Emerging Lawyers Program

Emerging lawyers for gender equity and social change

Everyone who experiences family violence deserves legal support to help them get safe, secure stable housing and support to live a healthy life – no matter where they live.

 

Our Emerging Lawyers Program will set up lawyers for a successful legal career by practicing family law expertise and offering family violence support in communities where it’s needed the most.   


Across 18 months, you will undertake specialist training in Melbourne, online and in regional areas, alongside other lawyers who, like you, are committed to gender equality and improving access to justice for family violence victim-survivors. 

 

We will then support you to ease into your new job at one of the participating community legal centres.  

 

Applications for this year’s program have now closed. 

Participating community legal centres and job locations

The benefits of working at Hume Riverina Community Legal Service/Upper Murray Family Care include: 

  • Above-award pay 
  • Flexible workplace and work arrangements 
  • Employees are actively encouraged and supported to have a healthy work/life balance 
  • Supervision 
  • Generous salary packaging 
  • Relocation assistance of up to $5,000 available to help you move to this picturesque region 
  • Training and development opportunities 
  • 3 days special leave between Christmas and New Year 
  • A fantastic work environment and company culture that includes team lunches and wellbeing events 
  • Corporate gym memberships 
  • Workplace banking program 

 

This is a full-time, fixed-term 18-month contract.

 

Salary: Commensurate with SCHADS level 5

 

Find out more about Hume Riverina Community Legal Service.

The benefits working at Goulburn Valley Community Legal Centre (ARC Justice) include: 

  • full time ongoing contract from commencement in the program 
  • commitment to structured supervision with senior staff and an individual learning plan 
  • financial support for relocation, travel and accommodation expenses 
  • Not-for-profit salary packaging up to $15,900 in tax-free pay each year for costs like rent, car expenses or a mortgage plus $2,650 for meals and entertainment 
  • additional gifted leave between Christmas and New Year 
  • 17.5% leave loading 

 

This is a full-time, fixed-term 18-month contract.

 

Salary: SCHCADS Level 4 with incremental progression every 6 months.   

 

Find out more about ARC Justice. 

The benefits working at Emma House – The Sexual Assault and Family Violence Centre include:  

  • Generous above award Enterprise Agreement entitlements 
  • Flexible and part time working arrangements 
  • Salary packaging 
  • 5 weeks annual leave 
  • Up to two weeks purchased leave 
  • 12 weeks paid parental leave 
  • Professional development opportunities 
  • Career pathway options for staff  
  • Health and Wellbeing initiatives 
  • Flu vaccinations 
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP) 
  • Positive workplace culture 
  • Social initiative 

 

This is a full-time, fixed-term 18-month contract.

 

Salary: SCHADS Level 4

 

Find out more about Emma House.

The benefits working at Mallee Family Care Community Legal Centre include; 

  • supportive, genuine, and motivated team 
  • extensive legal training opportunities 
  • Working in our integrated practice means you can focus on legal issues whilst client’s other non-legal needs are also supported by our multidisciplinary team 
  • Mallee Family Care Community Legal Centre is one of 70 funded programs of Mallee Family Care, a leading human service provider of the Mallee region covering North-West Victoria and Far-West New South Wales 
  •  salary packaging up to $15,834 in tax-free pay each year 
  • Employee Assistance Program and professional support. 

 

This is a full-time, fixed-term 18-month contract.

 

Salary: SCHADS Level 4

 

Find out more about Mallee Family Care Community Legal Centre.

The benefits working at Gippsland Community Legal Service – Anglicare Victoria include: 

  • supportive, learning environment 
  • salary packaging up to $15,900 in tax-free pay each year ($611 each fortnight) for costs like rent, car expenses or a mortgage 
  • Employee Assistance Program and professional support. 

 

This is a full-time, fixed-term 18-month contract.

 

Salary: Commensurate with SCHADS 5

 

Find out more about Gippsland Community Legal Service.

As an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation, Djirra was initiated by Aboriginal people, and is operated and governed by Aboriginal people for Aboriginal people. Aboriginal values are at the core of everything we do, ensuring that we provide culturally safe services.  

Some of the benefits to working with us include: 

  • Supportive and inclusive work environment. 
  • LGBTIQ +Sistergirl and Brotherboy reference group   
  • Attractive Salary Packaging options (including meals and entertainment) 
  • Generous leave provisions apply and annual leave loading, as well as additional paid leave for end of year closure. 
  • Paid parental leave after one year of service. 
  • Paid study leave after one year of service. 
  • Employee Assistance Program with supportive, confidential counselling for personal and work concerns. 
  • Self-care and Debriefing Program available for all staff with regular external debriefing/supervision offered to all staff. 
  • Access to company vehicles for any work-related travel 
  • Cultural awareness training in both formal and informal settings is provided to all staff upon commencement, and ongoing throughout their employment with Djirra. 

