• Bring your legal expertise to our collaborative, feminist legal service
• Located in Melbourne's legal precinct, with public transport on your doorstep
• Hybrid working model (part in office/working from home), promoting a true work/life balance
• A welcoming, and incredibly passionate, driven and motivated workforce all working towards the vision to help build a gender equitable society

GENDER SPECIFIC ROLE 

Women’s Legal Service Victoria relies upon an exception under the Equal Opportunity Act to employ women only.

About Womens Legal Service Victoria

Women’s Legal Service Victoria is a specialised and state-wide organisation providing services and support to women since 1982. We exist to help build a gender equitable society, driving systemic change and advocating for solutions for equality, safety and economic security. We are committed to working alongside women experiencing disadvantage to promote their rights to live free from violence. We use our experience to inform our policy, law reform and education work.

Women’s Legal provides legal services within a multi-disciplinary and trauma-informed practice in the areas of family law, family violence, victims of crime, migration and child protection. Our model incorporates social work and financial counselling to provide wrap-around support to our clients.

Our culture

We are committed to our vision of building a gender equitable society

• We are passionate, collaborative and solution-focused
• We work alongside women experiencing disadvantage, to promote their rights to live free from violence, and make informed choices about their lives
• We work in a way that is woman-focused, engaging and supporting the whole person and appreciating the complexity of her situation

Your new role

Reporting to the Managing Lawyers, these positions will provide high quality legal advice and representation to women experiencing disadvantage.

The positions will conduct family law (property and parenting) and/or child protection and/or migration matters and/or victims of crime assistance for women experiencing family violence and disadvantage which will include litigation, appearances in court (other than trials), mediation and family dispute resolution in the areas.

Noting the Senior Lawyer position will be expected to conduct more complex matters and assistance, to provide mentoring and support to other lawyers, and to provide further support to the Managing Lawyer.

Due to the complexity of the legal issues faced by our clients, the Lawyers will be expected to work as an integrated model of service, with all practice areas.

These roles will contribute to the Legal & Policy team’s strategic advocacy priorities and outcomes.

These roles are full time or part time – negotiable (minimum 4 days).

What you'll need to succeed

You are a driven, motivated self-starter who has the ability to work autonomously to deliver results that exceed the client's expectations.

You have high attention to detail, strong communication skills and the ability to build rapport with people quickly.

Key to your success is your:

• strong understanding of family law and/or child protection law and/or victims of crime assistance, in particular in litigation
• your passion and drive to work alongside women to support their rights to live free from violence
• confidence in appearance work
• excellent organisational and time management skills, and the ability to manage changing priorities
• understanding of the gendered nature and impact of family violence

You will be eligible for admission to the legal profession as an Australian Legal Practitioner (unrestricted for Senior Lawyer positions), have a minimum of 2 years (4+ years for Senior Lawyer positions) post admission experience in family law and/or child protection law and/or victims of crime assistance. Experience in court advocacy in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, Magistrates Court, Children’s Court and/or Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal, and experience with working with women experiencing family violence.

Those with Victims of Crime Assistance experience in particular are highly encouraged to apply.

What you'll get in return

The support of a genuine, motivated, passionate workforce, all driven in helping to build a gender equitable country. 

We offer bonus leave days to support a well-rested end of year break (up to 8 bonus leave days) outside of annual leave (yes, outside of annual leave!), competitive remuneration, a strong commitment to your professional development, personal development and mental health, a very flexible working environment that supports work-life balance, hybrid working, salary packaging (which can add up to $15,900 in tax-free pay per year) and a vibrant and collegiate work culture.

Equal opportunity and diversity

WLSV is committed to equal opportunity and diversity and promotes an organisational environment where individuals are treated with fairness, respect, equality and dignity. To deliver the best outcomes for our clients we want a staff team that reflects the diverse community that we serve, recognising the skills, knowledge and experience a diverse staff group brings to our organisation.

To Apply

Please submit a covering letter and resume ASAP as we will begin shortlisting immediately.

Full position descriptions are available below. 

For any other queries, please email Lauren Wellington, People and Culture Manager at [email protected] using the subject line: Lawyer / Senior Lawyer enquiry via EthicalJobs.

Click the APPLY NOW button to submit your application.