A great and rare opportunity has arisen for an inaugural Managing Lawyer to join the LGBTIQ Legal Service.    

About the LGBTIQ Legal Service

The LGBTIQ Legal Service was initially conceived as a two-year health justice partnership between St Kilda Legal Service and Thorne Harbour Health. Over this time, the service has expanded in reach and grown in size. In recognition of the need and success, the Victoria Government recently provided funds to enable the continuation of the state’s first and only specialist LGBTIQ legal service.

LGBTIQ communities experience legal issues that specifically relate to their identities or status, including discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, relationship status, family status, gender identity, HIV status or lawful sexual activity. Other community-specific legal needs include administrative change of name and sex markers and identification, health and privacy complaints and expungement of historic convictions. LGBTIQ communities also experience general legal issues, including employment law, family violence, family law, criminal law, immigration law, tenancy and infringements. 

The complex legal needs of LGBTIQ communities are best met by a responsive, informed and specialist integrated service that understands how identities and status influence, interact and compound experiences with the legal system. 

About the role

The role presents a unique opportunity to be part of a growing, responsive and specialist multi-disciplinary service for LGBTIQ clients. The successful applicant will build on the significant work in embedding the legal service in a health setting with Thorne Harbour Health, having established strong relationship with health professionals. The successful applicant will also oversee the expansion of the LGBTIQ Legal Service, including the Roberta Perkins Law Project – delivered in partnership with Transgender Victoria. 

Other key aspects of the role include:

• Leading a talented and committed team
• Advocating for the legal rights of LGBTIQ clients
• Engaging in strategic litigation and law reform 
• Collaborating with key partners and allies
• Exploring new opportunities to enhance impact
• Participating in the SKLS leadership team. 

If you are motivated, driven, and committed to delivering a high-quality legal service to the LGBTIQ community, we want to hear from you. 

For more information about LGBTIQ Legal Service, including a recent report on the LGBTIQ community legal need in Victoria, visit https://lgbtiqlegal.org.au/. 

To learn about St Kilda Legal Service, visit http://www.skls.org.au/.

Salary and conditions

The position is a full-time position (38 hours per week but 0.8 to 1 FTE will be considered for the right candidate) for a fixed term of two years. The continuation of this role is contingent on securing ongoing funding. It is subject to a 6-month probationary period where it will be reviewed to ascertain the effectiveness of the position. 

Conditions are set out under the SCHADS Award and Community Legal Centre Multi-Business Agreement and this role is classified as Level 7 under the pay award.   

SKLS is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive workforce. We encourage applications from candidates with diverse lived experiences including Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, people of colour, intersex people, neurodivergent people, and people with disability.

Please see the attached position description for more information. For further information please contact Mel Dye on 0402 486 048.