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The Solicitor conducts legal casework files, participates in
outreach and training, provides advice and assistance to
consumers and represents their interests in order to contribute
to the education, policy and campaign work of the Centre.

CALC delivers a free legal service across Victoria through its legal
advice lines, casework, training and projects. The Lawyer will
provide advice direct to the public and stakeholders and progress
their own representation files. The role requires an ability to
contribute to CALC’s policy and campaigns, identify trends and
systemic issues, and represent CALC with a wide range of
stakeholders.

The Legal Practice consists of around a dozen lawyers. The lawyer
will work collaboratively with the practice to support an effective
and efficient legal service. The lawyer will be able to provide high
quality legal advice direct to the public and community workers,
run casework, and contribute to strategic discussions.

About the role

• Location: Melbourne CBD
• Job Type: Full-Time & Part-Time considered, (Maximum term 12/24 months).
• Salary: $98,017.92 – $102,453.39 per annum (pro rata for part time)

Consumer Action is one of Australia’s leading not-for-profit consumer advocacy organisations, that makes life easier for people experiencing vulnerability and disadvantage.

As part of the Legal Practice Team, the solicitor will conduct legal casework, participate in outreach and training activities and provide assistance to advice line callers. The successful applicant will be a part of a high impact legal practice team which contributes to the education, policy and campaign work of Consumer Action.

Specifically, the solicitor will:

• Empower people through the provision of an effectively targeted consumer legal advice service and high-impact legal representation in consumer, credit and insurance law matters in courts, tribunals and external dispute resolution forums.
• Build an effective and sustainable community sector through the provision of legal advice to workers.
• Work collaboratively with members of the legal practice to ensure that consumers better understand their legal rights and options and connect vulnerable consumers to appropriate services.
• Undertake legal research and other duties relating to the legal practice, and administrative tasks where required.
• Support outreach and engagement with consumers and the sector, which may include public sessions, representing the organisation at stakeholder forums, presenting training to workers, and collaborating with partner organisations.
• Identify systemic issues and contribute to policy and campaign activities through litigation and advice work.
• Implement dispute resolution strategies that will likely result in a benefit to a significant number of disadvantaged and vulnerable people and/or improve access to justice.
• Support and collaborate on powerful stories that inspire systemic change.

The successful applicant will:

• Be a qualified legal practitioner holding, or eligible to hold, a current Victorian Practising Certificate
• Have knowledge of or ability to develop a detailed understanding of consumer, credit and insurance law, its legislative framework and regulation generally
• Have demonstrated experience or ability to develop skills in litigation in various jurisdictions including tribunals and courts
• Have negotiation skills and experience
• Have demonstrated communication skills for culturally and linguistically diverse client audiences.
• Have a strong awareness of the social context of clients and their legal issues.
• Ability to work in a supportive team environment while also working with autonomy and accountability.
• Strong time and file management skills and the ability to manage competing priorities under pressure.
• Have a demonstrated commitment and interest working in the community legal centre to improve access to justice and progress systemic change

Rewards and Benefits

• Join a highly engaged and motivated team
• Option of compressed hours with one RDO per fortnight
• Comprehensive training and professional development opportunities
• Flexible hybrid working arrangements

About Consumer Action

Consumer Action is an independent, not-for-profit consumer organisation with deep expertise in consumer and consumer credit laws, policy and direct knowledge of people’s experience of modern markets in Victoria. We work for a just marketplace, where people have power and business plays fair. We make life easier for people experiencing vulnerability and disadvantage in Victoria, through financial counselling, legal advice, legal representation, policy work and campaigns.

On the land of the Traditional Owners, the people of the Kulin Nations, our dedicated staff work collaboratively and deliver integrated services and projects. We have just over 50 employees and promote a diverse and inclusive culture which upholds our values of respect, fairness, reflection and courage. We strive to be an employer of choice and provide employee benefits which supports work-life balance.

The Legal Practice currently consists of around a dozen lawyers and two legal assistants. The practice provides legal advice direct to the Victorian public through our consumer advice service telephone line. The practice also advises consumers through referrals and stakeholders. The practice also operates a dedicated worker advice service to provide legal support to financial counsellors, community workers and community lawyers seeking specialist legal advice. All matters are also assessed according to our legal intake criteria, and lawyers can provide more detailed advice to clients with our practice representing some clients in litigation and complex dispute resolution.

More about Consumer Action can be found on our website, including our Strategic Plan and Impact Report.

For any questions about the role please contract Stephen Nowicki, Director of Legal Practice on 03 9670 5088.

Read the position description.