• Melbourne CBD
• Immediate start
• Hybrid working model
• Full time, Ongoing

About Us

For over 40 years Women’s Legal Service Victoria (Women’s Legal) has championed women’s rights to live free from violence.

We are a dedicated team with a passion for working with women and non-binary people to live free from violence and discrimination by:

• Providing high quality integrated legal services for Victorian women and non-binary people who are victim-survivors of family violence and disadvantaged or marginalised by structural and systemic barriers.
• Building the capacity of professionals who work with women and non-binary people, to better understand the law and navigate the legal system safely.
• Advancing gender equality by challenging unsafe and discriminatory policies and laws and informing and advocating for legal and policy initiatives that respect and promote the rights of women and non-binary people.

About the Role

Reporting to the Managing Lawyer you will provide high quality, best practice legal services to clients as part of an integrated service model, including some appearances in court (other than trials).

• Provide duty lawyer services on a rostered basis.
• Maintain a caseload of legal matters in family violence. In your practice area(s), you will also maintain a caseload spanning family law and/or victims of crime assistance.
• Conduct complex litigation files and participate in dispute resolution with strategic direction from the Managing Lawyer.
• Provide an integrated and holistic client service, working with social workers and financial counsellors, to address both legal and non-legal needs.

About You

You are a driven, motivated self-starter who can work autonomously to deliver results that exceed the client's expectations. You have high attention to detail, strong communication skills and the ability to build rapport with people quickly.

Key to your success is your:

• Understanding of family violence, family law and/or victims of crime assistance, in particular in litigation.
• Your passion and drive to work alongside clients to support their rights to live free from violence.
• Growing confidence in appearance work.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills, and the ability to manage changing priorities.
• Understanding of the gendered nature and impact of family violence.

You will:

• be eligible for admission to the legal profession as an Australian Legal Practitioner
• have less than two years post admission experience in family law and/or victims of crime assistance
• have skills in a trauma informed approach to working with women and non-binary people experiencing family violence (desirable)

Why Women’s Legal?

In return for your dedication, we offer:

• Competitive remuneration
• 5 weeks annual leave, plus bonus leave between Christmas and New Year!
• Paid parental leave and reproductive health leave
• Cultural leave
• A strong commitment to your professional development, personal development, and wellbeing
• A hybrid working model and a flexible working environment that supports work/non-work balance
• NFP salary packaging benefits (up to $15,900 in tax-free pay every year) plus meal and entertainment benefits (up to $2,650 tax-free pay per year)
• Fresh fruit available in the office
• Access to our Employee Assistance Program

To apply

Submit a resume and covering letter to tell us how you are the right candidate for this role. Please ensure the cover letter addresses how you personally align to Women’s Legal values.

Enquiries

Enquiries can be emailed to Ruth McKendrick, HR Officer at [email protected] using the subject line: Graduate Lawyer enquiry via EthicalJobs.

Equal Opportunity Employer

We recognise our work benefits greatly from the unique knowledge, skills and expertise of individuals with diverse experiences, including those with lived experience of family violence, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, women with disability and women from migrant, refugee or non-English speaking backgrounds. If this is you, we strongly encourage you to apply.

Women's Legal relies on an exception under the Equal Opportunity Act to employ women only.