About the role:

This is an exciting opportunity to progress your career and obtain experience working as a Police Lawyer in the Courts and Prosecution Services Division (CPSD) of the Victoria Police Legal Services Department (LSD). Our vision is to be a centre of prosecutorial and legal excellence, with people who are recognised as being fair, just and valued partners in the Victorian justice system.

Victoria Police's LSD provides legal services and advice to support policing, courts, and the Victorian Community. The LSD is led by an Executive Director (who is also the organisation's General Counsel) and employs over 800 staff spread across four divisions – the Office of the Executive Director; the Specialist Legal and Litigation Division; the CPSD; and the Legal Business Operations Division.

The CPSD is currently enhancing its advocacy response to meet the expansion of court networks and specialist jurisdictions across Victoria. We are therefore seeking enthusiastic, skilled, and dedicated Police Lawyers to meet this demand. Alongside sworn police prosecutors, Police Lawyers appear within both the Magistrates' and Children's Court jurisdictions. Their duties include representing Victoria Police as an advocate within the therapeutic, family violence, summary crime and youth crime areas of practice.     

This role has a large focus on the Family Violence jurisdiction and is advocacy focused, and prior experience in this area will be highly regarded. However, the successful applicant will also be provided opportunities for training and professional development through courses and on the job training.

This position is located within the Southeast Prosecutions Group with the role primarily based at the Ringwood Prosecutions Unit. Although based out of the Ringwood Prosecutions Unit, duties will be as required within the relevant work group service delivery area. To be successful in this role, you will need to demonstrate an ability to appear as a court advocate and manage competing priorities effectively, with a sound understanding of the Victorian criminal justice system.

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

Your duties will include:

• Preparation and appearance work in both the Magistrates' and Children's Court jurisdictions within the therapeutic, family violence, summary crime and youth crime areas of practice.
• Provision of legal advice in areas of skill and knowledge, including the drafting of court submissions.
• Working with internal and external stakeholders across agencies to ensure cooperative and proactive approaches to addressing community harm.
• Establishing and maintaining productive working relationships with all legal representatives and court staff.
• Providing support and assistance to Principal and Supervising Lawyers in the management of more complex cases heard in the County Court and other jurisdictions.
• Provision of professional guidance to Legal Support Officers as directed by senior managers.

As the successful applicant, you will:

• Be admitted to practice as an Australian Lawyer.
• Have an Australian Practising Certificate or be immediately eligible to apply for one.
• Have the ability to work in a team and in a developing and emerging work environment.
• Have a high level of resilience and emotional intelligence.
• Have sound knowledge and understanding of the Victorian criminal justice system and a commitment to keeping abreast of changing trends, policies and legislation.
• A current and valid Victorian Driver Licence.

Requirements and relevant information:

• One (1) x full-time, fixed term until 30/06/2025 position available
• The salary range for a VPS3 role is $76,819 to $93,275 (covering salary ranges VPSG 3.1 and VPSG 3.2).  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).
• As a member of the CPSD you will be located on selection, at a specific office for a particular advertised opportunity. The primary location for this position is Ringwood Prosecutions Unit, 41-43 Ringwood Street, Ringwood. However, given occasional legal service demand issues you may be required at times to undertake varied work within the Department. This promotes professional development opportunities in a range of legal domains and supports the Department's commitment to a flexible and deployable legal workforce.
• This position may require you to work outside normal hours.
• 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.

Your application must include:

• A Cover letter (no more than 1-page)
• Resume
• Completed application form – the word document (2. Application form) for you to complete and attach to your submission, is attached to the job advertisement.
• A copy of your current Australian Practicing Certificate

Applications close midnight, Monday 9 December 2024.

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: Senior Sergeant Michael Lynch or Ms Ashleigh Hudson on (03) 9871 2777 or michael.lynch@police.vic.gov.au or ashleigh.hudson@police.vic.gov.au. No recruitment agencies please.

We welcome applications from people with disability and aim to support an inclusive recruitment experience. If you require a copy of this advertisement and attached documentation in an accessible format or would like to discuss an access requirement/reasonable adjustment for the recruitment process (including an alternate method of submission of the application), please contact VPS Recruitment via email VPSRECRUITMENT@police.vic.gov.au or on (03) 8335 8082.

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. 

Victoria Police is committed to creating a workplace that is safe and inclusive of all our people.  We empower and expect our people, at all levels, to develop interpersonal connections and collaborate, use sound judgement, and create and innovate.

In alignment with the principle of self-determination, Victoria Police is dedicated to enhancing our collaboration with the Aboriginal community in Victoria as we build a culturally safe and inclusive workplace for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees. We continue to engage and build relationships with local Aboriginal communities and work closely with them to enhance opportunities and services aimed at empowerment, equality, and equal participation across all areas of the organisation.

We value the diversity and differences of our employees, including their age, gender, culture, religion, sexual orientation, abilities, and life experience. We celebrate these diverse experiences and perspectives as each person brings an informed and contemporary approach to our work which enhances the wellbeing of all. We aim to provide a safe place that is reflective of the community it serves, allowing everyone to bring their whole selves to work.”

If after reading this, you're not sure you tick every single criteria box, but have the passion to get behind our purpose, the determination to face a challenge and a willingness to grow and learn, we think you should click the apply button anyway. We're passionate about building a diverse and inclusive team, and love hearing from people like you.

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