The
Organisation
Westjustice is a rights-based Community Legal Centre
servicing Melbourne’s 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. Melbourne’s Western Suburbs are the
thriving backbone of the state, and home to Australia’s most diverse
and fastest-growing population.
Westjustice’s purpose is to
deliver targeted services and drive meaningful change to achieve fairness,
safety and justice for Melbourne’s West.
We work to uphold peoples’ rights by providing free
legal, social work, financial counselling services, community engagement,
and advocacy for systemic reform across the five impact
areas of Workers’ Rights, Children and Young People’s
Rights, Women and Gender Diverse people’s Rights, Economic and
Housing Rights, and Our Team. 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
Melbourne’s West have access to services and the best version of justice.
Benefits
& Culture
· Be a part of an organisation that 98% of our employees are proud to work for
· We pay 3% above the SCHADs award
· Not for profit salary packaging up to $15,900 per annum
· Flexible working conditions
· 17.5% annual leave loading
· Passionate, professional and dedicated team
· Gifted additional paid leave over the Christmas holiday period
· Strong focus on collaboration, wellbeing, inclusion and diversity
The Role
Westjustice is seeking an experienced and values driven Legal Director to lead our Children and Young Person’s Rights Program. As part of the Senior Leadership Team, the Legal Director is responsible for overseeing legal practice, managing a multidisciplinary team, and ensuring Westjustice achieves its purpose, vision and strategic priorities.
The successful candidate will bring deep expertise in criminal law, strong people leadership
capability and a commitment to community-centred legal practice.
Working with a multidisciplinary team, you will:
·Lead Westjustice’s criminal law practice and initiatives, including the Youth Crime Prevention Early Intervention Program, to address disadvantage and unmet legal need through client led services, programs and reform agendas.
·Provide oversight as the Responsible Person for criminal law supervision and sign off for legal advices, casework, reviewing closed files, and review operational practice and identifying trends and issues.
·Develop and support the members of the CYPR Program to ensure that each team member is achieving their best performance and growing to their full potential
·Develop and maintain effective key stakeholder relationships across the program and broader organisation and represent the Criminal law practice at external networks, working groups and steering committees.
Role Requirements:
·A law degree and an unrestricted Practicing Certificate which entitles you to practice law in Victoria. In addition, a Principal practicing certificate (or willingness to achieve the certificate) in order to be the Responsible Person.
·A criminal law accredited specialist with significant criminal law legal practice expertise including experience in complex advocacy, casework and litigation.
·Demonstrated experience leading a legal service delivery team and program of work.
·Experienced leader with a demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and confidently to engage with a diverse range of stakeholders and to build strong partnerships and effectively lead change through influence
·Ability to set and deliver high quality work outcomes.
·Strong commitment to social justice
This position is primarily based in our Sunshine office.
For more information about Westjustice, please visit our website (www.westjustice.org.au) Alternatively, please call Ellen Flint, People & Culture Director, on 03 9749 7720 for a confidential discussion.
Please apply by submitting a cover letter and resume. Applicants will be screened and may be interviewed as their application is received. Westjustice may close the advertisement earlier than anticipated should we receive sufficient high calibre interest.
The successful applicant will require a current Working with Children’s Check and a Police Check or be prepared to apply for both. Applicants must possess the right to work in Australia.
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.
If you require any adjustments throughout the application or recruitment process please contact theresa@westjustice.org.au
