Adoption Law Attorney

Adoption Law Attorney / Divorce Law Attorney / Family Law - General Attorney in Broadmeadows, Victoria Job Title: Professional Support Lawyer, Child Protection Job Responsibilities: The Professional Support Lawyer, Child Protection is responsible for supporting high-quality child protection legal practice within the organization and among legally aided practitioners. Key responsibilities include: Planning, developing, and implementing training and education materials in child protection law for organization staff and legal practitioners who do legally aided work. Supporting quality child protection legal practice through providing lawyers with case advice, coordinating case strategy meetings for shared learning opportunities and networking, producing and sharing legislative, case law, and policy updates, and supporting specialist accreditation processes. Producing, disseminating, and maintaining precedents and other practice resources for child protection lawyers. Assisting in the development of training and induction plans for lawyers entering child protection practice at the organization. Identifying and promoting opportunities for strategic litigation and advocacy arising from casework in collaboration with the legal team and leadership. Collaborating closely on shared issues with the Professional Support Lawyer – Youth Crime and other professional support lawyers across the organization. Providing subject matter expert guidance to support the program’s input into the organization’s Legal Practice functions, including assessment of panel applications, Compliance and Quality Auditing, and guideline reviews as required. Education and Experience Information: The ideal candidate for this role should possess: Extensive knowledge and practice experience in child protection law in Victoria, and a good understanding of related areas of law such as family violence and youth crime. Demonstrated experience in the development and delivery of quality training and education resources to support lawyers develop and continuously improve their legal skills and knowledge. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, to engage and build collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders, as well as the ability to effectively communicate and present complex legal concepts to lawyers with various levels of experience. Ability to provide advice on complex legal issues in child protection and children’s intervention order matters. High-level research and writing skills, including the ability to analyze and synthesize complex information into plain English. Highly developed organizational and time management skills with the ability to effectively prioritize workload and work autonomously and collaboratively in a multi-functional team. Demonstrated experience working with First Nations people, including an understanding of the cultural norms, communication styles, and complex issues experienced by First Nations peoples in Australia. A knowledge of the general business of the organization and a commitment to its vision and values. The position requires a current (unrestricted) Australian practicing certificate which entitles the holder to practice in Victoria as a government legal practitioner. The candidate must have the right to work in Australia (., be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, permanent resident, or hold a valid visa). It is a requirement that all employees reside in Victoria or a nearby border community and can attend office-based days at their primary work location. The role requires the ability to independently travel to various office locations, meeting venues, outreach services, courts, and tribunals to deliver quality services to clients, for meetings, and/or professional development, as required. All appointments are subject to reference checks and pre-employment misconduct screening. This role requires holding a valid Victorian Working With Children Check at all times. Salary Information: The salary range for the Professional Support Lawyer, Child Protection position is $110,357 - $127,333 (pro rata) plus superannuation and salary packaging. The role offers up to $15,900 in salary packaging and a hybrid work-from-home and office model. Employee Benefits: The organization offers a range of benefits including: A focus on work-life balance including flexible working arrangements. Hybrid work from home and office model. Training and professional development opportunities. Excellent salary packaging options including: General Expenses up to $15,900, Meals & Entertainment up to $2,650, and Novated Leasing. Opportunity to join Myki Commuter Club and salary package the cost. Supportive team environment in modern offices (including free gym and end-of-trip facilities at the CBD office). Access to discounted Private Health Insurance. Organizational Context: The organization provides legal aid services to the Victorian community through its in-house practice, contracted private lawyers, and by funding community legal centers. With 16 offices across Victoria, the organization prioritizes intensive services such as legal advice, legal representation, non-legal advocacy, and family dispute resolution to those who need it the most. The organization also conducts research into and makes submissions regarding legal aid and law reform issues. It recognizes the intersections between legal and social issues in its work and advocates for change by participating in systemic inquiries and reforms and strategic advocacy. The organization’s Strategy 26 outlines strategic directions across the first four years of its Outcomes framework 2022–30: an eight-year view of the difference made for clients, the Victorian community, partners, and the services and systems it works with. The organization’s Client First Strategy sets out work to continuously improve the experience of people with legal and non-legal needs in all of the work done. The practice covers three program areas: Criminal Law, Family, Youth and Children’s Law, Civil Justice and Access and Equity. The Family, Youth and Children’s Law Directorate aims to assist people to resolve their family disputes to achieve safe, workable, and child-focused parenting and care arrangements. It also assists parents to build their capacity to resolve future disputes without legal assistance. The Children’s Law program is responsible for the funding and provision of legal aid services in the Family Division of the Children’s Court across the state, provision of non-legal advocacy for parents in the early stages of child protection involvement, delivery of service improvement projects and initiatives, and contributing to advocacy for policy and law reform. The organization is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive workforce and encourages people from diverse backgrounds and abilities, including First Nations people and refugees, to apply for positions. It will make reasonable adjustments to enable everyone to participate in recruitment processes and to work productively and safely. The organization is a Child-Safe organization committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and recognizes that children’s rights need to be respected, their views welcomed and valued, and their concerns taken seriously. #J-18808-Ljbffr