Boutique workplace law and consulting firm based in Melbourne
Experience the Justitia approach
to Workplace Law Matters
Justitia’s team of lawyers practice in employment law, industrial relations, OHS and discrimination law.
A dynamic team with a strong belief in creating value
Justitia works with clients through every step of the employment cycle.
We advise large and medium corporate organisations, public sector bodies (including local government), not-for-profit organisations and educational institutions across Australia.
At all times, we aim to develop relationships with our clients that build capacity rather than dependence. Our goal is to provide our clients with the knowledge and tools to build and maintain healthy and dynamic workplaces where their people can thrive.
Justitia similarly supports several pro bono clients, which currently include WEstjustice, Women’s Legal Service Victoria and Melbourne Gay and Lesbian Chorus
Our Service Focus
Our services take into account the commercial, compliance and strategic needs of our clients,
without losing sight of the fact that employee relations is ultimately about people.
Advice
Justitia offers a comprehensive range of advisory services in relation to all employment-related matters including employee entitlements, contracts and policies, pre-employment requirements, enterprise agreements, modern awards and Fair Work legislation. We also advise and represent employers in relation to industrial issues, bargaining with unions, compliance under Equal Opportunity and Fair Work legislation and dealing with the Fair Work Ombudsman.
We help our clients implement organisational change, including dismissal procedures and redundancy processes. We assist in managing employee performance and dealing with misconduct (including sexual harassment, discrimination and bullying), long-term injured or ill employees, and complaint handling.
At Justitia, the most typical client engagement is as a sounding board, forming long term relationships with clients, working with them to achieve their goals. We listen carefully and seek to add value in providing advice and options. Our lawyers will work with a client to understand their concerns or questions, find out in which format they would like to receive their advice, and any budgetary constraints.
Justitia lawyers also add value through sharing their knowledge about a particular sector or challenge (e.g. managing an employee complaint), and bringing in other experts when needed.
We help clients through not only providing frank advice, but helping them identify the key questions to be answered, and the risks to anticipate.
Our passion is to help clients avoid litigation (unless this is a preferred course).
Litigation
Whilst our aim is to keep our clients out of courts and tribunals, we recognise that sometimes formal dispute resolution or litigation is unavoidable. At Justitia we think it is important to work efficiently, minimising costs, stress and inconvenience whereever possible. Our focus in these matters is always on obtaining outcomes for our clients that are commercial and cognisant of reputational risk.
Justitia has extensive experience in conducting litigious matters in the Victorian Magistrates’ Court, County Court and Supreme Court as well as the Federal Court and Federal Circuit Court of Australia. We also represent clients before the Fair Work Commission and in anti-discrimination proceedings.
We act for employers in relation to claims of unfair dismissal, adverse action, bullying, discrimination and sexual harassment, breach of contract and misleading or deceptive conduct.
We also assist our clients to enforce restraints and confidentiality clauses, respond to underpayment and award-based claims, enterprise agreement and Fair Work Act non-compliance claims and provide representation with respect to Work Health and Safety prosecutions and Coronial inquests.
Mediation and Arbitration
Justitia’s lawyers have a wealth of experience and considerable success in resolving workplace disputes through informal negotiation, mediation and a wide range of alternative dispute resolution processes. Our approach to alternative dispute resolution is to focus on outcomes, rather than positions.
We offer mediation services to resolve disputes. Our Accredited Mediators are skilled in facilitating open and frank discussions between parties, with a view to achieving a workable long-term resolution of the dispute. We also offer representation for employers who are parties to mediation, conciliation and other dispute resolution processes.
Justitia’s lawyers have also previously conducted arbitrations under the Local Government Act 1989 (predecessor to the Local Government Act 2020).”
Work health and safety
Justitia provides advice on compliance with Work Health and Safety laws in all Australian jurisdictions. We help educate our clients on the responsibilities of workers, managers and officers under Work Health and Safety legislation.
As well as providing advisory services in Work Health and Safety, our lawyers are experienced in defending employers and businesses charged with breaches of these laws.
Safeguarding
We support our clients to foster safe environments for the children and young people who are involved in their organisations.
At Justitia, we are known for conducting thorough and trauma informed investigations into allegations of reportable conduct. Our team is sought out for their professionalism, timeliness and transparency. We can be engaged directly by clients or through legal advisors. Our lawyers regularly investigate reportable conduct under the Reportable Conduct Scheme and breaches of organisational policies.
We are passionate about providing our clients with the knowledge and tools to foster safe and supportive organisations where children and young people can thrive.
We support our clients to mitigate the risk of harm to children and young people by developing clear child safety policies and procedures that are tailored to their organisation’s unique environments and operations. This includes training on child safety matters to equip staff with the essential knowledge to keep children and young people safe. Our training programs are designed around the Child Safe Standards and are tailored to our client’s practical needs, legal obligations, and current trends in safeguarding concerns. We primarily work with clients in the school, local government and NFP sectors.
Our aim is to work with our clients to create a child safe culture where staff feel confident to proactively identify and respond to safeguarding concerns and to support Boards to exercise their functions effectively.
