Senior Lawyer, Family Law

The Organisation

Westjustice is a rights-based Community Legal Centre servicing Melbourne’s West on the lands of the Bunurong and Wurundjeri peoples and including the LGAs of Wyndham, Maribyrnong, Hobsons Bay, Melton and Brimbank, a population of over a million people. Melbourne’s Western Suburbs are the thriving backbone of the state, and home to Australia’s most diverse and fastest-growing population.

Westjustice’s purpose is to deliver targeted services and drive meaningful change to achieve fairness, safety and justice for Melbourne’s West.

We work to uphold peoples’ rights by providing free legal, social work, financial counselling services, community engagement, and advocacy for systemic reform across the five impact areas of Workers’ Rights, Children and Young People’s Rights, Women and Gender Diverse people’s Rights, Economic and Housing Rights, and Our Team. We provide place-based, multi-disciplinary programs, and partner with values-aligned organisations to focus on servicing those most impacted by these issues, and to ensure people have access to the services they need where they need them.

Through our work, we consistently see complex legal issues and the cyclical impact they have on longer term justice, economic, health, and life outcomes. This is why our services and programs focus on prevention and early intervention in the cycle of economic precarity, criminalisation, violence and housing insecurity. It is also why we advocate for legal, social and policy reform to ensure the people of Melbourne’s West have access to services and the best version of justice.

Benefits and Culture

• Be a part of an organisation that 98% of our team are proud to work for
• Be a part of an organisation that 98% of our employees are proud to work for
• We pay 3% above the SCHADs award
• Not for profit salary packaging up to $15,900 per annum
• Flexible working conditions
• 5% annual leave loading
• Passionate, professional and dedicated team
• Gifted additional paid leave over the Christmas holiday period
• Strong focus on collaboration, wellbeing, inclusion and diversity

The Role

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, family law (parenting, property division disputes and divorce), criminal proceedings where they have been misidentified as the primary perpetrator and providing early intervention legal advice to clients being investigated by the Child Protection.

If successful, you will join a high performing and supportive team delivering legal services in family law, family violence, criminal law and child protection 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. 

This role is 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 Werribee Magistrates Court and 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 Requirements:

• Contribute to the achievement of the Westjustice Strategy by providing high-quality legal services, including legal information, advice, casework and representation in any of our key areas of practice - family violence, family law, and child protection.
• Maintain a caseload of both routine and complex client files and collect and record client data to demonstrate impact and support advocacy and funding growth.
• Establish and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders to ensure effective referral practices, in addition to efficient and consistent service delivery.
• Contribute to community legal education, systemic impact work and policy and process improvement.
• Contribute to the ongoing development of our WISED UP culture by focusing on Wellbeing, Inclusion, Safety, Equity and Diversity to support an uplift in performance and potential through mentoring and supervision of less experienced lawyers, PLT law students, pro bono lawyers and volunteers.
• Contribute to the implementation of the Westjustice Strategy and Impact Areas 2024-2027 which includes collaborating with other teams on the broader objectives of the organisation.
• Comply with all relevant laws and standards, including Westjustice’s policies, procedures, risk management processes and best practice guidelines.
• Other relevant work as required

Skills and experience required:

• Direct family law experience, ideally a minimum of three years  
• Advocacy and litigation experience or the demonstrated ability to develop these skills 
• Experience as a family violence duty lawyer (desirable but not mandatory) 
• Legal supervision experience (desirable but not mandatory) 
• Excellent time management and file management skills. 
• Dedicated interest and commitment to social justice legal practice and improving outcomes for clients who face life barriers in accessing justice. 

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:

Base Salary – $118,000 - $124,000pa (dependent on experience) employer funded superannuation in accordance with Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992 (Cth), salary packaging and meals and entertainment benefits.

For more information about Westjustice, please visit our website (www.westjustice.org.au) For enquires, call Cleona Feuerring on (03) 9749 7720 for a confidential discussion.

If this sounds like the role for you, please promptly apply. The position will be closed as soon as a sufficient number of qualified applicants are received.

To apply, please click here: Senior Lawyer, Family Law/Child Protection Job at Westjustice

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 which in each case 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 Theresa via theresa@Westjustice.org.au.  Any information disclosed will be held in the strictest of confidence.

Senior Legal Administrator

Benefits and Culture

• Be a part of an organisation that 98% of our employees are proud to work for 
• We pay 3% above the SCHADs award  
• Not for profit salary packaging up to $15,900 per annum 
• Flexible working conditions 
• 17.5% annual leave loading 
• Passionate, professional and dedicated team 
• Gifted additional paid leave over the Christmas holiday period 
•  Strong focus on collaboration, wellbeing, inclusion and diversity  

The Role 

Westjustice is seeking an experienced Legal Administrator to provide high quality administrative and legal support as well as providing guidance and coordination to the teams other Legal Administrators. This role is a 12-month fixed term contract (with potential for a longer-term contract depending on availability of funding) in our Women and Gender Diverse People’s Rights Program.  This is an excellent opportunity for someone with 3-5 years’ experience in a Legal Assistant or similar Legal Support role who is ready to take on the next step in their career and use their experience to support both our lawyers and the wider Legal Administration team.   

