Lawyer

Southside Justice; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

5 weeks paid annual leave

4% above the Award

16 weeks paid parental leave

Hybrid and flexible working conditions

Salary packaging

Job summary

Southside Justice in St Kilda is seeking a qualified lawyer to join our community legal centre. You will provide housing justice support, advise on tenancy and family violence issues, and represent clients in housing matters while collaborating with a values‑driven team.

The role blends direct client work, outreach, advocacy and law reform, with supervision and professional development opportunities, and a commitment to trauma‑informed, accessible legal aid.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to deliver high-quality legal services or the capability to develop these skills in a supervised legal practice environment.
• Commitment to advancing the rights of people facing barriers to justice.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with clients from diverse backgrounds.
• Sound organisational skills and ability to manage competing priorities.
• Good judgement, initiative and willingness to learn and develop professionally.
• Unrestricted practising certificate
• Experience in tenancy law
• Experience in community legal centres, legal aid or other social justice settings.

Responsibilities

• Legal advice, casework and representation: Deliver high-quality legal advice, casework and representation, primarily in housing justice.
• Client advocacy: Advocate for clients in courts, tribunals and other forums, including duty lawyer at the Specialist Family Violence Court.
• Outreach and community engagement: Build relationships with community partners and deliver services through outreach locations.
• Community legal education: Develop and deliver engaging legal education and training sessions.
• Law reform and strategic advocacy: Identify systemic issues and contribute to law reform and policy development.
• Sector engagement and partnerships: Represent Southside Justice at meetings and networks.
• Volunteer support: Mentor student volunteers and support service delivery.
• Professional development and supervision: Participate in supervision and ongoing professional development.
• Organisational contribution: Contribute to projects and positive workplace culture.

Skills

Legal practice

Client engagement

Communication

Stakeholder liaison

Judgement & initiative

Education

Victorian practising certificate eligibility

Job description

Southside Justice is a community legal centre in St Kilda providing accessible, trauma‑informed legal help. Through integrated legal practice, community partnerships, and a strong focus on social justice, Southside Justice strives to create fairer systems and meaningful, lasting change.

About You :

• Qualified lawyer with, or eligible to obtain, a Victorian practising certificate.

Position Summary :

As a Lawyer at Southside Justice, you'll help people facing housing insecurity, homelessness, family violence and financial hardship navigate complex legal issues and protect their rights.

With housing justice at the heart of the role, you'll combine direct client work, advocacy, outreach and law reform to deliver real impact, while being supported to grow your skills in a collaborative and values-driven team.

Applications close on 9am on Monday 28 September 2026. We are aiming to interview successful applicants between 6 and 8 October 2026.

Key Requirements :

Essential skills & experience

• Demonstrated ability to deliver high-quality legal services or the capability to develop these skills in a supervised legal practice environment.
• Commitment to advancing the rights of people facing barriers to justice.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build trust and engage effectively with clients from diverse backgrounds.
• Sound organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities.
• Good judgement, initiative and a willingness to learn and develop professionally.
• Unrestricted practising certificate
• Experience in tenancy law
• Experience in community legal centres, legal aid or other social justice settings.

Job Responsibility :

• Legal advice, casework and representation: Deliver high-quality legal advice, casework and representation, primarily in housing justice.
• Client advocacy: Advocate for clients in courts, tribunals and other forums, including appearing as a duty lawyer at the Specialist Family Violence Court at Moorabbin.
• Outreach and community engagement: Build strong relationships with community partners and deliver legal services through outreach locations, improving access to justice for people who may not otherwise seek legal assistance.
• Community legal education: Develop and deliver engaging legal education and training sessions for community members, partner organisations and frontline workers.
• Law reform and strategic advocacy: Identify systemic issues affecting clients and contribute to law reform, policy development and strategic advocacy initiatives that advance social justice outcomes.
• Sector engagement and partnerships: Represent Southside Justice at meetings, networks, working groups and conferences, strengthening partnerships and contributing to collaborative sector responses.
• Volunteer support: Support and mentor student volunteers, fostering a positive learning culture and high-quality service delivery.
• Professional development and supervision: Participate in supervision, reflective practice and ongoing professional development to maintain legal excellence and support personal wellbeing.
• Organisational contribution: Actively contribute to organisational projects, continuous improvement initiatives and a positive, values-driven workplace culture.

Job Functions :

Law - Generalist

Job Benefits :

• 5 weeks paid annual leave (17.5% leave loading), plus bonus leave in between Christmas and New Year
• 4% above the Award
• 16 weeks paid parental leave, plus paid superannuation for 12 months
• Salary packaging
• Hybrid and flexible working conditions
• With 100% of our team strongly agreeing that Southside Justice is a great place to work we can provide a culture of a values driven, inclusive and positive workplace.