First Nations Law Graduate

About this role

• Kick-start your legal career in social justice and human rights
• Get paid to complete your Practical Legal Training and grow your legal experience with supervision and mentors
• Enjoy culturally safe support through our First Nations Staff Network and First Nations Employment Consultant
• Develop your career as a Lawyer, with wide options across an organisation making a difference for disadvantaged Victorians
• Maximum term position with the potential for ongoing employment
• Salary: $69,000 plus super plus salary packaging
• Up to $15,900 in salary packaging and hybrid WFH & office model 

About the program: 
With three positions available, VLA's Graduate Program provides a supportive, challenging and rewarding environment for First Nations law graduates to:  

1. work on legal matters that make a difference as part of VLA's legal teams;  
2. develop your skills through training, supervision and mentoring from expert lawyers,  
3. complete your Practical Legal Training (PLT) through Leo Cussen Centre for Law, ready for Admission.  

Over eight months (starting late January 2025), the Graduate program will guide you through the experience, providing you with comprehensive training and mentoring as well as networking opportunities. 

VLA will pay your PLT course fees, and three days of your work week will be fully devoted to PLT studies. The remaining two days focus on practical tasks, skills development and other on the job learning and shadowing. You'll be a key part of our team with responsibility and have genuine opportunities for career growth and development. 

 Every day our graduates have many opportunities to expand their knowledge, with access to: 

1. Leading expertise – not only in casework, VLA also delivers strategic advocacy to change our justice system and fight disadvantage and contribute to community legal education. You will be involved in matters that will engage you, challenge you and give you opportunity to grow and deepen your expertise. 
2. Real legal work - from your first day, you will have the opportunity to get involved in legal work that makes a difference. 
3. Training and development - a combination of formal and on-the-job training that covers technical and soft skills. 
4. Mentoring and networking – our Graduates benefit from mentoring and facilitating relationship building across VLA in a way that fosters personal and career development, networking and the sharing of knowledge, experience and learning. 

The Law Graduate program is also an ideal pathway to our New Lawyers Program (NLP), as you'll be guaranteed an interview for the 2025 NLP intake. Once you're admitted to practice, you can also apply for any of VLA's diverse legal roles across Victoria.   

About you: 
We are looking for community-minded people who embody our values of fairness, care, courage and inclusion, and who want a career in social justice and human rights.  

We are looking for First Nations Law Graduates (or final year students) who have the potential to grow into excellent lawyers and build a career at VLA; people who are curious, personable, committed, optimistic and who can show that they are: 

• Team players
• Clear and concise writers 
• Confident and articulate communicators
• Committed to life-long learning and development 
• Familiar with legal services work through clerkships, paralegal or legal administration work, voluntary experience, or other experience  

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. 

VLA considers that being an Aboriginal and/or a Torres Strait Islander person is a genuine occupational requirement for this position under Section 12 Special Measures of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 (Vic). 

Even more benefits at VLA: 

• Family-friendly, flexible hybrid work from home & office model
• Culturally-aligned support with Cultural and Ceremonial leave, First Nations Staff Network, and VLA's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment strategy 
• Salary packaging which allows up to $15,900 of your salary each year to be tax-free 
• Opportunity to join Myki Commuter Club (and salary package the cost)
• A structured Supervision Model and ongoing training and professional development opportunities  

How to apply 
Please submit the following: 

1. Your current resume (including contact details of two referees) 
2. A cover letter outlining your interests for the Graduate Program and your practice areas of interest 
3. Confirmation of your completed law degree and/or final year of study 
   For this program, you must be eligible to commence PLT in late January 2025
4. As this program is designated for First Nations Australians only, please provide information that supports your identity as a First Nations person. This might be a Confirmation of Aboriginality document or letter from an Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisation where you are from, where you have studied or where you live. Please contact us if this is a challenge and we can work with you on an alternative.  

If you require adjustment to the recruitment and selection process or have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact Kristen Bell, First Nations Employment Consultant on (03) 9269 0168 or kristen.bell@vla.vic.gov.au.  

No agency applications will be accepted.

Applications close by 11.59pm on Sunday 10 November 2024

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.