Lawyer / Senior Lawyer

About Us

Tenants Victoria is the peak body for Victorian renters and the specialist community legal centre for tenancy law in Victoria.

Our vision is for safe, secure and affordable homes for Victorian renters in a fair housing system. Each year, we assist more than 10,000 renters experiencing hardship and disadvantage through information, referrals, legal advice, casework, representation, financial counselling and social work services.

We also provide rental law advice, support and training to tenancy and community sector workers and advocate to make laws fairer for Victorian renters.

About the Role

Use your legal skills to improve outcomes for Victorian renters and help build a fairer housing system.

Tenants Victoria is seeking a passionate and committed Lawyer or Senior Lawyer to join our Legal Practice team. We are open to appointing at either level, depending on the successful candidate's skills, experience and leadership capability.

Reporting to the Principal Lawyer or Managing Lawyer, you will deliver high-quality legal services to Victorian renters, including legal advice, casework, representation and secondary consultations for community workers supporting renters across Victoria.

You will contribute to policy, advocacy and service improvement initiatives by identifying systemic issues impacting renters through your casework and client engagement. You will also support clinic-based legal services involving law students and secondee lawyers, helping Tenants Victoria extend its reach and impact across the state.

Candidates appointed at the Senior Lawyer level will take on additional responsibilities in legal supervision, mentoring and practice development. They will also contribute to the continuous improvement of legal services, strategic projects, service innovation, and policy and advocacy initiatives.

This is an exciting opportunity for a legal professional who is passionate about social justice, housing affordability and improving outcomes for Victorian renters.

The Lawyer salary is $110,320.00 plus superannuation 

The Senior Lawyer salary is $120,536.00 plus superannuation

Key Responsibilities

Lawyer Level 

You will have:

• Legal qualifications and eligibility to hold a practising certificate under the Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Act 2014.

• At least 12 months' post-admission experience, including experience conducting legal casework from commencement to conclusion.
• Provide high-quality information, referrals, legal advice, casework and representation to Victorian renters.

• Conduct legal casework from commencement to conclusion, including negotiation, dispute resolution and advocacy.
• Provide secondary consultations and practical support to community workers assisting renters.
• Participate in advice services including phone, live chat, email, in-person and other service channels as required.
• Support clinic-based legal services involving law students and secondee lawyers.
• Identify systemic issues arising from client work and contribute to policy, advocacy and service improvement initiatives.
• Maintain accurate case files, service records and data in accordance with organisational and funding requirements.
• Strong interpersonal, stakeholder engagement and teamwork skills.
• The ability to work with appropriate independence, manage competing priorities and know when to consult, report or escalate matters.
• The ability to manage a busy legal workload, maintain accurate records and effectively use relevant information systems.
• Commitment to the vision, values and purpose of Tenants Victoria.

Additional Senior Lawyer Responsibilities

• Conduct complex and strategic legal casework and litigation.
• Provide expertise, guidance, mentoring, training and support to lawyers, volunteers, students and secondees.
• Support the Managing Lawyer and Principal Lawyer in the supervision, leadership and continuous improvement of legal services.
• Supervise clinic-based legal services delivered by law students and secondee lawyers.
• Contribute legal expertise to strategic projects, service innovation, policy development and advocacy activities.
• Assist with staff development, onboarding and capability building across the legal team.

About You

You will bring:

• A strong understanding of client-centred, culturally safe and trauma-informed legal services.
• The ability to develop and maintain current knowledge of tenancy law, social housing policies and procedures, and other relevant legislation.
• Strong client engagement skills and the ability to handle challenging situations with sensitivity and professionalism.
• The ability to work independently while appropriately consulting, reporting and escalating matters when required.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage competing demands in a busy legal practice.
• A collaborative and solutions-focused approach to working with colleagues and stakeholders.
• High levels of initiative, professionalism and attention to detail.
• A genuine commitment to social justice and improving outcomes for renters.

Qualifications and Experience

Core Lawyer Responsibilities

• Legally qualified and eligible to hold a practising certificate under the Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Act 2014.
• At least 1-year post-admission experience, including experience conducting legal casework from commencement to conclusion.

• Strong oral and written communication skills, including the ability to produce high-quality legal work and represent clients in courts, tribunals and dispute resolution processes.
• Strong interpersonal, stakeholder engagement and teamwork skills.
• Commitment to the vision, values and purpose of Tenants Victoria.

Additional Requirements Senior Lawyer Level

• At least 4 years post-admission experience.
• Demonstrated experience conducting complex legal casework and litigation from commencement to conclusion.
• Experience providing guidance, mentoring, training or support to lawyers, volunteers, students or secondees.

• The ability to support legal practice leadership, supervision and continuous improvement while maintaining high professional standards.

Desirable

• Knowledge of Victorian tenancy law and experience conducting tenancy law litigation.
• Experience as a solicitor advocate before VCAT or the Magistrates' Court.
• Familiarity with Community Legal Centres and their role within the justice system.

Why Join Us?

• Permanent full-time position.
• Modern Melbourne CBD office with hybrid working arrangements, minimum of three days per week in our office.

• Salary commensurate with experience and classification level, plus superannuation and generous salary packaging benefits.

• Flexible work arrangements will be considered.
• Five weeks annual leave.
• Generous not-for-profit salary packaging benefits.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) providing free and confidential counselling support.
• A collaborative, values-driven team committed to social justice and housing equity.
• The opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of Victorian renters every day.

NEXT STEPS 

If you are passionate about delivering legal services to create a fairer housing system and improve the lives of renters, we would love to hear from you! 

Tenants Victoria is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, people with disability, people with lived experience of renting and members of the LGBTIQA+ community. 

Important Information

For a confidential discussion and role specific questions please contact Cameron Bloye, Director of Services/Deputy CEO during business hours on 0488 151 016.

If you require any adjustments to fully participate in the recruitment process or need the advert or attachments in an accessible format (e.g., large print), please contact us. We're here to support you.  

All offers of employment are subject to Tenants Victoria screening process, including a Working with Children's Check and National Police Records Check. Applicants must have unrestricted working rights in Australia. 

Please note, we are not accepting applications from recruitment agencies for this position. 

Refer to attached position descriptions for further details.