Fax +61 3 8636 4455 justiceconnect.org.au ... Assist with the preparation and revision of plain English web-based resour
Senior Lawyer Homeless Law Undertake and supervise civil law casework Play a lead role in law reform and advocacy work Support the delivery of access to justice through pro bono Join a dynamic and growing organisation
Melbourne Office PO Box 16013 Melbourne VIC DX 128 Melbourne Tel +61 3 8636 4400 Fax +61 3 8636 4455
justiceconnect.org.au
Senior Lawyer, Homeless Law An exciting opportunity has arisen to join one of Australia’s most successful public interest and pro bono law organisations. Justice Connect is a not-for-profit organisation with a vision of a world that is fair and just; where rights are respected and advanced, laws are fairer, and systems are more accessible and accountable. Justice Connect provides access to justice through pro bono legal services to people experiencing disadvantage and the community organisations that support them. We also address injustice through law reform, policy work and legal education. Homeless Law is our specialist legal service for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. We work closely with pro bono lawyers to provide hundreds of people with legal information, advice and representation. Our services are outreach based and client centred, and we don’t just focus on legal issues. Homeless Law's social workers and our relationships with the homelessness sector build our capacity to understand and respond to clients with a range of non-legal needs. We are currently seeking a Senior Lawyer to play a key role in delivering a range of high quality legal services to Justice Connect’s Homeless Law program. If you have significant knowledge of the legal issues faced by people experiencing homelessness, experience in law reform and advocacy, excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and a desire to make a difference for human rights and social justice, we look forward to hearing from you. We welcome and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Applications close at 9am Monday 3 October 2016. Position description, selection criteria and application details are available at www.justiceconnect.org.au/jobs
Position Description Position title
Senior Lawyer, Homeless Law
Position reports to
Manager, Homeless Law
Salary
$86,409.05 per annum, plus 9.5% superannuation, annual leave loading and generous salary packaging options
Employment Status
12 month contract (parental leave position)
Hours
Full-time @ 37.5 hours a week
Location
Level 17, 461 Bourke Street Melbourne VIC 3000
Closing Date
Applications close 9am Monday 3 October 2016
Role purpose The Senior Lawyer, Homeless Law will play a lead role in delivering a range of high quality legal services to the Justice Connect Homeless Law program.
Key responsibilities
Manage Homeless Law casework, including providing high quality legal advice and representation to Homeless Law clients. Supervise and mentor in-house and pro bono lawyers and secondees. Undertake policy & advocacy work, including preparing and coordinating submissions on areas of law or policy that affect Homeless Law’s client group. Identify and pursue strategic litigation opportunities that further the aims and objectives of Justice Connect and Homeless Law. Actively participate in the promotion of Homeless Law activities, including representing Homeless Law in a range of public forums, the media and by contributing to internal and external publications. Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with key stakeholders of Homeless Law, in particular participating Justice Connect member firms and host agencies. Participate in the development and delivery of training programs for pro bono lawyers in relevant areas of law. Assist with the preparation and revision of plain English web-based resources for lawyers and advocates. Assist with the governance, reporting and evaluation requirements of Homeless Law, including reports for the Justice Connect Board and external funders. Perform other duties as directed and necessary to the proper performance of the role.
This job description outlines the current duties and responsibilities of the position. These will be reviewed on a regular basis with the position holder and are subject to change according to the needs and priorities of Justice Connect and Homeless Law.
Selection criteria Qualifications
Qualified solicitor or barrister eligible to practice in Victoria and hold a practising certificate
Experience
Five years plus post admission experience in relevant areas of law Experience in law reform and advocacy work, preferably in a not-forprofit context
Knowledge & skills
Knowledge of the legal and pro bono sectors in Victoria Excellent understanding of the legal issues commonly faced by people experiencing homelessness and a working knowledge of at least one of the following areas of law: infringements, tenancy, credit & debt, guardianship & administration, and human rights Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to successfully manage stakeholder relationships including with Homeless Law clients, the private legal sector, the community legal and homelessness sectors and government Demonstrated commitment to social justice and human rights Excellent time-management skills A commitment to monitoring & evaluation, measuring social impact and continuous improvement Highly motivated professional Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively
Employee benefits Justice Connect offers employment benefits including salary packaging (making part of your salary tax-free), flexible working arrangements, above award annual leave provisions and opportunities for professional development. Justice Connect is an organisation that strives to show leadership, operate sustainably and demonstrate our effectiveness. You will be rewarded with a workplace culture that is professional, committed, collaborative and creative and where you can make a real difference through your work.
Important information For further information about Justice Connect and its work please visit www.justiceconnect.org.au The application process is as follows:
Applications should be addressed to Lucy Adams and should comprise of a single Word or PDF document including a cover letter and/or a succinct statement outlining your suitability for the role, with reference to the selection criteria and a current resume.
Applications should be emailed to
[email protected] with ‘Senior Lawyer, Homeless Law’ in the subject line.
Applications close at 9am on Monday 3 October 2016.
Shortlisted applicants will be contacted by telephone on or before Friday 7 October 2016.
Interviews for the position will be held on Monday 10 October 2016.
