Senior Lawyer, Youth Crime

About this role

• Full time ongoing position (part-time considered)
• Salary range: $101,869 - $118,844 (pro rata) plus super plus salary packaging
• Up to $15,900 in salary packaging and hybrid WFH & office model

About the role
The Youth Crime team provides expert specialist advice and representation to children and young people charged with criminal offences in the summary and indictable jurisdictions. As a Senior Lawyer, you will provide legal services to children and young people, with a focus on more complex Youth Crime matters. This includes legal advice, complex casework, and advocacy.

You'll appear in the Children's Court and related jurisdictions and provide early legal help through duty lawyer services, advice and referrals. Additionally, you will mentor junior lawyers, contribute to legal education and training, and support policy and law reform initiatives to improve outcomes for young people in the justice system.

This role is based at our Melbourne CBD office on Wurundjeri Country with travel to outreach locations, Children's Courts, Parkville and Cherry Creek Youth Justice Centres.

About you
As our ideal candidate, you will possess:

• A current unrestricted Australian practising certificate which entitles you to practise in Victoria as a government legal practitioner.
• Strong advocacy and casework experience in Youth Crime matters.
• Sound knowledge of relevant law and court procedures; child protection experience is desirable.
• Ability to support and mentor other legal staff and contribute to training initiatives.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to engage with clients who are vulnerable or have complex needs, including young people with disability, neurodiversity or mental health issues.
• Strong teamwork skills and the ability to build effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

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 provide legal representation 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
• Opportunity to join Myki Commuter Club(and salary package the cost)
• Supportive team environment in modern offices (including free gym and end-of-trip facilities at our CBD office)
• Access to discounted Private Health Insurance

How to apply
To be considered for this role, please submit your current resume and a cover letter addressing the key selection criteria.

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 Barbara Tindall, Managing Lawyer, Youth Crime on (03) 9280 3734 or recruitment@vla.vic.gov.au.

No agency applications will be accepted.

Applications close by 11.59pm on Sunday 24 August 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.