The Organisation

Westjustice is a rights-based Community Legal Centre serving Melbourne’s West on the lands of the Bunurong and Wurundjeri peoples across the LGAs of Wyndham, Maribyrnong, Hobsons Bay, Melton and Brimbank, a population of over a million people. Melbourne’s Western Suburbs are the thriving backbone of the state, and home to Australia’s most diverse and fastest-growing population.

Westjustice’s purpose is to deliver targeted services and drive meaningful change to achieve fairness, safety and justice for Melbourne’s West.

We work to uphold people’s rights by providing free legal, social work, financial counselling services, community engagement, and advocacy for systemic reform across the five impact areas of Workers’ Rights, Children and Young People’s Rights, Women and Gender Diverse people’s Rights, Economic and Housing Rights, and Our Team.

We provide place-based, multi-disciplinary programs, and partner with values-aligned organisations to focus on serving those most impacted by these issues, and to ensure people have access to the services they need where they need them.

Through our work, we consistently see complex legal issues and the cyclical impact they have on longer-term justice, economic, health, and life outcomes. This is why our services and programs focus on prevention and early intervention in the cycle of economic precarity, criminalisation, violence and housing insecurity. It is also why we advocate for legal, social and policy reform to ensure the people of Melbourne’s West have access to services and the best version of justice.

Benefits & Culture

- Be a part of an organisation that 98% of our employees are proud to work for
- We pay 3% above the SCHADs award
- Not for profit salary packaging up to $15,900 per annum
- Flexible working conditions
- 17.5% annual leave loading
- Passionate, professional and dedicated team
- Gifted additional paid leave over the Christmas holiday period
- Strong focus on collaboration, wellbeing, inclusion and diversity

The Role Westjustice has been awarded funding to deliver the current Renter Rights Service, under the broader Victorian Renters Rights Program, in Western Melbourne (covering Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong, Melbourne, Moonee Valley and Wyndham LGAs)



and also services in Brimbank and Melton LGAs.

We are seeking to employ lawyers to join our tenancy law team in our Sunshine/Werribee offices on a 12-month maximum term contract (with possibility of ongoing employment), commencing from 1 January 2027.

Westjustice's tenancy team is a highly collegiate, experienced, and professional multidisciplinary group of practitioners who assist, advise, and represent renters in Melbourne's Western Suburbs in residential tenancy disputes. As a tenancy lawyer on the team, you will:

- Provide legal advice, casework, and representation in relation to a range of issues under theResidential Tenancies Act 1997 (Vic) and other laws, such as those relating to:
- Eviction from residential premises;
- Termination of residential leases;
- Repairs to rented premises;
- Family violence generally and specifically in the context of residential leasing;
- Rent and rent increases under residential leases;
- Forming contractual relations and contractual disputes generally;
- Bond and related compensation claims for breaches of the renting laws;
- The rights and duties of renters and residential rental providers; and
- All other issues that arise in the context of residential leasing.
- Appear regularly in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) and the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria (MCV);
- Provide community legal education sessions to the general public;
- Supervise volunteers and law students; and
- Contribute to, and enjoy, fantastic team culture and camaraderie among many other things.

Skills and Attributes Required:

- A current legal practising certificate (restricted or unrestricted);
- Knowledge of Victorian renting laws;
- The ability to carry out the activities of the role mentioned above and have experience carrying out similar activities in previous roles;
- A strong commitment to social justice,



including a demonstrated understanding of the social context of law and the issues faced by vulnerable communities and the ability to contribute to Westjustice’s systemic impact work; and
- Understanding of, and commitment to, Westjustice’s Vision, Purpose, Strategic Plan and Impact Areas.

This position will be primarily based at our Sunshine office and you may be required to work from our Werribee office and our partnered sites.

Remuneration

Salary range – $108,739pa annum (dependent on experience) plus employer funded superannuation in accordance with Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992 (Cth).

To Apply

Please apply by submitting a cover letter and resume via clicking ‘Apply Now’. Applicants will be screened as their application is received and if progressed, may be interviewed quickly. Please note, Westjustice may at its discretion cease advertising prior to 5pm Wednesday 2 December 2026 subject to the number and suitability of applicants. Please call Christopher Carr, Senior Program Manager, on (03) 9749 7720 9749 7720) for a private discussion if you have any questions about the role before applying.

Late applications will not be considered.

The successful applicant will require a current Working with Children Check and a Police Check or be prepared to apply for both. People with lived experience of the justice system are encouraged to apply. A police check result does not automatically disqualify an application which in each case will be individually assessed for the relevant role. Applicants must possess the right to work in Australia. Recently admitted lawyers who have not yet practised are also encouraged to apply.

Westjustice is committed to building a diverse workforce. We strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people living with a disability, people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, mature age workers and LGBTIQA+-identifying people.

Please ensure that you let us know of any reasonable adjustment you may require during any part of the recruitment process including the application and interview by contacting Theresa via [email protected]. Any information disclosed will be held in the strictest of confidence.

📌 Lawyer (Melbourne)
🏢 Westjustice
📍 Melbourne