Director of Legal Practice - Principal Lawyer

Lead a high-quality legal practice and make a difference in your community

Northern Community Legal Centre (NCLC) is seeking an experienced and values-driven Director of Legal Practice (Principal Lawyer) to lead and develop our legal practice and support our dedicated multidisciplinary legal team.

This is a senior leadership position with responsibility for the professional leadership, quality and development of NCLC’s Legal Services. Reporting to the CEO and working closely with our Senior Lawyers, the Director provides professional supervision and support to the legal team and volunteers, while contributing to NCLC’s broader strategic direction, advocacy, law reform and community impact.

ABOUT NORTHERN COMMUNITY LEGAL CENTRE (NCLC)

Northern Community Legal Centre (NCLC) is a dynamic not-for-profit community legal centre that operates in one of the fastest-growing areas of Melbourne and has a significant catchment, including the Merri-bek, Hume and Mitchell Shire Local Government Areas. NCLC operates from a central office in Broadmeadows, a satellite office in Wallan, and with outreach clinics in other service areas. NCLC ensures services are accessible to the community by providing legal advice, education and referrals.

Our values

ABOUT THE ROLE

You will:

• Provide professional leadership and oversight of NCLC's legal practice.
• Supervise and support Senior Lawyers and, through them, Lawyers, Graduate Lawyers and legal volunteers.
• Oversee legal compliance, risk management and quality assurance.
• Promote continuous improvement, innovation and best practice.
• Contribute to advocacy, law reform and systemic change.
• Support accessible, effective and client-centred legal services.
• Contribute to NCLC's Senior Leadership Team and organisational strategy.
• Build strong relationships with legal, community and government stakeholders.

The role will also maintain an appropriate level of direct legal practice, including providing legal advice and casework on complex matters and supporting specialist services, as required.

Full-time position, with part-time arrangements considered for the right candidate.

ABOUT YOU

We are looking for a senior lawyer who combines strong professional expertise with leadership capability and a commitment to social justice.

You will have:

• Eligibility to hold a Principal Lawyer practising certificate in Victoria.
• At least five years' post-admission legal experience, with broad experience relevant to community legal practice.
• Experience supervising, mentoring or leading lawyers and/or multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience in legal practice management, quality assurance, risk management or service improvement.
• Strong strategic thinking, professional judgement and communication skills.
• A commitment to access to justice and working with people experiencing vulnerability and disadvantage.

We are looking for someone with broad legal experience, sound professional judgement and the ability to provide effective professional oversight across a diverse legal practice.

REMUNERATION

Salary: $139,408.59 – $144,905.73 per annum (SCHADS Award Level 8, with above-award remuneration under the Victorian Community Legal Centres Multi-Enterprise Agreement 2024–2027), plus employer-funded superannuation.

BENEFITS

NCLC is committed to providing a working environment that is flexible, friendly, collaborative, positive and supports team members to achieve a work/life balance. We offer:

• Generous salary packaging, including access to Accommodation and Meals Entertainment packaging.
• Five weeks annual leave, plus Christmas to New Year shut down leave
• Flexible working arrangements to support work/life balance
• Learning and professional development opportunities.
• Access to Employee Assistance Program for employees and their wellbeing
• Purposeful work contributing to access to justice and positive community change.

Next Steps

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

For a confidential discussion, please contact Sonya Fraser, Director of People and Culture on 0492 958 779.

Interviews will be scheduled week commencing 7 September 2026.

NCLC is committed to building a diverse workforce and strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disability, people from culturally and racially marginalised and refugee backgrounds, people of all ages, neurodiverse people, gender diverse people and LGBTIQA+ people. We welcome applications from people with a diversity of backgrounds and experience, including lived experience of the issues we work on.

A position description is attached.