Lawyer

About Us:

Allied Justice is a for-purpose organisation providing free legal assistance, integrated services and community legal education.

When people experience deep and persistent disadvantages, they often feel trapped in dysfunctional relationships, lost in complex inefficient legal systems, unnecessary processes, and often suffering in silence. We are at the front line of these issues.

We have invested significantly in the development of our new Strategy 2025-2027 to ensure our organisation is providing contemporary integrated services to respond the shared and unique needs of the people we support across 11 local government areas in Western Victoria.

Our commitment is to change life stories through better access to justice, and we achieve this by applying our values – respect, courage, empowerment & kindness – to the people of the communities we serve, our stakeholders and our colleagues.

By providing legal services, community legal education, law reform and integrated services through client centered, trauma informed and culturally safe practice, we will improve the safety and wellbeing of families and individuals.

The Role:

The lawyer will manage a caseload of clients, providing legal advice and representation to clients within Allied Justice’s catchment areas. The role will encompass activities including community legal education and law reform in addition to community engagement activities.

This position will include family violence duty lawyer services and case work across a number of our practice areas. Community lawyers provide intake support, advice appointments, clinics and ongoing representation. In addition, the lawyer will support other areas of practice and undertake project specific work as required.

Job Responsibilities Overview:

• Provide legal information and advice for the intake service.
• Provide duty lawyer services for family violence and family law matters, including in outreach areas such as Ararat, Stawell, Horsham and St Arnaud.
• Attend legal clinics providing legal information, legal advice and secondary consults.
• Provide legal information, advice, representation and casework services to clients
• Refer clients to other relevant services and community resources, based on a sound knowledge of and relationships with other service providers and government departments
• Assist with Community Legal Education activities in consultation with Allied Justice’s community development team
• Assist with collection of data and preparation of reports and other accountability documentation

Key Selection Criteria:

1. Holds or is eligible to hold a current Victorian Lawyers Practising Certificate and is admitted to practice in the Federal Jurisdiction.
2. Critical interpersonal communication skills, including communicating with clients with empathy.
3. Sound organisational skills and ability to manage workload and competing demands, keep accurate files and records, meet deadlines and work effectively as part of a team.
4. Understanding and commitment to principles of social justice and to working effectively with vulnerable and disadvantaged people.
5. Demonstrated skills and knowledge of Family Law, Family Violence, and related civil matters such as tenancy and fines.
6. Demonstrated experience in undertaking direct legal services including information, advice, negotiation and advocacy on behalf of clients and representation of clients in courts and other legal settings.
7. Willingness to work within the office and outreach locations as required in our catchment regions.

Qualifications:

• Tertiary qualification in a relevant field, such as community development, social work, public policy or law, or significant experience in a similar role.
• Current Victorian Driver’s Licence
• Cleared National Police Record Check (it is the responsibility of all staff to notify the organization immediately if there are any changes to their criminal records status)
• Current right to work in Australia
• Valid, employer Working with Children Check
• Physical ability to safely undertake all aspect of the position

Please apply with cover letter and resume via Seek. Applications will be processed on receipt.

This position is located in Ballarat or Horsham with hybrid negotiable. Part-time requested are well ad will be considered.

We welcome applications from people of all genders, ages, First Nation peoples, people with disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and from lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, gender diverse and intersex people.

As a child safe organisation, Allied Justice requires disclosure of any formal disciplinary action by a current or former employer including any finding of improper or unprofessional conduct.