Managing Lawyer

About us

Tenants Victoria is the peak body for Victorian renters, and the rental law specialist community legal centre in Victoria. Our vision is for safe, secure and affordable homes for Victorian renters in a fair housing system. We provide information and referrals, legal advice, casework support, representation, financial counselling, and social work services to renters experiencing hardship and disadvantage, each year assisting more than 10,000 individual renters. 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

This is an exceptional opportunity for an experienced lawyer and people leader to shape the delivery of legal services for Victorian renters and contribute to a fairer housing system. Reporting to the Principal Lawyer and working closely with the Director of Client Services, the Managing Lawyer plays a key leadership role in overseeing guiding and developing a collaborative team of lawyers delivering quality legal services, and supporting strategic organisational priorities and ensuring the delivery of high quality legal services across Tenants Victoria. . 

You will manage and supervise a team of 3–4 lawyers and deliver high quality legal services to Victorian renters, as well as secondary consultations and support activities to community workers across Victoria who are working with renters. You will support and supervise the delivery of clinic-based legal services by law students and secondee lawyers, helping Tenants Victoria to reach more renters. You will also contribute to Tenants Victoria’s broader work, using your expertise to support projects, service innovation, policy and advocacy. 

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

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 

Legal Practice Leadership 

• Lead, supervise and support a team of lawyers. 
• Maintain high standards of legal practice, risk management and service delivery. 
• Provide high-quality advice and information to Victorian renters, including on complex and strategic matters.

Service Delivery 

• Conduct legal casework, including negotiation, dispute resolution and representation. 
• Provide mentoring, supervision and secondary consultation services to community organisation workers working with Victorian renters. 
• Provide mentoring, supervision, guidance, training and technical legal guidance to lawyers, secondees and volunteers. 

Operational Leadership 

• Support the Principal Lawyer with the overall supervision and leadership of Tenants Victoria’s legal services. 
• Harness your expertise and the insights from your work to identify systemic issues facing renters and feed into Tenants Victoria’s policy and advocacy activities. 
• Contribute to service innovation and continuous improvement. 

WHAT YOU'LL BRING

• A strong understanding of, and ability to lead, client-centered, culturally safe, and trauma-informed legal services. 
• Ability to develop and maintain thorough and current knowledge of tenancy law, social housing policies and procedures, and other relevant legislation. 
• Strong client engagement skills and ability to handle challenging situations with sensitivity and tact. 
• Ability to work at times with minimal supervision but to consistently consult and report appropriately. 
• Ability to manage workload, boundaries and wellbeing in a busy legal practice, and support your team to do the same. 
• A collaborative and solutions-focused approach to working with staff and external stakeholders. 
• High levels of initiative, professionalism and attention to detail. 
• A genuine commitment to social justice and improving outcomes for renters. 

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE 

Essential 

• Legally qualified and hold (or be able to hold) a practising certificate under the Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Act 2014. 
• At least 5 years post-admission experience, including demonstrated experience supervising lawyers and managing complex legal matters. 
• Proven experience in litigation and managing complex legal casework from commencement to conclusion, with tenancy law experience highly regarded.
• Demonstrated experience managing, supervising and supporting a team of lawyers. 
• 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 team collaboration skills. 
• Demonstrated understanding of, and commitment to client-centered, culturally safe and trauma-informed legal practice, including the ability to support and guide others in these approaches. 
• Commitment to the vision, values and purpose of Tenants Victoria. 

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 (CLCs) and their functions. 

WHY WORK WITH US? 

• Permanent full-time position. 
• Modern Melbourne CBD office with hybrid working arrangements (minimum 3 days in the office). 
• Five weeks' annual leave to support wellbeing and work-life balance. 
• Access to generous not-for-profit salary packaging benefits. 
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) providing free and confidential counselling support. 
• Join a collaborative, values-driven organisation committed to social justice and housing equity. 
• Opportunity to lead and deliver high-impact legal services that make a meaningful difference for Victorian renters. 

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. 

To submit your application please click 'Apply Now' by the closing date.

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. 

Please see the attached position description for further details.