New Lawyers Program null

About Victoria Legal Aid

Victoria Legal Aid assists individuals facing legal issues spanning various areas such as family breakdown, criminal matters, social security, and discrimination. Their clientele primarily includes socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, people with disabilities or mental illnesses, children, the elderly, and those from diverse cultural backgrounds. As an independent statutory authority, they aim to provide legal aid efficiently, manage resources effectively, and ensure improved access to justice for the community while pursuing innovative means to minimize the need for individual legal services.

To know more, watch this video.

Your role

VLA's New Lawyers Program is an amazing opportunity to learn on the job while being supported by strong mentors and structured training. This program has been designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills to most effectively represent VLA's unique and diverse client base and make positive change for Victorians.

As a VLA lawyer, you'll deliver high-volume client services and handle busy court lists but also identify opportunities for strategic advocacy to change the justice system, fight disadvantage, and contribute to community legal education. 

Responsibilities

Through training and experience the new lawyers will build confidence and develop the skills to undertake the following duties as a VLA lawyer:

1. Appear as a lawyer in various courts and tribunals across Victoria, including the Magistrates’ Court, Children’s Court, Family Law Courts, VCAT, AAT and Mental Health Tribunal, to effectively advocate for legal aid clients.
2. Deliver quality legal services by conducting casework including taking instructions, undertaking research and analysis, preparing documents and submissions acting as an advocate, and providing appropriate referrals to other agencies or services where required.
3. Apply VLA policies, procedures and guidelines to manage VLA funds responsibly, ensuring services are targeted to our priority clients and that your workload remains appropriate.
4. Actively develop own legal and advocacy skills through on-the-job learning while keeping up to date with relevant legal developments and procedures by attending VLA’s professional legal education program, mandatory NLP training and maintaining an understanding of issues impacting the justice system.
5. Actively contribute to the wellbeing and resilience of self, remain calm and in control under pressure, participate in  individual and team debriefing, and seek support from colleagues and appropriate services as required. 
6. Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with relevant VLA staff, court staff, community legal centres and other social justice organisations to deliver quality legal aid services and ensure cooperative and proactive approaches to improving access to justice.
7. Participate in community legal education projects, law reform and other organisational forums, projects and events.

Learn more about the role and responsibilities, check this link.

Training, development & rotation

On the New Lawyers Program, you will be supervised and supported by the NLP manager, senior lawyers, trained placement host managers and an in-house practice that includes 60 LIV-accredited specialists.

The program will build your skills and experience in different areas of law, with four placements (six months each) in VLA's different offices throughout Victoria (including at least one placement in regional Victoria) and their legal Program areas. This does mean you will be required to change office locations every six months and additional travel is expected when at their suburban and regional offices.

At the end of the program, you will take up an ongoing lawyer role in one of their programs and offices – and continue your legal career in any direction!

Compensation & benefits

At VLA you will get a starting annual salary of AUD 84,626 to AUD 97,921 plus superannuation and up to $15,900 in salary packaging. You will also receive benefits such as:

• Family-friendly, flexible hybrid work-from-home & office model
• Supportive team environment in modern offices
• Salary packaging which allows up to $15,900 of your salary each year to be tax-free
• Opportunity to join Myki Commuter Club (and salary package the cost)
• A structured supervision model and ongoing training and professional development opportunities

Career progression

The company offers various avenues for career progression and professional development. This includes formal learning programs, financial assistance for further education, and on-the-job development opportunities. Their Professional Legal Education program specifically focuses on equipping lawyers with necessary skills and expertise, while also aiding in staying updated with legal knowledge and fulfilling continuing professional development requirements. Additionally, support is provided for accreditation through the Law Institute of Victoria, covering fees and offering study leave, along with organized study groups and presentations by in-house expert lawyers.

Work-life balance

The organization offers flexible work arrangements and family-friendly policies to promote a healthy work-life balance for employees. This includes options such as flexible working hours, job sharing, and remote work, as well as the ability to purchase additional annual leave. They also provide an Employee Assistance Program for short-term counseling and support for employees and their immediate family members, ensuring accessibility to assistance for personal and work-related issues.

Company culture

Victoria Legal Aid values diversity among its clients and staff, fostering an inclusive work culture where unique perspectives are appreciated. Their vision aims for a fair and inclusive society where legal assistance is accessible, and laws are equitable. They are guided by values of fairness, care, courage, and inclusion, striving to make a difference in addressing legal problems and supporting a dynamic legal assistance sector.

About you

They encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds and work experience who are pursuing a career in social justice, with an interest in criminal, family, and civil law.

VLA is also committed to progressing their vision for reconciliation in Australia and therefore especially encourage applications from Australian First Nations people.

They're looking for people with amazing career potential to grow their careers with VLA, who:

• Have a career interest in the social justice sector, and can adapt to changing work environments, clients, different practice areas of law, and office locations throughout each placement period.
• Can act as an advocate, deliver legal advice and casework and undertake negotiation and dispute resolution on behalf of legal aid clients.
• Have high-level communication and ‘people' skills. You can connect with people from different backgrounds and cultures, and explain complex legal matters so that people can understand and choose their way forward. You're also able to effectively work with corporate colleagues, lawyers and barristers, and external stakeholders and organisations.
• Understand the complex needs of VLA's clients and the underlying systemic issues that contribute to our clients' legal issues. You can also explain the important role that external organisations, community and welfare groups play in providing appropriate services.
• Are excited to learn and develop. You research, analyse and apply different areas of law, and want to continuously develop your legal and advocacy skills through on-the-job learning and participation in their professional development programs.
• Are New Lawyers. You must be admitted to practice in Victoria or another Australian jurisdiction at the start of the program (October 2024), but they're only accepting applications from people with less than 12 months' post-admission legal experience.
• Have ready access to personal transport when required- this will be needed in particularly if you are assigned to a placement in one of their regional offices. Access to personal transport will make work and residing in the local, regional community easier especially where public transport options are limited.

How to apply

Please complete the Candidate Application Form (please see ‘file attachments' on their site), and submit it together with:

• Your current resume (including two referees' details)
• Confirmation of your completed law degree and/or practicing certificate.

Source

The following sources were used in researching this page:

• legalaid.vic.gov.au/our-organisation
• legalaid.vic.gov.au/node/9734
• legalaid.vic.gov.au/employee-benefits
• jobs.careers.vic.gov.au/jobtools/b_fileupload.proc_download?in_file_id=73637662&in_servicecode=CUSTOMSEARCH&in_organid=17342&in_sessionid=0&in_hash_key=56AA7245D836F8A5166D995904CCF6E3