Legal Counsel – Family Violence and Family Law in Melbourne

Women’s Legal Service Victoria is a feminist community legal service supporting Victorian women and non-binary people. Your expertise will directly contribute to building a more gender-equitable society.

For over 40 years, Women’s Legal Service Victoria 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;
• 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.

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.

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:

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

Why Women’s Legal?

• 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.

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.