- Provide authoritative legal and policy advice to the Commission on the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 (Vic), the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 (Vic) (3 roles available)
- Fixed term for 12 months, an opportunity to work within the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission
- VPS Grade 5.1: $116,413 - $128,631 plus superannuation.
About the Commission
The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission is an independent statutory body with responsibilities under Victoria's key human rights laws - the Equal Opportunity Act 2010, the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 and the Change and Suppression Practice Prohibition Act 2021.
Our vision is for a fair, safe, and inclusive Victoria where every person is respected and treated with dignity. We work with others to eliminate inequality and build a community that respects and promotes human rights and equal opportunity.
We are a small and buzzing organisation that embraces the VPS values: Responsiveness, Integrity, Impartiality, Accountability, Respect, Leadership and Human Rights.
Our teams are filled with highly motivated, conscientious, and collaborative people who love what they do and uphold our values. We know that our work has the greatest impact when it is informed by diverse experiences and perspectives.
For more information on working with us please visit https://www.humanrights.vic.gov.au/
About the Role
The Senior Legal Advisor will provide high-quality legal and policy services to the Commission, with a strong focus on guideline development under the Equal Opportunity Act 2010. Over 12 months the Senior Legal Advisor will work in a small team running consultations with employee and employer stakeholders and conducting research to inform the development of resources including drafting a comprehensive guideline
The role is an opportunity to:
-
Provide authoritative legal and policy advice to the Commission on the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 (Vic), the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 (Vic)
-
Assist with the conduct of interventions, investigations, and compliance reviews. This will include the development of internal briefings on whether the Commission should exercise its functions in particular matters, managing the processes involved, the preparation of briefs for counsel, gathering evidence, consulting with stakeholders, drafting of documents, acting as instructing solicitor and, on occasion, representing the Commission before courts and tribunals.
-
Support the Commission's legal policy work, including writing reports, drafting submissions to public inquiries and running consultation processes.
-
Contribute to the preparation and delivery of the Commission's yearly report on the operation of the Charter.
-
Monitor the development of local jurisprudence in relation to the Charter, the Equal Opportunity Act, the Racial and Religious Tolerance Act and the Change or Suppression Practices Act, as well as relevant developments in other jurisdictions, and lead and coordinate legal training on these developments.
-
Contribute to the management of the administrative systems required to support the statutory functions exercised by the Legal Branch and contribute to regular reporting to the Commission's Board
To learn more about this role before applying, please read the attached position description.
About you
To be successful in this role, you will have:
-
Significant knowledge and/or specialist expertise or the ability to quickly acquire in providing strategic legal advice on complex and time sensitive matters, in relation to employment and discrimination law. Experience in vilification, change or suppression practices and human rights law also highly desirable.
-
Significant and relevant expertise or the ability to quickly acquire in providing authoritative legal advice in relation to in house government legal issues (including privacy, freedom of information, contracts and administrative law).
-
Significant and specialist expertise or the ability to quickly acquire in undertaking regulatory or other types of complex investigations or reviews.
Qualifications
-
Must be a Barrister or a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria
How to Apply
Please click the Apply button on this advertisement. Applications should include a resume and covering letter addressing the key selection criteria. Attachments can be uploaded in .doc, .docx, .pdf, .txt or .rtf formats.
We strongly encourage Aboriginal people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and people with disabilities to apply
The successful candidate will be required to undergo pre-employment checks which may include national police checks and misconduct screening.
If you require adjustments to the recruitment and selection process, or require an alternative format to any of the application material, please don't hesitate to get in touch with the contact person listed on this ad.
