Lawyers and Senior Lawyers – 4+ Positions Available

Westjustice is expanding due to the opening of the new Wyndham Law Courts. We have multiple opportunities for lawyers experienced in child protection family violence and/or family law to join our growing team as we continue to help families impacted by family violence.

Be part of a collaborative innovative and well-regarded team committed to delivering improved life outcomes to economically and socially disadvantaged clients.

In addition to providing meaningful community-led services to clients experiencing access barriers to justice you will also contribute to research projects community education and improvements in law reform.

The Organisation

Westjustice is a rights-based Community Legal Centre servicing Melbournes West on the lands of the Bunurong and Wurundjeri peoples and including the LGAs of Wyndham Maribyrnong Hobsons Bay Melton and Brimbank a population of over a million people. Melbournes Western Suburbs are the thriving backbone of the state and home to Australias most diverse and fastest-growing population.

We work to uphold peoples rights by providing free legal social work financial counselling services community engagement and advocacy for systemic reform across Workers Rights Children and Young Peoples Rights Women and Gender Diverse peoples Rights and Economic and Housing Rights. We provide place-based multi-disciplinary programs and partner with values-aligned organisations to focus on servicing those most impacted by these issues and to ensure people have access to the services they need where they need them.

Through our work we consistently see complex legal issues and the cyclical impact they have on longer term justice economic health and life outcomes. This is why our services and programs focus on prevention and early intervention in the cycle of economic precarity criminalisation violence and housing insecurity. It is also why we advocate for legal social and policy reform to ensure the people of Melbournes West have access to services and the best version of justice.

The Roles

Due to service growth we are looking for qualified lawyers to join our well-regarded Women and Gender Diverse Peoples Rights Program on 12-month maximum term contracts (with possibility of ongoing employment). Salary is commensurate with experience. Full-time and Part-time candidates are encouraged to apply.

We recognise that family and gender-based violence are serious community concerns that disproportionately affect women gender diverse people and children. Our vision is for our clients to feel safe and secure. We do this by representing clients in family violence intervention order proceedings child protection applications family law (parenting property division disputes and divorce) criminal proceedings where they may have been misidentified as the primary perpetrator and victims compensation applications.

If successful you will join a high performing supportive team delivering legal services with an early intervention focus. As we are s29A panel certifiers we also undertake legally aided casework by applying for grants of legal assistance for clients who qualify under Victoria Legal Aids family law family violence criminal and child protection guidelines.

These roles are primarily based at our Sunshine office and you may also be required to undertake outreach legal services at our key health justice partner sites in the Western suburbs. You will also represent our clients in court proceedings in the Sunshine and Wyndham Magistrates Court Childrens Court Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia as required. From time to time you may also be required to work at our other offices in Werribee and/or partner organisation sites depending on Program needs.

Role Requirement:

• Minimum one year post admission experience (Lawyer)
• Minimum of three years post admission experience (Senior Lawyer)
• Demonstrated legal experience in any of our key legal areas:
• Child protection (highly desirable)
• Family law (desirable)
• Family violence including duty lawyer (highly desirable)
• Legal supervision experience (desirable for senior lawyer)
• Dedicated interest and commitment to social justice legal practice.
• Excellent time management and file management skills.
• Advocacy and litigation experience or the ability to develop these skills.

The successful applicants will require a current Working with Childrens Check and a National Police Check or be prepared to apply for both. Applicants must possess the right to work in Australia.

Remuneration

Salary range $90000pa $118430pa (commensurate with experience) with additional financial benefits of 17.5% leave loading generous salary packaging of up to $15900 for general living expenses accommodation and meal packaging plus statutory employer funded superannuation paid on top of the base salary.

For enquires call Ellen Flint People & Culture Director onfor a confidential discussion.

To apply please send your resume together with a concise cover letter demonstrating your skills and experience via this portal or by emailing We will be interviewing candidates as applications are received so dont wait to apply! Submit your application as soon as possible to be considered for one of these exciting opportunities.

Westjustice is committed to building a diverse workforce. We strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people people living with a disability people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds mature age workers and LGBTIQA-identifying people. People with lived experience of the justice system are encouraged to apply. A police check result does not automatically disqualify an application but will be individually assessed for the relevant role.

Please ensure that you let us know in advance of any reasonable adjustment you may require during any part of the recruitment process including application and interview by contacting Ellen Flint via Any information disclosed will be held in the strictest of confidence.