• Level: MLC Band 4, Pay Point 4
• Reports to: Senior Tenancy Advocates, Assistant Principal Solicitor
• Staff Management: N/A
• Type/Hours: Fixed Term (up to 9 months), Part-time employee, 35 hours per week.

Role overview

Marrickville Legal Centre offers free legal advice and assistance to the community of the inner-west, south-west, southern suburbs of Sydney, and beyond. There are 1.5 million people living in our key catchment: that’s 30 per cent of Sydney’s total population.

Marrickville Legal Centre solicitors provide access to justice through the provision of legal services, law reform and community legal education, particularly for people who are disadvantaged by their social and economic circumstances.

The primary aim of the tenancy service is to help vulnerable renters and social housing tenants from within the Inner West and Northern Sydney to assert and advance their rights, assisting them to control and resolve their own disputes. The tenancy services provide legal information and advice as well as duty advocacy and representation for vulnerable tenants at NCAT. The service also engages in law reform and policy work to address systemic disadvantage and provides legal education to community workers.

This position is specifically for the provision of legal services (legal advice, casework and representation) in the area of tenancy services.

Essential skills

• Completed a Certificate IV in Community Services or equivalent Tenants Union training (desirable)
• Experience in client and or customer-facing roles.
• Penultimate LLB or GDLP – good to have.
• Commitment to social justice and tenant’s rights.
• Strong knowledge of legislation relating to tenants, boarders, residential parks and the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
• Experience advocating for vulnerable and disadvantaged tenants, boarders and lodgers in courts and tribunals.
• Proactive and independent attitude and result-oriented approach.
• Flexible, adaptable, able to challenge the status quo, and the ability to work as a team to deliver the best possible outcome for the community.
• Ability to present complex legal and other information clearly, accurately and in a way that can be understood by our clients.

About Marrickville Legal Centre's goals

Marrickville Legal Centre’s vision is to promote social justice through the provision of free and accessible legal and related services to people who experience social and economic disadvantage. Each and every team member has a role to contribute to our strategic pillars:

• For all people: We’re proud to stand alongside individuals who are disadvantaged by our justice system, helping them toward better & fairer outcomes.
• For progress: We work with community partners to make sure the voices of disadvantaged people are heard I the processes that lead to policy reform.
• For working together: We are proud to bring people together to promote justice and protect human rights.
• For lasting change: We aim to resolve any immediate legal issues, and to link our clients to resources and services that will support them towards positive and lasting change in their lives, and in our community.

For additional questions about the position or about working at MLC, contact acting Managing Principal Solicitor Justin Abi-Daher at [email protected] using the subject line: Tenants' Advocate enquiry via EthicalJobs.

A position description is attached.