Justice Connect is seeking a Lawyer or Senior Lawyer to join our Homeless Law program to cover a parental leave (fixed term) contract. This role will be full-time, however 0.8 FTE will be considered. As a lawyer in the homeless law team, you will provide tailored support and guidance to pro bono lawyers working on Homeless Law matters collaborating with team members to ensure people facing homelessness can access appropriate and timely legal assistance. The role will also make key contributions to Homeless Law’s impactful project, advocacy and engagement work, particularly focussed on preventing and ending homelessness for people in or exiting prison, and for people sleeping rough. The Senior Lawyer will also provide staff supervision to junior lawyers and secondees. Our Team Justice Connect believes in a world in which legal support is within everyone’s reach. In the face of rising levels of unmet legal need, our 2028 strategy sees us put people first, innovating to build our communities' skills, knowledge, and confidence, and grow access to legal support. Our Homeless Law program provides free legal help to Victorians experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Through high-intensity support and pro bono partnerships, we help people with complex needs stay safely housed. We deliver legal information, advice, and representation through an outreach-based, client-centred model, and offer integrated social work support to address non-legal needs and prevent problems from escalating. We also drive systemic change by challenging unfair laws, advocating for fairer housing policies, and developing award-winning digital tools like Dear Landlord, Home of Your Own, and Workers’ Resource Hub. Our ideal candidate You'll bring the following knowledge, skills and experience to the team: Current unrestricted practising certificate for Victoria, with at least 1 year unsupervised practice For Senior Lawyer: at least five years post admission experience Prior experience supervising casework in tenancy law and fines and infringements. Experience in the legal assistance, pro bono or community sector is valued. Experience in strategic advocacy and law reform. Experience in project management. Experience supervising casework and staff. Key attributes: Innovative and responsive. Client centred with trauma informed training. Motivated and collaborative team player. Effective communication skills. Project management skills. You’ll also need to demonstrate commitment to Justice Connect's vision, strategy, and values of being client-centered, responsive, inclusive, innovative, collaborative, and impactful. What you’ll achieve in the role Senior Lawyer Supervised and undertaken legal advice and casework in key areas of civil law that affect Victorians who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness, including housing and tenancy, fines and infringements, consumer debts, and human rights. Lead systemic advocacy work, including contributing to submissions on areas of law or policy related to Homeless Law’s clients and strategic engagement priorities. Managed projects, with support, and engagement work related to Homeless Law’s targeted projects and priority cohorts of people facing homelessness, including people in or exiting prison, people sleeping rough, and women facing family violence. Managed PLT students, Lawyer level 0–2, paralegals, program administrative staff and secondees. Lawyer Undertaken legal advice and casework in key areas of civil law that affect Victorians who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness, including housing and tenancy, fines and infringements, consumer debts, and human rights. Prepare and deliver legal information resources, training resources and training sessions. Undertake systemic advocacy work, including contributing to submissions on areas of law or policy related to Homeless Law’s clients and strategic engagement priorities Undertaken collaborative project management, with support, and engagement work related to Homeless Law’s targeted projects and priority cohorts of people facing homelessness, including people in or exiting prison, people sleeping rough, and women facing family violence. A week in this role If you were here last week, you would have: Proactively managed the legal risk associated with leading a high-impact community legal centre practice, including through escalating issues to the Homeless Law Principal Lawyer. Held a fortnightly supervision catch up with a junior lawyer directly reporting to the role. Spoken with pro bono lawyers delivering one of Homeless Law’s weekly outreach legal clinics, offering strategic guidance to prevent a client from being evicted into homelessness. Directly contributed to a meeting with a key government stakeholder, alongside colleagues from the wider-community sector, advocating for better laws and policies that stop homelessness before it starts. Met as part of Homeless Law’s senior leadership team to discuss client-focussed, evidence-based priorities and trends, including how these inform the service’s strategy implementation process. Drafted legal content community workers for Homeless Law’s Workers Resource Hub and drafted intake memorandum for Homeless Law’s pro bono lawyers. Directly contributed to a meeting with a key government stakeholder, alongside colleagues from the wider-community sector, advocating for better laws and policies that stop homelessness before it starts. What we offer If you want your next role to have purpose, support your growth, and help you build meaningful connections, Justice Connect is the place to work. We’re committed to creating an environment where people thrive. Our benefits include: A flexible hybrid working model (minimum 40% in-office across the month) Salary packaging to make part of your income tax-free Ongoing learning and development opportunities: face-to-face, online, and on demand 5 weeks annual leave (pro rata), leave loading and additional paid leave over the end-of-year closure period 15 days paid personal leave per calendar year (pro rata) 10 days paid study leave per calendar year (pro rata) 5 days paid, and 5 days unpaid cultural leave per calendar year (pro rata) Access to Employee Assistance Program (EAP) support for you and your immediate family Free flu vaccinations An inclusive and diverse culture that values continuous improvement, innovation, and sustainability How to apply Please upload your resume and a cover letter which outlines your skills and experience that will help you achieve success in this role. For further information contact Hannah Lewis, Manager of the Homeless Law Team on 03 9021 0154. Applications will be accepted until the role is filled and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. For further details on the role, please refer to the attached Position Descriptions Important role information The position reports to Hannah Lewis, Manager of the Homeless Law Team. Employment is full time; fixed term parental leave contract until 30 June 2027. The salary for this role is: Senior Lawyer (min. 5 years post-admission experience) : $117,184.35 per annum (pro-rata) Lawyer: $112,232.84 per annum (pro -rata) Plus superannuation which will be paid according to statutory requirement, with annual leave loading, additional leave benefits and generous salary packaging options. This role is based at our Melbourne CBD office on Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Boon Wurrung Country. We have flexible hybrid working arrangements, so you’ll spend 40% of your time in the office each month.
