• Part time, 4 days per week

ORGANISATIONAL CONTEXT

As one of the oldest community legal centres in Australia, Fitzroy Legal Service (FLS) is dedicated to assisting the most marginalised members of the community. FLS has built a reputation as a champion for justice, providing access and a voice to those often silenced, fighting the fights that others either can’t or won’t. We provide legal services for those who face barriers to justice due to poverty, race, discrimination, and disability. This includes various multidisciplinary outreach programs reaching communities of colour, people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, LGBTIQA+ communities and people who use drugs.

FLS is staffed by dedicated professionals and powered by hundreds of passionate volunteers including previous FLS employees and other lawyers and barristers who offer their time in a volunteer or pro bono capacity. FLS provides services with a focus on the Cities of Darebin and Yarra and the broader inner north of Melbourne.

Our Vision: A fairer Victorian community where the legal and broader social systems support equality and justice for all.

Our goal of driving change is supported by four strategic pillars:

• Exceptional programs and services
• Strong and independent advocacy
• Financial resilience and sustainability
• Systems and structures to drive change

Our Values: Integrity / Courage & Passion / Empowerment & Advocacy / Connected to Community

Further information about FLS can be found on our website.

POSITION CONTEXT

The Neighbourhood Justice Centre (NJC) encompasses a Magistrates’ Court, on-site services such as drug and alcohol, mental health, corrections, financial counselling, housing and an innovative team that focusses on working with community, reducing crime and implementing innovative solutions and ideas. The NJC provides services for people who live in the City of Yarra or who have legal matters listed at the NJC. It is part of a Victorian Government strategy to reduce crime and disadvantage and to improve access to justice.

The NJC deals with tenancy, civil and criminal legal issues in an effort to reduce re-offending and crime rates, to enhance community perceptions of safety and confidence in the justice system. A major component of the NJC is the multi-jurisdictional nature of the court where one principal Magistrate hears all matters with engagement of support services to enable comprehensive resolutions of issues presenting at the Centre. VCAT members also sit at the NJC.

The NJC legislation was developed around a philosophy of therapeutic jurisprudence and the aim to assist individuals to manage their lives and underlying issues to reduce the risk of recidivism and work towards rehabilitation and recovery.

The experiences of clients, as heard through casework, informs the community legal education, community development, law reform and policy work of FLS. The Community Lawyer NJC takes an active role in this.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide duty lawyer services in relation to criminal matters (including consolidated plea hearings and contested bail applications), intervention orders, infringements and Victorian Civil Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) tenancy matters
• Provide casework, advice and referral for clients on a variety of matters, including criminal law, infringements, VCAT matters and Intervention Orders, in line with FLS guidelines
• Develop links with relevant support agencies to assist with the varied and complex issues of clients
• As appropriate, apply for VLA grants of legal assistance through ATLAS
• Where eligible and appropriate, brief barristers to appear on behalf of clients
• Provide legal advice and secondary consultation to community workers and agencies in relation to the legal rights and responsibilities of their client
• Develop and participate in community legal education programs as identified by the NJC and FLS
• Inform the community about the role of the court and the availability of services
• Develop and co-ordinate community development projects and deliver community information consistent with the philosophy and priorities of FLS and NJC

Refer to attached Position Description for more details and Key Selection Criteria.