Program Manager / Managing Lawyer - Child Protection and Family Violence 

The Role

Due to expanded services in the Wyndham Law Courts, Westjustice is looking to employ a Legal Program Manager / Managing Lawyer with demonstrated experience in child protection and family violence.

The Program Manager / Managing Lawyer role is responsible for:

• Assisting the Legal Director to build a new child protection practice.

• Leading a team of high performing lawyers representing women, mothers, children and young people in child protection and intervention order proceedings.

• Representing our clients in court proceedings in the Family Division of the Children’s Court and Magistrates Court at the Wyndham Law Courts.

• Contributing to important social justice community legal work, varied client base and engagement with key community agencies including contribution to building pathways to access to justice

• Contributing to legal practice to secure better life outcomes for families recovering from the impacts of family violence

• Assist with addressing system barriers and initiating improvements through law reform, community and research projects, legal education and contribute to maintaining key community stakeholder relationships

Role requirement:

• Minimum 5 years post admission experience in child protection and family violence
• Supervision and management experience (desirable)
• Demonstrated ability to directly contribute to more complex case work and Court representation including leading strategic litigation and supervising lawyers
• An aptitude for achieving high quality, innovative and sustainable outcomes for families
• Demonstrated ability to oversee legal projects and programs that have a strategic impact for our clients
• Demonstrated ability to successfully manage competing priorities effectively across legal supervision, team management, project work, law reform initiatives, grant applications, funding proposals and budget oversight under the guidance of the Legal Director
• Stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills (or the ability to obtain these skills)
• Dedicated interest and commitment to social justice legal practice and improving outcomes for clients who face life barriers in accessing justice.

This role is primarily based at our head office in Sunshine and may also be required to undertake outreach at other key partner locations in the West. From time to time, you may also be required to work at our other offices in Werribee and/or partner organisation sites, depending on Program needs.

The successful applicant will require a current Working with Children’s Check and a National Police Check or be prepared to apply for both. Applicants must possess the right to work in Australia.

Remuneration

Salary range - $122,000 - $127,000 (commensurate with experience) with additional financial benefits of 17.5% leave loading, generous salary packaging of up to $15,900 for general living expenses, accommodation and meal packaging plus statutory employer funded superannuation paid on top of the base salary.

To apply

Please apply here: Program Manager Job at Westjustice and send your resume together with a concise cover letter demonstrating your skills and experience via clicking 'Apply now'. Due to the expansion of our services already starting, we are keen for the successful candidate to commence as soon as possible in 2026. We will therefore be shortlisting and interviewing candidates as applications are received, so don’t wait to apply!

For a copy of the position description, click here.

For enquires, contact Cleona Feuerring, Legal Director, on 03 9749 7720 for a confidential discussion.

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 LGBTIQA+-identifying people.   People with lived experience of the justice system are encouraged to apply. A police check result does not automatically disqualify an application but will be individually assessed for the relevant role.

Please ensure that you let us know, in advance, of any reasonable adjustment you may require during any part of the recruitment process including application and interview by contacting Ellen Flint via ellen@westjustice.org.au Any information disclosed will be held in the strictest of confidence.

Please contact us on (03) 9749 7720 if you wish to make a donation to WEstjustice.

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WEstjustice relies heavily on the work of legal and non-legal volunteers. Volunteer roles include:

• Policy volunteers 
• Administrative volunteers 
• Paralegal volunteers 
• Solicitor volunteers 

Skills we require of all of our volunteers include:

• Excellent communication skills
• High attention to detail
• Ability to work as part of a team and independently
• Reliability and punctuality

We ask that volunteers give us a minimum commitment of twelve months.

Demand for volunteer positions may vary.

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