• Melbourne CBD
• Immediate start, Hybrid working model
• Full time or Part time - negotiable (minimum 0.8EFT) | Ongoing

Your new role

This is a unique opportunity to support the development of our new trauma-informed, criminal law service. This service is a significant step towards improving victim survivor’s access to justice and is our first criminal law practice.

You will work alongside our team of lawyers, social workers and financial counsellors to make sure women have what they need to make decisions for themselves and their children.

• Provide legal advice and assistance to service users, including secondary consultations to workers supporting clients
• Provide duty lawyer services on a rostered basis
• Maintain a caseload of legal matters in criminal law and family violence;
• Collaborate on the delivery of the Sexual Assault pilot, together with any other projects or programs
• Mentor and supervise other lawyers to develop their legal, client and practice management skills, particularly in family violence; (Senior Only)
• Support or supervise other lawyers to deliver legal assistance and manage a caseload of legal matters and be available to other lawyers for legal questions and debriefing needs (Senior Only)

This is a full time or part time (minimum 4 days) position. Please note: We are only hiring for one role, either a Senior Criminal Lawyer or a Criminal Lawyer.

What you’ll need to succeed

This position would be suitable for candidates who hold, or are eligible to hold, an unrestricted practising certificate with a minimum of two years post admission experience in family violence, family law and/or child protection law. You will also have:

• Experience in court advocacy and in the preparation of cases involving summary crime, subpoenas in criminal law matters;
• Experience in other areas of law including family violence, child protection, family law and/or victims of crime assistance;
• Eligible for admission to the legal profession as an Australian Legal Practitioner;
• A minimum of two years post admission experience or 4 years for Seniors

What you’ll get in return

In return for your dedication, we offer competitive remuneration, bonus leave days, flexible work arrangements, salary packaging, and a vibrant, supportive work culture.

The detail:

• 5 weeks annual leave!
• Above-award remuneration
• A strong commitment to your professional development, personal development, and wellbeing
• A very flexible working environment that supports work-life balance
• A hybrid working model that supports both in-office and work-from-home arrangements
• Salary packaging (which can add up to $15,900 in tax-free pay every year)
• Fresh fruit available in the office
• Access to our Employee Assistance Program

Our Purpose:

To improve outcomes for all women, with a specific focus on victim-survivors of family violence by:

• Providing high quality legal services for Victorian women who are disadvantaged or marginalised by structural and systemic barriers​​​​​​​,
• Assisting women and professionals that work with women, to better understand the law and navigate the legal system safely, and
• Advancing gender equality by challenging unsafe and discriminatory policies and laws and informing and advocating for legal and policy initiatives that respect and promote the rights of women

Our culture

We’re continually building on our culture of inclusivity, collaboration and safety so our teams and individuals thrive. Our values are more than words – they’re actions we take together.

Together, we are:

Authentic: We are reliable, trustworthy and transparent about how we work. We reflect on our work and take responsibility for our actions.

Collaborative: We are stronger when we work together. By sharing power and privilege with diverse voices, we achieve better outcomes. We respond to requests for help with generosity.

Courageous: We are brave, resilient and face challenges with integrity. We unapologetically advocate for our goals and back one another to take considered risks to increase our impact.

Inclusive: We believe respect, equality and opportunity must be afforded equitably and to everyone. We understand this will require critical reflection on where power lies and how it functions, and active effort to disrupt it.

Purposeful: Our services respond to the community, laws and people we work with. We value curiosity and relish opportunities to improve our work.

To apply

Submit a resume and covering letter to tell us how you are the right candidate for this role.

Please ensure the cover letter addresses how you personally align to Women’s Legal values that are listed above and whether you are applying for the Criminal Lawyer or Senior Criminal Lawyer role.

See the Women’s Legal ‘Work with Us’ page for a full position description.

Any other enquiries can be emailed to Ruth McKendrick, HR Officer at [email protected], using the subject line: Senior Criminal Lawyer / Criminal Lawyer enquiry via EthicalJobs.

We will begin shortlisting immediately, so please apply as soon as possible.

Equal Opportunity Employer

We recognise our work benefits greatly from the unique knowledge, skills and expertise of individuals with diverse experiences, including those with lived experience of family violence, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, women with disability and women from migrant, refugee or non-English speaking backgrounds. If this is you, we strongly encourage you to apply.

Women's Legal relies on an exception under the Equal Opportunity Act to employ women only.