Description
Consumer Action Law Centre is an independent, not-for-profit consumer organisation working 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 assistance, policy work and campaigns. Guided by our values of Respect, Fairness, Reflection and Courage, we work collaboratively to deliver meaningful impact for consumers and communities.
The Assistant Director, Domestic Building Legal Service (DBLS) will provide strategic, operational and legal leadership for Consumer Action's specialist domestic building practice, delivered in partnership with Justice Connect. Leading a small team, you will oversee complex litigation, drive high-quality legal assistance for Victorian homeowners, build strong stakeholder relationships, and translate frontline casework into advocacy, policy and law reform initiatives. As a foundational leader, you will help establish and grow the service, embed governance and practice frameworks, and deliver meaningful consumer and systemic outcomes across Victoria's domestic building sector.
How You'll Make an Impact
- Provide strategic leadership of a domestic building legal service at Consumer Action that advances access to justice and delivers systemic impact for Victorian homeowners.
- Lead high-quality, legal practice in domestic building matters, including complex advice, dispute resolution, and VCAT proceedings with a focus on identifying and assisting homeowners experiencing vulnerabilities.
- Identify systemic issues arising from casework and use data, evidence, and client experience to drive law reform, systems change, and strategic advocacy.
- Lead the collection, analysis, and communication of service data to measure outcomes, demonstrate impact to funders and stakeholders, and inform strategic priorities.
- Build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with partner organisations, regulators, funders, and community stakeholders.
Codesign, implement, and continuously improve equitable and accessible service models, intake pathways, and referral processes with community partners. - Lead, supervise, and support legal staff, fostering a reflective, traumainformed, inclusive, and impactfocused team culture.
- Represent the organisation in sector forums, consultations, and strategic advocacy related to domestic building obtaining fair outcomes for homeowners.
Requirements
What You’ll Bring
- Qualified legal practitioner holding a current unrestricted Principal Victorian Practising Certificate or the ability to obtain a Principal Practising Certificate (mandatory).
- Significant post-admission legal experience (typically 5–7+ years PAE) with demonstrated expertise in litigation, dispute resolution and case strategy, including managing complex legal matters and high-volume caseloads (mandatory).
- Extensive experience working within the framework of the Domestic Building Contracts Act 1995 (Vic), Building Act 1993 (Vic), associated Regulations, and
- VCAT Domestic Building List procedures, or similar regulatory and dispute resolution environments, coupled with a proven ability to rapidly acquire and apply specialist subject matter expertise (mandatory)
Employee Rewards and Benefits
- Join a highly engaged, supportive and motivated team
- Additional end of year leave
- Salary packaging available
- Superannuation paid on unpaid parental leave
- 16 weeks parental leave
- Purchased leave scheme available
- Comprehensive training and professional development opportunities
About the Domestic Building Legal Service
Consumer Action is partnering with Justice Connect to deliver an expanded Domestic Building Legal Service for Victorians, funded by the Victorian Government in the context of a new regulatory framework. Consumer Action will deliver a limited strategic casework and litigation service in partnership with Justice Connect, who will provide self-help information, advice and referral information to consumers with building issues. DBLS insights and evidence will feed our policy and campaigning work for a fairer building system in Victoria.
More about Consumer Action can be found on our website, including our Strategic Plan and Impact Report.
Next Steps
To submit your application please click 'Apply Now' by the closing date.
If we can make any adjustments or modifications to standard recruitment processes that will support and enable your application, please contact us at recruitment@consumeraction.org.au using the subject line: Assistant Director, Domestic Building Legal Service (DBLS).
First Nations peoples are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.
At Consumer Action Law Centre, we embrace diversity and welcome any applications from people living with a disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, people of all ages and LGBTIQA+ community members.
No agency applications will be accepted.
