Senior Criminal Lawyer

at  Justice Connect

About the role

In this role, you’ll work to

• Manage Homeless Law’s criminal casework, including delivering high-quality legal advice and representation to Homeless Law clients and help-seekers.
• Collaborate on dedicated criminal justice system initiatives for people facing homelessness.
• Supervise, mentor and offer legal and strategic guidance to in-house and pro bono lawyers, secondees and legal administrators, including in relation to priority cohorts.
• Participate in the ongoing development and delivery of training programs for pro bono lawyers and other non-legal staff in the sector and key Homeless Law policies and procedures.
• Contribute to Homeless Law’s evidence-based advocacy and engagement work, focussing on influencing fairer systemic responses to homelessness.
• Identify and pursue strategic litigation opportunities that further our Homeless Law aims and objectives.

Our ideal candidate

You’ll bring to the team experience in the following areas:

• Have or be eligible for an unrestricted practising certificate in Victoria
• Have five years’ experience in criminal law
• Experience in managing and delivering high-quality, wrap-around criminal legal services, including by motivating and developing staff and volunteers
• Experience in legal practice and risk escalation, preferably in an integrated practice and/or not-for-profit context
• Experience in engaging-in systemic advocacy and strategic engagement work
• Excellent interpersonal skills and communication skills and the ability to successfully manage stakeholder relationships, including with Homeless Law clients, the pro bono legal profession, the community legal and homelessness sectors and government

Candidates will need to demonstrate commitment to Justice Connect’s vision, strategy and values.
A week in this role

If you were here last week, you would have:

• Represented a client at the Magistrates’ Court to address a criminal matter that relates to their experience of homelessness.
• Advocated for a client through a dedicated criminal justice system initiative for people facing homelessness.
• Collaborated with Homeless Law’s staff social workers to provide integrated support to clients and help seekers and ensure that their legal and non-legal needs are met.
• Contributed to a new Homeless Law in Practice digital resource for pro bono and community lawyers across Victoria.
• Delivered a training session on common criminal legal issues and needs faced by help seekers to one of our community partner organisations.
• Directly contributed to a meeting with a key government stakeholder, alongside colleagues from the wider-community sector, advocating for better laws and policies that prevent the criminalisation of homelessness.

Please upload your resume and a cover letter which outlines your skills and experience that will help you achieve success in this role.
For further information contact Breigh Smith on 03 8636 4411
Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
Important role information
The position reports to the Principal Lawyer, Homeless law program.
Employment is full time permanent. Consideration will be made for those looking for a part-time opportunity.
The salary for this role is $112,138.13 per annum plus superannuation which will be paid according to statutory requirement, annual leave loading and generous salary packaging options.
This role is based at our Melbourne CBD office with 40% of the month in the workplace with hybrid working arrangements.

• Manage Homeless Law’s criminal casework, including delivering high-quality legal advice and representation to Homeless Law clients and help-seekers.
• Collaborate on dedicated criminal justice system initiatives for people facing homelessness.
• Supervise, mentor and offer legal and strategic guidance to in-house and pro bono lawyers, secondees and legal administrators, including in relation to priority cohorts.
• Participate in the ongoing development and delivery of training programs for pro bono lawyers and other non-legal staff in the sector and key Homeless Law policies and procedures.
• Contribute to Homeless Law’s evidence-based advocacy and engagement work, focussing on influencing fairer systemic responses to homelessness.
• Identify and pursue strategic litigation opportunities that further our Homeless Law aims and objectives