The Opportunity

The Law and Advocacy Centre for Women (LACW) is a specialist, not-for-profit, Community Legal Centre for women in Victoria. We are dedicated to reducing women's criminalisation and imprisonment by providing exceptional legal advice and representation, alongside case management support to address the underlying causes of women's criminalisation.

As accredited specialists in criminal law, we provide practitioners with a unique opportunity to practice in summary and complex crime across all courts in metropolitan Melbourne, with some reach into regional Victoria, within a holistic, trauma-informed framework. Alongside criminal defence advocacy, we also provide assistance with family violence intervention orders, child protection, victims of crime assistance and infringements and fines.

We now have a unique opportunity for an experienced senior lawyer to join our team in a management role to help lead our criminal law practice.

Position Overview

The Managing Lawyer – Crime will support the Principal Legal Officer in overseeing the delivery of services to LACW’s clients in relation to criminal law. The Managing Lawyer will provide key leadership to the legal team within a multi-disciplinary and trauma informed framework. In addition, the Managing Lawyer will act as a senior lawyer and advocate by providing expert legal advice, undertaking casework, and appearing as a lawyer in legal matters, primarily in the criminal law jurisdiction. The position will also provide legal advice and representation to women in relation to LACW’s other practice areas – infringements, VOCAT, family violence/intervention orders and child protection.

Position Details

1. This is a full-time role (5 days per week, 7.6 hours per day) based in LACW's Carlton office.
2. Salary and conditions are in accordance with the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010, the National Employment Standards and LACW’s policies and procedures.
3. Salary is in accordance with SCHADS Award level 7 (plus statutory superannuation). Generous tax-free salary packaging is available.
4. The position reports to the Principal Legal Officer (PLO).

Key Selection Criteria

1. Hold or be eligible to immediately obtain a current unrestricted practising certificate in the relevant jurisdiction.
2. Demonstrated extensive experience in providing criminal defence advocacy for vulnerable clients.
3. Experience leading teams and managing people, including multi-disciplinary teams of legal and non-legal staff, and demonstrated experience in supervising and assisting more junior legal staff.
4. A demonstrated understanding of the legal and non-legal issues affecting women from diverse backgrounds with multiple and complex needs, in particular, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women.
5. Demonstrated ability to build and maintain collaborative working relationships with other service providers to further access to justice for clients.
6. Excellent organisational and time management skills, including the ability to work effectively under pressure, manage competing demands, prioritise tasks and to find creative solutions to improve effectiveness of service delivery for clients.
7. Demonstrated ability to identify broader and systemic issues arising from casework and to develop appropriate responses, including experience in contributing to policy development and law reform.

Qualifications

1. A degree in law and admission to practice in Victoria, with at least seven years post-qualification experience.
2. Previous experience working for a community legal centre or legal aid commission is desirable.
3. An accredited specialisation in the relevant area of law, and eligibility to hold a Principal Practicing certificate, will be considered favourably.
4. Membership or eligibility for membership to the Victoria Legal Aid Panels relevant to LACW’s practice.
5. All offers of employment are subject to a satisfactory Criminal History Check and Working with Children Check.
6. Current Victorian Driver’s licence.

LACW relies upon an exception under the Equal Opportunity Act to employ women only.

To submit your application, click Apply Now.

Queries in relation to this role should be addressed to Elena Pappas, CEO, at [email protected], using the subject line: Managing Lawyer - Crime enquiry via EthicalJobs.

A position description is attached.