About this role
- 1x maximum term position up to December 2025 (full time, part time considered)
- 1x maximum term position up to August 2025 (full time, part time considered)
- Salary based on experience, range: $98,902 - $123,624 (pro rata) plus super
- Up to $15,900 in salary packaging and hybrid WFH & office model
About the role:
As a Senior Lawyer, you will passionately dedicate yourself to delivering exceptional legal services that truly make a difference in the lives of others. Your commitment will shine through in the provision of duty lawyer, advice and complex casework services, with a focus on the urgent issues of sexual harassment, discrimination, equality, and human rights law (and for one role, victims of crime laws as well).
Moreover, you will play a vital role in nurturing junior legal advocates, providing guidance, training, and invaluable mentorship to a team of aspiring lawyers.
You will support the Equality Law program management team in the vital work of expanding VLA's sexual harassment discrimination law services. You will support and contribute to the broader fight for equality law and policy reform with the aim of improving laws and services to assist those most in need.
For the Senior Lawyer role up to August 2025 you will also have a focus on Victims Legal Service practice areas, applications to access confidential communications made under s 32C of the Evidence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1958, Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal (VOCAT), Restitution and Compensation Order (RACO) and Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS) (due to commence in 2024) matters.
This role is based at our Melbourne CBD office on Wurundjeri Country.
About you:
As our ideal candidate, you will possess:
- Experience in advocating and working as a caseworker in complex civil law matters, including knowledge of and practical experience in discrimination law, particularly sexual harassment law, as well as familiarity with relevant commissions, tribunals, and court procedures.
- Ability to oversee, mentor, and train staff while supporting the advancement of their understanding and skills in discrimination law and civil law in a broader context.
- Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to promote a collaborative and supportive team atmosphere.
- Experience in advocating for and supporting law and policy reform changes.
- Demonstrating understanding and experience working with First Nations Australians and Torres Strait Islanders peoples.
- A current Australian practising certificate which entitles you to practise in Victoria as a government legal practitioner (mandatory).
- Entitled to practise in federal courts and courts exercising federal jurisdiction (entry on the High Court's Register of Practitioners) (mandatory).
Don't meet every requirement? At VLA, we understand that your work and life experiences can be just as valuable. If you're excited about this role but your CV doesn't align perfectly with our job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or one of our many other opportunities.
About Victoria Legal Aid:
We provide legal representation to those who need it most. With over 1000 staff employed in 15 offices across Victoria, we help people with their legal problems by providing information, advice and education with a focus on the prevention and early resolution of legal problems.
Our clients come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds and foster a work culture that's inclusive as well as diverse. Your unique ideas and perspectives are valued so that we best represent the people we serve.