Job description
- 1 Full time ongoing position & 1 Full time maximum term position up to 12 months
- Salary based on experience, range: VLA3 $84,626 – $97,921; VLA4 $97,922 – $122,400 plus super
- Up to $15,900 in salary packaging and hybrid WFH & office model
About the role:
You will act as an advocate by providing high quality legal services including duty lawyer services, casework and advice services in mental health and disability law matters of varying complexity. You will also participate in community legal education and develop collaborative relationships between VLA and local stakeholders.
In addition to the above responsibilities, our Senior MHDL Lawyers provide legal supervision, mentoring, training, and contribute to the professional development of less experienced lawyers and assist in the development of strategies to improve access to justice, including representing VLA in consultations and working groups.
We have two positions available:
- 1 full time, ongoing VLA3 Lawyer Position
- 1 Full Time, maximum term VLA4 Senior Lawyer position up to February 2025
This role is based at our Melbourne CBD office on Wurundjeri Country.
About you:
- As our ideal candidate, you will possess:
- Capacity to work as an advocate and caseworker in civil law matters, in mental health and disability law matters, with knowledge of or practical experience in relevant court and tribunal procedures.
- Stakeholder engagement skills, including the ability to positively engage with clients and key internal and external stakeholders.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and your demonstrated commitment to working collaboratively with others and fostering a supportive team environment.
- As our Senior Lawyer, ability to supervise, mentor and train staff and contribute to the development of individuals and their knowledge and skills in civil law.
About Mental Health & Disability Law
The MHDL program is committed to contributing to a Victoria where: the justice and health systems operate fairly for people with mental health issues and/or cognitive or neurological disability (consumers), where consumers are able to meaningfully participate and be heard, and have their rights, dignity, liberty and autonomy both respected and promoted, and interfered with as minimally as possible.
Don’t meet every requirement? At VLA, we understand that your work and life experiences can be just as valuable. If you’re excited about this role but your CV doesn’t align perfectly with our job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or one of our many other opportunities.
About Victoria Legal Aid:
We provide legal representation to those who need it most. With over 1000 staff employed in 15 offices across Victoria, we help people with their legal problems by providing information, advice and education with a focus on the prevention and early resolution of legal problems.
Our clients come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds and foster a work culture that’s inclusive as well as diverse. Your unique ideas and perspectives are valued so that we best represent the people we serve.
Employee benefits:
- Focus on work-life balance including flexible working arrangements
- Hybrid work from home & office model
- Training and professional development opportunities
- Excellent salary packaging options including General Expenses up to $15,900, Meals & Entertainment up to $2,650 and Novated Leasing
- Opportunity to join Myki Commuter Club (and salary package the cost)
- Supportive team environment in modern offices (including free gym and end-of-trip facilities at our CBD office)
How to apply:
To be considered for this role, please submit a current resume and completed candidate application form (listed within the file attachments).
If you require adjustment to the recruitment and selection process or need an alternative format to any of the application material, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team.
For further information review the attached position description or contact Nadeesha Mapa on (03) 9269 0320.
No agency applications will be accepted.
Other relevant information:
It is a requirement that staff attend for office-based days at their primary work location. In line with this requirement, interstate applications will be considered only where the candidate is able and willing to relocate to Victoria, unless part of a border community.
VLA is committed to putting the safety and wellbeing of children first.
The position descriptions are attached.