• Full-time, 1-year contract

The Human Rights Law Centre, a leading national human rights organisation, is seeking a dynamic, motivated Senior Lawyer to provide legal and policy advice to our campaign for a national Charter of Rights.

This is a new 1-year position based in either Melbourne or Sydney, with a view to extending subject to donor support. This is a full-time fixed-term position, however we are open to flexible arrangements for the right candidate and will also consider job share applicants.

About the Human Rights Law Centre

The Human Rights Law Centre uses strategic legal action, policy solutions and advocacy to support people and communities to eliminate inequality and injustice and build a fairer, more compassionate Australia.

Our vision is an Australia where everyone is free to lead a decent, dignified life; where our laws, policies and institutions promote fairness and equality; and where people and communities have the power to address inequality and injustice and ensure that governments always act in the public interest.

We maximise our impact by working closely with key partners, including community organisations, pro bono law firms and barristers, academics and experts, and international and domestic human rights organisations. We are independent of government & business, with most of our funding coming from donations and philanthropic grants.

The Human Rights Law Centre is a registered charity with offices in Melbourne and Sydney. We are a diverse team with a strong, shared commitment to creating a better, fairer Australia.

The Human Rights Law Centre is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive workforce. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people from culturally diverse backgrounds, women, LGBTIQ+ people and people with disability are encouraged to apply.

About our campaign for a Charter of Human Rights

The Human Rights Law Centre is building a public campaign to create an Australian Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms to place values like freedom, equality and respect at the heart of all government decisions and actions. Australia is currently the only Western democracy without a charter or bill of human rights. Working with a broad coalition of community and not-for-profit organisations, we are seeking to change that through our #CharterofRights campaign. The Federal Government has just announced a review of Australia’s human rights framework, opening the door to reforms to strengthen human rights protections, including a national Charter of Rights.

About this role

This is a new, exciting position which will enhance the capacity of our organisation to effect positive human rights change in Australia by strengthening Australia’s human rights legal foundations.

In particular, the Senior Lawyer will work with our Legal Director and Campaign Manager to provide legal and policy support for the campaign, including drafting policy submissions, undertaking legal research and analysis, building our coalition, and advocacy at senior-level meetings and at public events for the Charter campaign. While the role will focus primarily on our campaign for a national Charter of Rights, it may also include legal analysis and policy engagement to strengthen existing state & territory Charters and connections across other human rights focus areas of the Centre’s work.

We’re seeking an innovative, strategic lawyer and advocate with a passion for human rights and demonstrated experience working in, and building, diverse coalitions to achieve law reform and social change.

FURTHER INFORMATION AND HOW TO APPLY

For further information including selection criteria, terms and conditions and how to apply, see the Recruitment Pack attached below.