Lawyer

• Work for an esteemed organisation making a real impact
• Multiple locations across Victoria - flexible to you
• Supportive and collaborative team environment

Why work with Client Organisation?
Our client is an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation with over 20 years' experience accompanying Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, and their children, on their individual journeys. We find solutions through Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women sharing their stories, journeys, and experiences. Our client celebrates women's strength and resilience and are committed to a future without family violence.
The locations we are hoping to attract candidates to are currently, Melton, Bendigo, Shepparton and Mildura.

About the Role:

The organization we represent extends both legal and non-legal aid, facilitating the pathway to justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals affected by family violence or sexual assault. Operating under a culturally sensitive, trauma-aware, and comprehensive client service model, our client ensures holistic support. Collaborating with lawyers and paralegal support workers, clients gain access to a diverse array of services encompassing legal, social, psychological, cultural, and healthcare domains to address their multi-faceted needs. Legal services provided include consultation, representation, and advocacy in the following areas:

• Child protection
• Family violence intervention orders
• Family law
• Victims of crime assistance

Key duties:

• Provide high quality legal advice, court advocacy, duty services, casework, assistance and referral to Aboriginal clients who have experienced family violence and/or sexual assault in the areas of Family Violence Intervention Orders, Child Protection, Family Law and Victims of Crime Assistance.
• Provide representation and advocacy services to clients either by personal appearance or by briefing Counsel to appear at Courts and Tribunals or at Family Dispute Resolution.

Provide legal and related services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients in a culturally safe and appropriate manner.

• Work collaboratively with Paralegal Support Workers to ensure clients are supported to access a variety of legal and support services to address their complex needs. Networking, Liaison and Community Outreach
• Develop and maintain relationships with a broad range of regional stakeholders, including Aboriginal Cooperatives; Aboriginal Health Services; Family and Children's Services; other Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations providing support to victims of family violence and sexual assault; mainstream health, mental health, housing, alcohol and drugs, and counselling services; police, courts, and legal assistance services.
• Regularly attend stakeholder meetings and events.
• Conduct regular outreach services across the region.
• Deliver community legal education, training and information to other Aboriginal community organisations and mainstream services.
• Contribute to and identify issues for our client's law reform and policy work.
• Supervise non-legal work, and the day-to-day mentoring & development of Paralegal Support Workers.
• Maintain client files and ensure they comply with our client's file management policies, processes, and procedures.
• Enter data and other information in an accurate and timely manner using various databases and online systems such as CLASS, ATLAS, and the Commonwealth Courts Portal.

Skills & Experience:

• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander societies and cultures and the issues affecting these societies, including family violence, sexual assault, family law and care and protection of children as well as the underlying contributing factors.
• Knowledge of and commitment to working toward a trauma informed legal practice in the context of family violence and intergenerational and cultural trauma.
• Experience working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
• Experience in providing legal advice or representation in Family Law or Child Protection matters.
• Eligible to hold a legal practising certificate in Victoria.
• A degree in law.
• A Working with Children Check Card
• A Police Check
• A current driver's licence is essential. Some out-of-hours travel, regular regional travel and/or overnights may be required.

Desirable:

• At least one year of practical experience in a community legal, family violence or justice related setting.

You will also have or be willing to undergo a Working with Children Check and a Police Check.

How to apply:

Email your resume to Sarah Ingram at Sarah.Ingram@twrecruitment.com.au

For any queries regarding the position or application process, contact Sarah Ingram on (03) 9087 1020.

TRADEWIND AUSTRALIA AND THE ORGANISATIONS WE REPRESENT ARE PROUD TO BE EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYERS.

We welcome applications from people who reflect the diversity of the organisations we partner with, and the people they support. We encourage people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background and people with disability and lived experience to apply.

*The Employer considers gender a genuine occupational qualification for this position under Section 27 (2), (c), (e) and (g) of the Equal Opportunity Act 1984 and so we ask that only female applicants apply