• 2x full time ongoing positions (part-time considered)
• Salary range: $110,357 - $127,333 (pro rata) plus super plus salary packaging
• Up to $15,900 in salary packaging and hybrid WFH & office model

About the role
We're looking for two experienced Senior Lawyers to step into these leadership roles at our Dandenong office. This is a rewarding opportunity to combine your legal expertise with leadership and people management in a role that makes a meaningful difference in the community. 

We have the following opportunities: 

• 1x Deputy Managing Lawyer (Children's Law) - Co-lead the Children's Law team at our Dandenong office, working alongside an existing Deputy Managing Lawyer. In this role, together you will manage a team of lawyers, handle important legal cases in child protection, youth crime, and family violence, and oversee Duty Lawyer Services at the Dandenong Children's Court. This position commences on 2 February 2026.

• 1x Deputy Managing Lawyer (Criminal Law) - Oversee a team focused on Criminal law and family violence matters. Working alongside other Deputy Managing Lawyers, you'll be responsible for providing expert legal advice and advocacy while supervising and mentoring junior lawyers. This position commences on 1 December 2025.

These roles are based at our Dandenong office on Bunurong Country.

About the Dandenong office
The Dandenong team is the largest regional VLA office providing legal services across criminal law, family violence, child protection, youth crime, family and civil law.  A large team of Independent Mental Health Advocates and an Independent Family Advocate are based in the region. Legal services are provided across two Magistrates' Courts (Dandenong and Moorabbin), the Specialist Children's Court (Dandenong), the Drug Court, the Mental Health Tribunal, the AAT, VCAT and the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia. The City of Greater Dandenong local government area is the most culturally diverse community in Australia, with residents from over 150 birth places and over 60% of its population born overseas.  

About you
As our ideal candidate, you will possess:

• Proven ability to lead and motivate a team of lawyers, providing guidance, mentorship, and professional development.
• Extensive experience in Children's Law, especially in child protection, youth crime, and family violence (for the Children's Law role).
• Excellent communication skills to effectively engage with clients, staff, and external stakeholders, particularly vulnerable or disadvantaged groups.
• A current Australian practising certificate which entitles you to practise in Victoria as a government legal practitioner (mandatory). 
• A proven ability to develop, motivate, and manage a diverse team effectively, fostering a positive and collaborative work environment. 
• Substantial experience in criminal and family violence, with a demonstrated capacity to handle complex legal matters as a senior lawyer (for the Criminal Law role).

Don't meet every requirement? At VLA, we understand that your work and life experiences can be just as valuable. If you're excited about this role but your CV doesn't align perfectly with our job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or one of our many other opportunities.

About Victoria Legal Aid
We offer legal representation, family dispute resolution and non-legal advocacy to those who need it most. With over 1400 staff employed in 16 offices across Victoria, we help people with their legal problems by providing information, advice and education with a focus on the prevention and early resolution of legal problems.

Our clients come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds and foster a work culture that's inclusive as well as diverse. Your unique ideas and perspectives are valued so that we best represent the people we serve.

Employee benefits

• Focus on work-life balance including flexible working arrangements
• Hybrid work from home & office model
• Training and professional development opportunities
• Excellent salary packaging options including General Expenses up to $15,900, Meals & Entertainment up to $2,650 and Novated Leasing
• Access to discounted Private Health Insurance

How to apply
To be considered for one of these roles, please submit your current resume and a cover letter and nominate which role(s) you are applying for.

If you require adjustments to the recruitment and selection process or need an alternative format to any of the application material, please don't hesitate to get in touch with our team.

For further information, please review the attached position description or contact Bronwen Robertson, Regional Manager on (03) 9269 0317 or recruitment@vla.vic.gov.au.

No agency applications will be accepted.

Applications close by 11.59pm on Thursday 13 November 2025.

Other relevant information
It is a requirement that staff attend for office-based days at their primary work location. In line with this requirement, interstate applications will be considered only where the candidate is able and willing to relocate to Victoria, unless part of a border community.

VLA is committed to putting the safety and wellbeing of children first.