Role Requirements:

1. Provide a wide range of legal administrative support services including but not limited to conducting legal intake with clients, court clerking, word processing, data entry, generating and preparing legal correspondence/court documents/briefs to counsel, calendar management, processing applications for grants of legal assistance, preparing powerpoint presentations, booking interpreters, data reporting, file management and where required, reception services. 
2. Lead the day to day administrative functions including the practice including training, induction and orientation of new administrative staff. 
3. Lead other legal administrators and providing development support to grow their expertise.  
4. Lead the development and implementation of procedures to enhance the legal and administrative work practices of the team. 
5. Triage client inquiries, record outcomes and provide internal or external referrals as appropriate. 
6. Provide information and referrals to the public, lawyers and community agencies about Westjustice (WJ) and external services. 
7. Update and maintain Westjustice’s client database and case management system in accordance with policies, procedures and practice standards considering local operating requirements. 

Skills and experience required:

• A minimum of 3-5 years’ experienced as a Legal Assistant 
• Experience leading the administrative functions of a busy legal practice  
• Excellent organisational and time management skills 
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills 
• High attention to detail and the ability to manage competing priorities 
• A proactive and team-focused approach  

(Please note, Westjustice employs a number of Legal Administrators who are current law students seeking experience to position themselves for a career in law. This particular role is specifically seeking an experienced career legal assistant, to provide guidance to those more junior legal administrators. Therefore, we will not be considering law students who are seeking a career as a lawyer in the medium to long term for this position.)   

The role is primarily based at our Sunshine office but will be required to work at our other offices, including relevant courts and other outreach locations, as the need arises. 

Remuneration: 

Salary – $95,046pa (dependent on experience) employer funded superannuation in accordance with Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992 (Cth), salary packaging and meals and entertainment benefits.  

To apply click here: Senior Legal Administrator (Full-time or 0.8 Part-time) Job at Westjustice

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

If this sounds like the role for you, please promptly apply. The position will be closed as soon as a sufficient number of qualified applicants are received.  

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

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 which in each case 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 Theresa via theresa@Westjustice.org.au.  Any information disclosed will be held in the strictest of confidence. 

Senior Program Manager

Benefits and Culture

• Be a part of an organisation that 98% of our employees are proud to work for
• We pay 3% above the SCHADs award
• Not for profit salary packaging up to $15,900 per annum
• Flexible working conditions
• 17.5% annual leave loading
• Passionate, professional and dedicated team
• Gifted additional paid leave over the Christmas holiday period
• Strong focus on collaboration, wellbeing, inclusion and diversity

The Role

Westjustice is seeking to employ a full-time (or potentially part-time) Senior Program Manager, Criminal Law to:

• lead the Children and Young People’s Rights Program of legal and other services,
• lead the ongoing development and expansion of Westjustice’s Youth Crime Prevention and Early Intervention Program (YCPEIP) across the state, and
• collaborate with stakeholders across the organisation to meet client needs and achieve our strategic objectives.

This position will be primarily based at our Sunshine office and will be required to travel and work from other sites.

Skills and Experience Required

• A law degree and an unrestricted Practising Certificate which entitles you to practise law in Victoria. In addition, a Principal practising certificate (or willingness to achieve the certificate).
• Significant legal practiceexperience and subjectmatter expertise in criminal law, including experience in complex advocacy, casework and litigation.
• Demonstrated understanding of high-quality legal practice management, including legal operations and risk management. An ability to think strategically and with integrity to meet clients and practice management needs.
• Strong planning, project management, change management and stakeholder engagement skills to enable the successful achievement of the expansion of the YCPIEProgram.
• Sophisticated people management skills to lead and develop a high performing team.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and coordinate systemicimpact work such as drafting policy or law reform submissions, legal projects and programs with strategic impact,
• Ability to work autonomously, take initiative to progress program priorities including legal supervision, team management, project work, grant applications, funding proposals, program budgets and make sound judgements, with limited direction of the Legal Director.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills including the ability to engage with stakeholders and clients experiencing trauma and/or disadvantage.
• Strong commitment to social justice, community education and engagement

If you want to use your experience to improve life outcomes for people in the community experiencing significant disadvantage, please apply by COB 28 August 2026. Please note, Westjustice reserves the right to interview candidates as their applications are received. The position may close earlier than the 28 August 2026 should we receive sufficient quality applications.

Please call Ellen Howard on 03 9749 7720 if you have any questions in relation to the role.

To apply, click here: Senior Lawyer, Family Law/Child Protection Job at Westjustice

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.

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 which in each case will be individually assessed for the relevant role.

If you require any adjustments throughout the application or recruitment process please contact Ellen Flint at ellen@westjustice.org.au 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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Westjustice current PLT opportunity – In Women and Gender Diverse People's Rights Program – Please click here for more details.