustice is a multidisciplinary, community-based legal centre committed to improving justice outcomes for the people of western Melbourne, and especially the most vulnerable in our community. It was formed in July 2015 through the amalgamation of the Footscray, Wyndham and Western Suburbs Community Legal Centres, which brought a long and proud history and experience to the new organisation.

For more information about WEstjustice, please visit our website (www.westjustice.org.au)

If you have any questions in relation to the role, please contact our office on 9749 7720 and ask to speak to Priyanka Shetty, Program Manager, Family Violence and Family Law Program.

Late applications will not be considered.

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.

WEstjustice is committed to building a diverse workforce. We strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people living with a disability, people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, mature age workers and LGBTIQ-identifying people.