About the role:

This is an exciting opportunity to progress your career and obtain valuable experience working as a Supervising Lawyer with the Legal Services Department at Victoria Police. 

The Youth Law Unit is a state-wide network of prosecutors who primarily conduct prosecutions in the Children's Court of Victoria and provide support and advice regarding the prosecution and policing of children and young people. The Youth Law Unit sits within the Courts & Prosecution Services Division of the Legal Services Department of Victoria Police.

The Children's Court fosters a therapeutic and rehabilitative focus, where all stakeholders collaborate to achieve positive outcomes for young people and their families. Victoria Police is seeking to continue supporting the growing cohort of Police Lawyers with enthusiastic, skilled, and dedicated leaders to support the delivery of prosecution services across this jurisdiction.

This is a multifaceted and dynamic role that offers an opportunity to be exposed to serious indictable criminal matters. As a Supervising Lawyer, you will play a leading role in the training, mentoring and supervision of Prosecutors/Police Lawyers in the prosecution of matters listed in the Children's Court jurisdiction. You will prepare and appear as an advocate in more complex, sensitive and high-profile/public interest matters at the various Children's Courts throughout Victoria.

As the successful applicant, you will be an experienced criminal lawyer with a demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities effectively. You will be a people-focussed leader and someone who has excellent emotional intelligence and the ability to contribute to organisational strategy. In carrying out your role, you will promote a positive workplace culture, performance excellence and will lead by example.

Victoria Police is a contemporary and agile workplace and supports flexible working arrangements.

Your duties will include:

• Court advocacy in the Children's Court jurisdiction.
• Provide legal supervision, mentoring and professional development to Police Lawyers & Legal Support Staff across the Legal Services Department, as directed.
• Engage with internal and external stakeholders across agencies to ensure cooperative and proactive approaches to providing an effective prosecution service and addressing community harm.
• Provide strategic support to the Managing Principal Lawyer of the Youth Law Group.
• Provide authoritative decision making and legal advice on criminal and civil prosecutions and other areas as directed.
• Ensure reporting and governance is attended to in a timely fashion.

As the successful applicant, you will have:

• Admission to practice as an Australian Lawyer (Unrestricted Practising Certificate).
• A current and valid Drivers' Licence.

Requirements and relevant information:

• One (1) x full-time, ongoing position.
• The salary range for a VPS5 role is $105,479 to $127,621 (covering salary ranges VPSG 5.1 and VPSG 5.2).  Although it is standard practice for selected candidates to commence at the base of the salary range, genuine consideration will be given to a commencement salary within the available range that is commensurate with the successful candidate's knowledge, skills and experiences. This will be subject to negotiations with the Hiring Manager in the course of the selection process and may include the provision of evidence of a higher income and/or supporting documentation (as required).
• This position is located at Prosecutions Courts Brach Headquarters, 456 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne.
• Applicants must be an Australian Citizen, Permanent Resident or hold a valid work permit or visa.
• The successful applicant will be required to undergo pre-employment checks which may include fingerprint checks and misconduct screening.
• As a member of the Legal Services Department you will be located, on selection, at a specific office within a Division for a particular advertised opportunity. However, given occasional legal service demand issues you may be required at times to undertake varied work within the Department.  This supports the Departments commitment to a flexible and deployable legal workforce and professional development opportunities in a range of legal domains.

Your application must include:

• Resume
• Completed application form – the word document (2. VPS Application Form) for you to complete and attach to your submission, is attached to the job advertisement.
• A copy of your Australian Legal Practicing Certificate

Applications close midnight, Thursday 12 October 2023.

Please Note: All applications will need to be submitted through one of the following platforms; Jobs and Skills Exchange (JSE) website, Victorian Government careers website (Careers.vic) or Seek. Applications will not be accepted via other platforms or email.

Current Victorian Government employees must apply via Jobs and Skills Exchange (JSE). 

For further information, please contact: Jessica McCartney, A/Managing Principal Lawyer via email at jessica.mccartney@police.vic.gov.au. No recruitment agency please.

If you have a disability/medical condition and require a copy of this advertisement and attached documentation in an accessible format or would like to discuss an access requirements/reasonable adjustment for the recruitment process, please contact VPS Recruitment via email VPSRECRUITMENT@police.vic.gov.au or on (03) 8533 1440.

About Us:

Victoria Police has a dedicated workforce of more than 22,000 employees consisting of police, protective services officers, police custody officers, and public service staff. Each employee plays a vital role in providing the 24/7, 365 days a year emergency response and public safety capability the organisation delivers to its community. As a Victoria Police employee, you have a dedication and commitment to community safety. 

Having a workforce that reflects the community we serve is important to Victoria Police. We want to attract and retain people of all genders, ages, religions, disability, sexual orientation, family and caring responsibilities, and cultures including people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage. If you are interested in a position, we encourage you to apply as we celebrate the benefit that diversity brings to our employees, our services, and our community.

Find out what it is like working as a Victorian Public Servant for Victoria Police: https://www.police.vic.gov.au/vps