• Salary Offering: $100,000 to $115,000 depending on experience plus 10.5% Superannuation
• This role is full-time fixed until 30th June 2025(aligned with the funding cycle)

Additional Benefits:

• 17.5% Leave Loading
• 5 extra days leave on top of 20 days annual leave
• Only required to work 35 hours per week, any extra hours worked will be calculated as your Time In Lieu (TOIL) – which you may use as additional leave hours
• Access to company vehicles for any work-related trips
• Salary packaging allows up to $15,900 each year to be tax free.

OVERVIEW OF THE ROLE:

As Regional Practice Lead for Aboriginal Families Practice, you will have 4+ years of practical experience in family law and act as a lead advocate for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people interacting with the family law and child protection system across each region that you will be assign to.

This position will:

• Provide high quality legal services in the family law, child protection and family violence jurisdictions; and appear in the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria and the Federal Circuit and Family Courts on behalf of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
• Engage with Aboriginal community stakeholders to identify, develop and deliver community legal education (CLE) and other types of Family Law assistance relevant to the regional and local context. This includes Family Law clinics for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people at the Hub office and other locations within the region you’re assigned in.
• Link with, and oversee the development of, partnerships and referral and support pathways within the region you’re assigned in, to assist VALS clients with access to other legal assistance and services relevant to them. This includes oversight of Aboriginal client service officers (CSOs) and administrative support based at each VALS regional hub.

The role holder will have the endorsement or is eligible to become a Panel Certifier on Victorian Legal Aid (VLA) Family Law Panel, albeit grants of aid will be approved through VALS headquarters.

Key Responsibilities:

• Appear as an advocate on behalf of VALS clients in Family Law proceedings in the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria and the Federal Circuit and Family Courts of Australia, and at other state-wide locations as required.
• Deliver high quality legal services, including information, advice and casework on behalf of VALS clients in Family Law matters and other related matters as required.
• Maintain a substantial caseload in Family Law matters.
• Prepare and comply with applications for grants of legal assistance and reporting requirements for matters eligible for VLA funding.’
• Attend, participate and contribute to the planning, service delivery and continuous improvement of the Family Law Practice and VALS.
• Contribute to VALS projects, policy and law reform initiatives, and community and professional legal education programs as required.
• Contribute to the collaborative relationship with VLA and other community organisations with which VALS interacts.
• Keep up to date with relevant legal developments and procedures by attending professional legal education programs and maintain an understanding of issues, risks and trends impacting upon the provision of relevant legal services and members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Victoria.

KEY SELECTION CRITERIA:

• Admitted or eligible for admission as a legal practitioner in Victoria and in the High Court of Australia (with an unrestricted practising certificate)
• Demonstrated ability to act as an advocate, deliver information, advice, casework and outreach services, and undertake negotiation and dispute resolution on behalf of VALS clients in Family Violence, Intervention Orders and, to a lesser extent, Family Law and Child Protection matters.
• Knowledge of, and 4+ years of practical experience in relevant Family Violence, Intervention Orders, Family Law and Child Protection law and procedure.
• Ability to supervise, mentor and train staff and volunteers and contribute to the development of individuals and their knowledge and skills in Family Law;
• Sound interpersonal skills and the capacity to communicate effectively with members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community and more broadly with multidisciplinary colleagues and VALS partners
• A commitment to and understanding of VALS and the legal issues faced by members of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Victoria;
• Competency in the use of MS Office Software (particularly MS Word, Excel, E-mail) and the capacity to quickly acquire competency in the use of VALS’ client management system.

MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS:

On offer of this position, you must provide:

• Copy of your current Employee Working with Children Card.
• You will be required to complete a current Criminal History Police Check.
• Up to date vaccination certificate or valid medical exemption
• Proof of rights to work in Australia, i.e., a copy of an Australian Passport, Birth Certificate, or Immigration VISA documentation
• Current valid Australian Driver’s Licence

Please note:

*Only successful applications will be contacted*

We do not accept unsolicited resumes from employment agencies. No (search) fee will be paid in the event we hire a candidate whose resume is submitted by an employment agency to any of our employees without a valid written recruitment agreement. Such resumes shall be deemed the sole property of VALS.

Why VALS?

VALS is made up of Victoria’s most committed legal advocates, professionals and support staff who work hard – with each other, our partners and our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients and communities - to advance Aboriginal self-determination and the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Victoria of all ages.

We know that our people make the difference.

VALS is committed to diversity, equality and inclusion and we celebrate our staff team of diverse Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, LGBTQIA+ communities and from diverse cultures, language groups, abilities, and experiences.

To learn more about us, head to vals.org.au/about-vals.

For more details about our other roles, check our careers website: vals.org.au/careers.