Immigration Lawyer

Join a growing boutique migration law practice with genuine social impact

• Location: Carlton, Victoria
• Employment: Full-time, 12-month fixed-term contract (maternity leave position)
• Salary: $80,000 – $100,000 per annum
• Potential for ongoing employment following the initial contract period

This isn't just another migration lawyer role.

You'll join a growing boutique migration law practice that combines high-quality legal work with genuine social impact — while being part of a commercially sustainable legal business.

SSI Legal is the social enterprise legal practice of Settlement Services International (SSI). We provide strategic immigration and citizenship legal advice to individuals, families, employers and community organisations across Australia and internationally.

Our practice is growing, and we're looking for an Immigration Lawyer with 1–3 years' post-admission experience to join our team in Carlton.

This is a maternity leave backfill role for an initial 12-month period, with the possibility of ongoing employment following the contract.

About the opportunity

This role is ideal for an early-career migration lawyer who has developed a solid foundation in Australian migration law and is ready to take greater ownership of their matters while continuing to develop their technical and professional skills.

You'll work closely with experienced migration lawyers and the Principal Lawyer, managing your own matters with appropriate supervision and support.

Our work is broad and often complex. While you'll have particularly strong exposure to skilled migration, employer-sponsored migration and family migration, you'll also have the opportunity to work across:

• visa and citizenship applications;
• complex migration matters;
• merits and judicial review matters;
• visa cancellations;
• bridging visas; and
• a broad range of other migration and citizenship matters.

You'll work directly with clients, undertake legal research and analysis, prepare applications and submissions, and provide practical, strategic legal advice.

You'll also have the opportunity to contribute beyond individual client matters through stakeholder engagement, community education, professional development and the continued growth of SSI Legal.

About you

We're looking for someone who is technically capable, commercially minded and genuinely interested in developing their career in migration law.

You'll bring:

• 1–3 years' post-admission experience;
• demonstrated professional experience in Australian migration law;
• sound working knowledge and experience in skilled migration, employer-sponsored migration and family migration;
• experience managing complex migration matters, including at primary decision-making and review levels;
• strong legal research, written and verbal communication skills;
• excellent organisation, file management and attention to detail;
• the ability to manage matters with increasing independence while knowing when to seek guidance;
• strong client relationship and interpersonal skills;
• commercial awareness and an interest in contributing to the financial sustainability and growth of a legal practice; and
• a commitment to ethical, client-centred legal practice and access to justice.

Experience with Administrative Review Tribunal matters, judicial review, a broader range of migration matters, business development, stakeholder engagement or professional networks will be highly regarded but not essential.

We're particularly interested in candidates who are looking to develop both their technical expertise and commercial capability as migration lawyers.

Why join SSI Legal?

• Meaningful work, real impact – deliver high-quality migration and citizenship legal services as part of a growing social enterprise.
• Grow your practice – build your technical expertise, take ownership of your matters and work alongside experienced migration lawyers.
• Think commercially – contribute to the growth and financial sustainability of a boutique legal practice while developing your commercial capability.

About our benefits

• Industry leading flexible working arrangement supported to work from home and office, including 9-day fortnight;
• Access to in-house training and learning opportunities for professional development and growth.
• Access to our inhouse wellbeing programs
• Working alongside professional and dedicated team members all wanting to make a difference in our communities

About our Recruitment Process

SSI Group is strongly committed to actively safeguarding children and young people and providing a safe environment for them to thrive. We ensure children and young people’s safety, and wellbeing is embedded in the everyday thinking and practice of everyone at SSI, whether they interact directly or indirectly with children and young people. All employees will undergo a National Police Clearance and a Working with Children Check as a condition of employment. All staff who work on, support, or manage Queensland child-related work must hold a Blue Card, even if they are not based in Queensland.

Our Commitment to Diversity

SSI strives to be an inclusive workplace for all people. We recognise that we operate in a diverse community and welcome and encourage applications from all ages and genders, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, culturally and linguistically diverse groups, the LGBTIQ+ community, veterans, refugees and people with disability.

To Apply

If you are excited by the information above, we look forward to receiving your application, including your CV and a cover letter outlining your migration law experience and suitability for the role.

If you would like more information on the recruitment process, please contact the talent acquisition team at talent@ssi.org.au or tung@ssi.org.au using the subject line: Immigration Lawyer enquiry via EthicalJobs or call us at 0468 836 759

A recruitment pool may be created for permanent and temporary opportunities of the same role or role type that may become available in the future.

SSI is a Disability Confident Recruiter, and our Talent Acquisition team can assist in; providing alternative formats to apply, making adjustments to the recruitment process, (including the application form), and offering information about workplace adjustments and support networks. Should you require adjustments please email us at talent@ssi.org.au.

Please note we will be scheduling interviews as applications come in, so please apply urgently if you believe this role aligns with your goals and experience.