Tenancy Lawyer / Senior Tenancy Lawyer 

The Role

Westjustice's tenancy team is an experienced, multidisciplinary group of practitioners who assist, advise and represent renters in Melbourne's Western Suburbs with residential tenancy matters including possession proceedings, family violence matters, urgent applications for repairs and compliance, and systemic litigation on key questions of law. Our lawyers appear in VCAT and the Magistrates' Court regularly, and a social worker assists renters with more complex needs to obtain just housing outcomes.

Due to the opening of the new Wyndham Law Courts, Westjustice is seeking to employ an experienced Tenancy Lawyer to join our growing Economic and Housing Rights Program on a 12-month maximum term contract (with possibility of ongoing employment). Applicants from Lawyer and Senior Lawyer level will be considered.

The lawyer is responsible for:

• Undertaking casework for clients, including court representation and duty lists
• Contributing to team processes and systems to ensure we are running an effective legal practice
• Contributing to internal Westjustice working groups and external networks and steering committees
• Student or volunteer supervision where appropriate
• Contributing to policy/systematic impact work as directed

Skills Required

• A degree in law and eligibility for admission to practice
• Strong commitment to social justice, including a demonstrated understanding of the social context of law and the issues faced by vulnerable communities and the ability to contribute to Westjustice’s systemic impact work
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with a range of internal and external stakeholders
• Ability to supervise employees
• Ability to undertake community legal education work
• Understanding of and commitment of Westjustice’s Vision, Purpose, Strategic Plan and Impact Areas

This position will be primarily based at our Werribee office but may be required to work from our other Westjustice offices and our partnered sites.

For a copy of the position description, please click here.

The successful applicant will require a current Working with Children’s Check and a Police Check or be prepared to apply for both. People with lived experience of the justice system are encouraged to apply. A police check result does not automatically disqualify an application which in each case will be individually assessed for the relevant role.  Applicants must possess the right to work in Australia.

Remuneration

Salary will be commensurate with experience. 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.

For enquires, call Ellen Flint, People and Culture Director, on 0419 617 754 for a confidential discussion.

To apply, please send your resume together with a concise cover letter demonstrating your skills and experience via this portal - Tenancy Lawyer / Senior Tenancy Lawyer Job at Westjustice. We will be interviewing candidates as applications are received, so don’t wait to apply! Submit your application as soon as possible to be considered for one of these exciting opportunities.

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.

Lawyers and Senior Lawyers - 4+ Positions Available

Westjustice is expanding due to the opening of the new Wyndham Law Courts. We have multiple opportunities for lawyers experienced in child protection, family violence and/or family law to join our growing team as we continue to help families impacted by family violence.

Be part of a collaborative, innovative and well-regarded team committed to delivering improved life outcomes to economically and socially disadvantaged clients.

In addition to providing meaningful community-led services to clients experiencing access barriers to justice, you will also contribute to research projects, community education and improvements in law reform.

The Roles

Due to service growth, we are looking for qualified lawyers to join our well-regarded Women and Gender Diverse People’s Rights Program on 12-month maximum term contracts (with possibility of ongoing employment). Salary is commensurate with experience. Full-time and Part-time candidates are encouraged to apply.

We recognise that family and gender-based violence are serious community concerns that disproportionately affect women, gender diverse people and children. Our vision is for our clients to feel safe and secure. We do this by representing clients in family violence intervention order proceedings, child protection applications, family law (parenting, property division disputes and divorce), criminal proceedings where they may have been misidentified as the primary perpetrator and victims compensation applications.

If successful, you will join a high performing supportive team delivering legal services with an early intervention focus. As we are s29A panel certifiers, we also undertake legally aided casework by applying for grants of legal assistance for clients who qualify under Victoria Legal Aid’s family law, family violence, criminal and child protection guidelines. 

These roles are primarily based at our Sunshine office, and you may also be required to undertake outreach legal services at our key health justice partner sites in the Western suburbs. You will also represent our clients in court proceedings in the Sunshine and Wyndham Magistrates Court, Children’s Court, Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, as required. 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.

Role Requirement:

• Minimum one year post admission experience (Lawyer)
• Minimum of three years post admission experience (Senior Lawyer)
• Demonstrated legal experience in any of our key legal areas:
  • Child protection (highly desirable)
  • Family law (desirable)
  • Family violence, including duty lawyer (highly desirable)
• Legal supervision experience (desirable for senior lawyer)
• Dedicated interest and commitment to social justice legal practice.
• Excellent time management and file management skills.
• Advocacy and litigation experience or the ability to develop these skills.

The successful applicants 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.

For a copy of the position descriptions, please click here for Senior Lawyer and Lawyer.

Remuneration

Salary range - $90,000pa - $118,430pa (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.

For enquires, call Ellen Flint, People and Culture Director, on 0419 617 754 for a confidential discussion.

To apply, please send your resume together with a concise cover letter demonstrating your skills and experience via this portal - Lawyers and Senior Lawyers - 4+ Positions Available Job at Westjustice. We will be interviewing candidates as applications are received, so don’t wait to apply! Submit your application as soon as possible to be considered for one of these exciting opportunities.

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.

Donations over $2.00 are tax deductable.

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Please check 'careers' for any current volunteer positions. 

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.

If there is a position available and you are a suitable candidate, we will contact you. 

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Westjustice has several current PLT opportunity, please see here for more details.