Governance
With our breadth of expertise, our lawyers provide support to boards, as well as in local government with Councillors and Council groups, in a variety of ways.
We support Boards who are experiencing conflict amongst Board members, by way of providing advice, or dispute resolution services such as mediation and facilitated discussions, or investigations. We advise Boards in relation to their CEO, terms and conditions of employment, and issues of performance or allegations of misconduct. We also carry out investigations, audits and reviews at the request of Boards. Please see our other pages for more information.
We work with Councils to assess disputes and dysfunction and explore the options available for resolution. We also arbitrate and mediate allegations of Code of Conduct breaches. Under new local government legislation in Victoria, we help Councils review their Codes of Conduct and policies, and build capacity through training on conflict resolution applying a difficult conversations framework. We collaborate with other organisations in the sector such as the Victorian Local Governance Association, and Justitia is a MAV procurement-certified supplier of legal services.
Investigations and preliminary investigations
Workplace investigators are typically engaged where an employer requires someone independent to gather information necessary for an employer to make sound decisions, whether they be disciplinary or otherwise.
Justitia has a deep expertise carrying out independent investigations on a wide range of complex and sensitive issues for organisations in the public and private sectors. Our lawyers are familiar with public and private sector disciplinary policies and procedures. We can be instructed directly, or through legal advisers.
Our lawyers are sought out due to their professionalism, thoroughness and timeliness. We manage actual and perceived conflicts of interest carefully in order to ensure impartiality. We advise clients about scope, allegations, and the role of legal professional privilege.
Our reports are peer-reviewed and we have a team that works collaboratively to ensure that more complex and sensitive enquiries are appropriately supported to ensure the highest standards in process and report writing.
In addition to making findings of fact, and breaches of policy, we may also be asked to provide recommendations. In some cases, a full formal investigation is not appropriate and Justitia may recommend that a preliminary investigation is the necessary first step.
Our investigators are all lawyers. We have experience working within the Reportable Conduct Scheme as administered by the Commission for Children and Young People. Some of our team have presented university courses in the subject of workplace investigations. We have strong involvement with the US Association of Workplace Investigators (AWI) and our lawyers were founding members of the Australasian Association of Workplace Investigators (a branch of AWI).
Justitia lawyers run training courses imparting our knowledge and skills to clients on workplace investigations. We also help in-house investigators with their internal investigations both in a coaching and advisory capacity.
Reviews and Audits
Workplace reviews provide a snapshot of the current cultural climate in a workplace. They provide staff with the opportunity to raise their concerns and identify potential issues in a safe and confidential manner. Importantly, workplace reviews can help identify emerging issues before they become complaints, requiring investigation or defending before external Courts and Tribunals.
Justitia is typically briefed by Boards or senior managers to review team or organisational culture. Organisations have duties to create a safe workplace. Workplace reviews are an effective risk minimisation strategy. Our work during a review may also include an audit of contracts, policies, complaint handling procedures, and data on separation packages, sick and other leave, and legal claims relating to the workplace.
Our team consists of highly-skilled investigators and experienced legal advisors. Once we understand the client’s needs, we can discuss the scope and process for an inquiry, appropriate communications and legal professional privilege.
Training
Justitia provides face-to-face training on a broad range of topics ranging from compliance matters through to best practice professional development programs for managers and staff. We deliver training that is interactive, practical and thought-provoking. We also like co-training with our clients.
Recent topics covered by Justitia training include:
- Equal Employment Opportunity, Anti-Bullying and the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (appropriate workplace behaviours)
- Managing Ill and Injured Employees
- Conducting Workplace Investigations
- Managing Poor Performance, Redundancy and Dismissal
- Code of Conduct Training for Local Government Councillors
- Having a difficult conversation
We can tailor our existing programs to suit the needs of our clients or alternatively create bespoke training programs that address particular workplace concerns, such as when an employee requires one on one training and coaching.
Templates for Purchase
Please find below the current list of templates we offer for purchase:
- Work Health and Safety Policy
- Equal Opportunity and Prevention of Sexual Harassment Policy
- Flexible Working Arrangements Policy
- Workplace Bullying Policy
- Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Policy
- Social Media Policy
- Parental Leave Policy
- Diversity and Inclusion Policy
- Whistleblowing Policy
- Permanent Employment Contract
- Casual Employment Contract
- Maximum Term Employment Contract
- Independent Contractor Contract
- Workplace Investigations Template Documents
If you are interested in purchasing one of our templates, please email us at info@justitia.com.au
Our personal commitment
Our firm is built on legal services, but our focus is on people.
Balance
To enjoy and excel at our work, we prioritise a healthy work life balance
Collaboration
We share knowledge and celebrate each other’s successes
Sustainability
We identify sustainable solutions, rather than quick fixes
Humility
We respect the views of others and acknowledge everyone has a contribution to make
Excellence
We know our stuff
Our Client Stories
Hive Legal
Chief Operating Officer – Victorian Public Sector Entity
Kathryn Arndt – CEO, Victorian Local Governance Association