Lawyers (New Lawyers Program 2024)

* Advocate on behalf of Victorian clients experiencing disadvantage
* Undertake case work and regularly appear in courts and tribunals
* 12x full-time, ongoing positions, including three designated positions for Australian First Nations candidates
* Starting salary of $84,626 plus superannuation and up to $15,900 in salary packaging
At Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) our lawyers are committed to improving the lives of disadvantaged Victorians. We are a leading force for community access to the legal system and are seeking versatile lawyers who embody our values of fairness, care, courage, and Inclusion to join VLA's New Lawyers Program (NLP), starting in October 2024.
As a VLA lawyer, you'll deliver high volume client services and handle busy court lists, but also identify opportunities for strategic advocacy to change our justice system, fight disadvantage, and contribute to community legal education.
Can you see yourself doing this important work?
About the New Lawyers Program:
VLA's New Lawyers Program is an amazing opportunity to learn on-the-job while being supported with strong mentors and structured training. This program has been designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills to most effectively represent VLA's unique and diverse client base and make positive change for Victorians.
The program will build your skills and experience in different areas of law, with four placements (six months each) in VLA's different offices throughout Victoria (including at least one placement in regional Victoria) and our legal Program areas. This does mean you will be required to change office locations every six months and additional travel is expected when at our suburban and regional offices.
On our New Lawyers Program, you will be supervised and supported by the NLP manager, senior lawyers, trained placement host managers and an in-house practice that includes 60 LIV accredited specialists.
At the end of the program, you will take up an ongoing lawyer role in one of our programs and offices – and continue your legal career in any direction!
About you:
We encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds and work experience who are pursuing a career in social justice, with an interest in criminal, family, and civil law.
VLA is also committed to progressing our vision for reconciliation in Australia and therefore especially encourage applications from Australian First Nations people.
We're looking for people with amazing career potential to grow their careers with VLA, who:
* Have a career interest in the social justice sector, and can adapt to changing work environments, clients, different practice areas of law, and office locations throughout each placement period.
* Can act as an advocate, deliver legal advice and casework and undertake negotiation and dispute resolution on behalf of legal aid clients.
* Have high level communication and ‘people' skills. You can connect with people from different backgrounds and cultures, and explain complex legal matters so that people can understand and choose their way forward. You're also able to effectively work with corporate colleagues, lawyers and barristers, and external stakeholders and organisations.
* Understand the complex needs of VLA's clients and the underlying systemic issues that contribute to our clients' legal issues. You can also explain the important role that external organisations, community and welfare groups play in providing appropriate services.
* Are excited to learn and develop. You research, analyse and apply different areas of law, and want to continuously develop your legal and advocacy skills through on-the-job learning and participation in our professional development programs.
* Are New Lawyers. You must be admitted to practice in Victoria or another Australian jurisdiction at the start of the program (October 2024), but we're only accepting applications from people with less than 12 months' post-admission legal experience.
* Have ready access to personal transport when required- this will be needed in particularly if you are assigned to a placement in one of our regional offices. Access to personal transport will make work and residing in the local, regional community easier especially where public transport options are limited.
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.
Even more benefits at VLA:
* Family-friendly, flexible hybrid work from home & office model
* Supportive team environment in modern offices
* Salary packaging which allows up to $15,900 of your salary each year to be tax-free
* Opportunity to join Myki Commuter Club (and salary package the cost)
* A structured supervision model and ongoing training and professional development opportunities
How to apply:Please complete the Candidate Application Form (please see ‘file attachments'), and submit together with:
* Your current resume (including two referees' details)
* Confirmation of your completed law degree and/or practicing certificate.
Unfortunately, we can't accept applications that do not include the Candidate Application Form.
If you require adjustment to the recruitment and selection process or have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact Dee Lamba, Acting Talent Acquisition Lead on (03) 9269 0521 or email newlawyers@vla.vic.gov.au.
No agency applications will be accepted.
Applications close by 11.59pm on Sunday 14 April 2024.