 

This is a full-time, fixed-term 18-month contract.

 

Salary: SCHADS Level 4

 

Find out more about Djirra.

The benefits of working at InTouch include:

  • We have offices located in East Melbourne and Dandenong;
  • We provide flexible working arrangements for our staff, including the option to work from home for a better work-life balance;
  • We offer five weeks of annual leave plus 17.5% leave loading for more rewarding breaks;
  • Access to a leading Employee Assistance Program; and
  • Salary Packaging to enhance your earnings.

This role offers the chance to engage in meaningful work at a specialist family violence service for migrant and refugee women, where contributions are valued and impactful. We strongly encourage women of migrant and/or refugee backgrounds to apply. Candidates who also speak a second language are encouraged to apply.

 

This is a full-time, fixed-term 18-month contract.

 

Salary: SCHADS Level 4

 

Find out more about InTouch.

The benefits of working at Brimbank Melton Community Legal Centre include: 

  • The opportunity to be a member of a high-performing, dedicated Family Law team that delivers significant family law and family violence legal services, including property settlement and litigation matters
  • The opportunity to work within an integrated legal service, alongside other commUnity+ community development, social work and community education programs, including alongside other community organisations and partners across a number of Brimbank Melton Community Legal Centre partnerships and projects
  • A supportive and inclusive organisation with a commitment to staff wellbeing and community outcomes
  • Flexible workplace arrangements
  • Salary packaging up to $15,900 in tax-free pay each for costs like rent, car expenses or a mortgage
  • Employee Assistance Program and professional support
  • 40% off your membership at Brimbank Aquatic and Wellness Centre (BAWC)

 

This is a full-time, fixed-term 18-month contract.

 

Salary: SCHADS Level 4

 

Find out more about Brimbank Melton Community Legal Centre.

Benefits of working with South-East Monash Legal Service include:

  • Springvale and Narre Warren & various outreaches 
  • Friendly and collegial environment 
  • Supportive team with weekly team meetings 
  • Buddy Program 
  • Generous salary Packaging 
  • Additional grace days available 
  • Integrated Practice model 
  • Be a part of an innovative and dynamic CLC that is client focused, actively identifying systemic issues and advocating for change. 

 

This is a full-time, fixed-term 18-month contract.

 

Salary: SCHADS Level 4

 

Find out more about South-East Monash Legal Service.

The benefits working at Northern Community Legal Centre include:

  • A supportive and motivated team, working to provide access to justice for people experiencing systemic barriers and structural disadvantage.
  • Working with innovative family violence prevention and response projects.
  • Salary packaging of up to $15,900 and additional packaging of up to $2,650 for meals/accommodation.
  • Flexible work arrangements and 3 bonus leave days.
  • Access to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), including access for staff members’ immediate family, as well as professional support.

 

This is a full-time, fixed-term 18-month contract.

 

Salary: SCHADS 4

 

Find out more about Northern Community Legal Centre.

The benefits working at Eastern Community Legal Centre include:  

  • For 45 years, Eastern Community Legal Centre has been working with communities across the eastern suburbs of Melbourne to resolve legal problems, advocate for people’s rights, improve the legal justice system, and alleviate socio-economic disadvantage. Eastern Community Legal Centre prioritises person centred practices, it’s people and partnerships. 
  • Eastern Community Legal Centre is committed to providing legal services that are needed by the broader community through providing a skilled multidisciplinary workforce of staff and volunteers which include advocates, community lawyers, financial counsellors, intake specialists, paralegals, social workers and program, management and policy professionals.  
  • Salary packaging up to $15,900 in tax-free pay each year ($611 each fortnight) for costs like rent, car expenses or a mortgage. 
  • up to 7 bonus leave days 
  • Employee Assistance Program and professional support. 

 

This is a full-time, fixed-term 18-month contract.

 

Salary: SCHADS Level 4

 

Find out more about Eastern Community Legal Centre.

The benefits of working at Youthlaw include: 

  • Working with a supportive and collaborative team of lawyers and youth practitioners  
  • Opportunity to contribute to the growth of our specialist family law practice assisting young people under 25 years of age 
  • Play a part in legal and systemic advocacy for a just and equitable society for, and shaped by, young people   
  • Generous salary packaging and additional leave between Christmas and the New Year  
  • Employee Assistance Program and professional support. 

 

This is a full-time, fixed-term 18-month contract.

 

Salary: SCHADS Level 4

 

Find out more about Youthlaw

This program is supported by funding from the Commonwealth Government Attorney General’s Department and the Victorian Government.  

Our office is closed

We will reopen at 9am Monday 8 January 2024.

 

You can contact Victoria Legal Aid for legal support or Safe Steps for family violence support. 

 

Our duty lawyer services will continue during this period. Please contact your local court if you need legal help at court.

 

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Other family violence support