Legal Counsel – Family Violence and Family Law

Women’s Legal Service Victoria | Melbourne CBD | Hybrid working model | Full time or Part-time (minimum 0.8 FTE) | Maximum Term until June 2027

• Be a part of a feminist community legal service supporting Victorian women and non-binary people
• Your expertise will directly contribute to building a more gender-equitable society
• $147,626 (pro rata) + super + NFP salary packaging, 5 weeks annual leave and flexible work arrangements

About Us

For over 40 years Women’s Legal Service Victoria (Women’s Legal) has championed women’s rights to live free from violence. We are a dedicated team with a passion for working with women and non-binary people to live free from violence and discrimination by:

• Providing high quality integrated legal services for Victorian women and non-binary people who are victim-survivors of family violence and disadvantaged or marginalised by structural and systemic barriers;
• Building the capacity of professionals who work with women and non-binary people, 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 and non-binary people.

About the Role

The Legal Counsel provides integral leadership and technical subject matter expertise to our family law capacity building initiatives. In this 6-month role, you will design and commence delivery of an innovative new workforce development program focused on strengthening the litigation skills of family lawyers in the community legal assistance sector. This includes designing and delivering new moot court simulations.  

About You

You have a strong legal practice background in family law litigation with demonstrated experience working with clients experiencing family violence.  

You enjoy and are genuinely committed to building the knowledge and skills of other lawyers to deliver quality services and improved client outcomes. 

In this role, you will:

• Provide subject matter expertise and strategic guidance to the design of innovative training and capacity building projects  
• Collaborate with Women’s Legal Education and Engagement directorate colleagues to develop and deliver best practice training  
• Provide subject matter expertise to the development of new eLearning courses 
• Collaborate with community legal centres to deliver programs that respond to the training needs of community lawyers
• Be a part of the Education & Engagement directorate leadership group, contributing to a healthy and productive team culture where work practices reflect Women’s Legal’s feminist values.  

Key to your success is your:

• Extensive family law and family violence expertise, including litigation, mediation and negotiation experience
• Experience developing the capability of lawyers through training, supervision, mentoring or reflective practice
• Strong understanding of trauma-informed practice and supporting clients with complex needs
• Ability to foster positive and productive relationships with colleagues, stakeholders and partner organisations
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage a diverse range of audiences
• Commitment to high-quality service delivery and continuous improvement
• Ability to work independently while maintaining a high standard of service delivery
• Collaborative, adaptable and solutions-focused approach
• Commitment to Women’s Legal’s feminist values and improving outcomes for women and non-binary people experiencing family violence

You will have:

• An unrestricted Victorian Practising Certificate
• Advanced skills in mediation and litigation in family law
• Experience applying trauma-informed practice skills when assisting clients who have experienced family violence
• Experience providing legal practice mentoring and/or supervision
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement and relationship building skills; an ability to build trust and collaboration with a wider variety of internal and external stakeholders
• High level of oral and written communication skills

Desirable:

• Experience working within an integrated practice model, including collaboration with social workers, financial counsellors or other allied professionals

Why Women’s Legal?

Be a part of a supportive, inclusive and purpose-driven workplace where your work truly matters.  We offer:

• Competitive remuneration, NFP salary packaging benefits (up to $15,900 in tax-free pay every year) plus meals & entertainment benefits (up to $2,650 tax-free pay per year)
• 5 weeks annual leave, plus bonus paid leave between Christmas and New Year!
• Paid cultural, parental, reproductive health, and gender affirmation leave
• A strong commitment to your professional development, personal development, and wellbeing
• A true hybrid working model and flexible working environment that supports work-life balance
• Fresh fruit available in the office
• Support for your wellbeing with access to our EAP and annual reimbursement limit for your own mental health professional

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 and intersectional feminist principles as described in the attached position description.

Research shows that women are less likely to apply for roles if they don’t meet 100% of the selection criteria. We encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet all the criteria, but this role sounds like a good fit for you. 

All successful candidates will be required to produce a national criminal history check prior to the commencement of their employment.

Disclosure of a criminal record does not necessarily preclude appointment by Women’s Legal, but if needed, we invite applicants to address this issue early in the application phase. Should a criminal record disclosure be advised by a candidate, Women’s Legal will endeavour to provide clarity over whether the conviction would preclude a candidate from being able to carry out the position duties.

Please note, all staff employed by Women’s Legal Service Victoria are required to comply with Section 121 of the Legal Profession Uniform Law.

Enquiries

Enquiries can be emailed to Judy Ma, People & Culture Officer at hr@womenslegal.org.au.

Equal Opportunity Employer

We are committed to creating a safe, inclusive, and respectful workplace. We recognise our work benefits greatly from the unique knowledge, skills, and expertise of individuals with diverse experiences, including women and non-binary people who are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, with disability, with lived experience of family and sexual violence, and from migrant, refugee, culturally and racially marginalised backgrounds.  If this is you, we strongly encourage you to apply.

Note, Women’s Legal relies on an exception under the Equal Opportunity Act to employ women and non-binary people only.