• Full time until 31 October 2026
  
• Fitzroy and St Kilda (Victorian Pride Centre)
• This is an identified role and only members of the LGBTIQA+SB community are eligible to apply, in line with the special measures provision in the Equal Opportunity Act 2010

ABOUT Q+LAW

Q+Law is Victoria’s statewide, specialist LGBTIQA+SB legal service, operated by Fitzroy Legal Service in partnership with Queerspace, to address the unique and complex legal needs experienced by LGBTIQA+SB community members.

Q+Law provides a safe and inclusive entry point to the legal assistance sector for LGBTIQA+SB community members and conducts casework on specialist LGBTIQA+SB legal issues. Q+Law also undertakes advocacy, law reform, community education and legal assistance sector capacity-building to empower and advance the rights of LGBTIQA+SB communities.

ABOUT THE ROLE

This role is responsible for leading and managing Q+Law. Depending on qualifications, experience and skill-set, the successful candidate will be appointed as either Director, Q+Law or Legal Director, Q+Law. If appointed as Director, Q+Law they will have the assistance of a Principal Lawyer who will be responsible for overseeing Q+Law’s legal service delivery. If appointed as a Legal Director, Q+Law they will be responsible for overseeing Q+Law’s legal service delivery, and will be provided with a resource to assist with other functions within their portfolio.

You will make a difference by:

• Providing strategic leadership for Q+ Law, ensuring its strategy, policy and service delivery respond effectively to the needs of LGBTIQA+SB communities, and fostering an inclusive and respectful team culture.
• Ensuring high-quality, safe, inclusive and client-centred legal services through effective management, supervision, and support of Q+Law staff.
• Strengthening Q+Law’s impact through the development and maintenance of strategic partnerships and the delivery oftargeted advocacy that advances systemic change.
• Contributing to the leadership and strategic direction of FLS as a member of FLS’s Senior Leadership Team, supporting whole-of-organisational initiatives and the implementation of FLS’s Strategic Plan

See attached position descriptions for more information.

ABOUT YOU

To be successful in the role you will ideally have (for both roles):

• Demonstrated commitment to LGBTIQA+SB liberation, anti-racism, social justice and advancing the rights of all LGBTIQA+SB community members.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and manage a team.
• High-level stakeholder engagement and partnership development skills.
• High-level communication skills, including the ability to advocate publicly, contribute to thought leadership, and enhance the public profile of a service or organisation.
• Strong organisational, financial and operational management skills.

For Legal Director:

• Demonstrated ability to effectively manage a legal practice
• Australian Legal Practitioner eligible to hold a Principal Practising Certificate
• At least five years’ PAE in one or more of the following areas of law:
  • Public and administrative law
  • Discrimination/human rights law
  • Family law
  • Civil community law

For Director:

• Demonstrated ability to undertake law reform, advocacy and/or systemic change initiatives
• Tertiary qualification in community service, public policy, business administration, communications or other relevant field
• At least five years’ experience in a community sector, legal assistance sector or advocacy role

If you meet some, but not all, of the above, we encourage your application. We appreciate that people obtain skills and experience in a range of ways, and value people’s curiosity and openness to learning.

For more information about this position, please contact Hamish McLachlan, CEO, [email protected].

WHAT WE OFFER:

• 5 weeks annual leave, 17.5% leave loading, plus extra paid leave between Christmas and New Year.
• Above-award salary and the ability to increase your take-home pay by accessing salary packaging benefits (use this link to see how much this benefit could mean to you).
• A range of leave options, including 16 weeks parental leave, gender affirmation leave, cultural and ceremonial leave, the ability to swap public holidays and purchase additional leave.
• Access to reflective practice, debriefing, mentoring and other mental health support

ABOUT FLS

Fitzroy Legal Service (FLS) is dedicated to assisting the most marginalised members of the community with legal information, advice and representation, as well as championing law reform and conducting public interest litigation.

Fitzroy Legal Service provides legal services for communities who are disproportionately impacted by law and policy, and those who face systemic barriers to accessing justice. We provide various multidisciplinary outreach programs reaching communities of colour, people at risk of or experiencing homelessness, LGBTIQA+ communities and people who use drugs.

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

Further information about FLS can be found on our website: fls.org.au.

Fitzroy Legal Service is an inclusive employer and complies with the laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of age, race, sex, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, family responsibilities, irrelevant criminal record and other protected attributes. We strongly encourage and welcome applications from members of diverse communities and people with relevant lived experience.

To be eligible to apply for this position you must be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, permanent resident, or hold a valid work permit or visa.

The successful candidate must undergo a National Police Check.

NOTE: Disclosure of a criminal record does not necessarily preclude employment with FLS, but if needed, we invite applicants to address this issue early in the application phase. Should a criminal record disclosure be advised by a candidate, FLS will endeavour to provide clarity over whether the conviction would preclude a candidate from being able to carry out the position duties.