Tenancy Lawyer

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.

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 People's Rights, Women and Gender Diverse people's Rights, and Economic and Housing Rights.

The Role

Westjustice's tenancy team is an experienced, multidisciplinary group of practitioners who assist, advise and represent renters in Melbourne's Western Suburbs with residential tenancy matters including possession proceedings, family violence matters, urgent applications for repairs and compliance, and systemic litigation on key questions of law. Our lawyers appear in VCAT and the Magistrates' Court regularly, and a social worker assists renters with more complex needs to obtain just housing outcomes.

Due to the opening of the new Wyndham Law Courts, Westjustice is seeking to employ an experienced Tenancy Lawyer to join our growing Economic & Housing Rights Program on a 12-month maximum term contract (with possibility of ongoing employment). Applicants from Lawyer and Senior Lawyer level will be considered.

The lawyer is responsible for:

• Undertaking casework for clients, including court representation and duty lists
• Contributing to team processes and systems to ensure we are running an effective legal practice
• Contributing to internal Westjustice working groups and external networks and steering committees
• Student or volunteer supervision where appropriate
• Contributing to policy/systematic impact work as directed

Skills Required

• A degree in law and eligibility for admission to practice
• Strong commitment to social justice, including a demonstrated understanding of the social context of law and the issues faced by vulnerable communities and the ability to contribute to Westjustice's systemic impact work
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with a range of internal and external stakeholders
• Ability to supervise employees
• Ability to undertake community legal education work
• Understanding of and commitment of Westjustice's Vision, Purpose, Strategic Plan and Impact Areas

This position will be primarily based at our Werribee office but may be required to work from our other Westjustice offices and our partnered sites.

The successful applicant will require a current Working with Children's Check and a Police Check or be prepared to apply for both. People with lived experience of the justice system are encouraged to apply. A police check result does not automatically disqualify an application which in each case will be individually assessed for the relevant role. Applicants must possess the right to work in Australia.

Remuneration

Salary will be commensurate with experience. Additional financial benefits of 17.5% leave loading, generous salary packaging of up to $15,900 for general living expenses, accommodation and meal packaging plus statutory employer funded superannuation.

For enquires, call Ellen Flint, People & Culture Director, on for a confidential discussion.

To apply, please send your resume together with a concise cover letter demonstrating your skills and experience via this portal. We will be interviewing candidates as applications are received, so don't 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.