Lawyer

About this role

• 2 x full time ongoing positions
• Salary range: $90,871 - $101,868 (pro rata) plus super plus salary packaging
• Up to $15,900 in salary packaging and hybrid WFH & office model

About the role
The Mental Health and Disability Law (MHDL) team is a valued part of the Mental Health Legal Rights Service (MHLRS), which represents a collaborative legal service model developed in partnership with Victoria Legal Aid (VLA), the Mental Health Legal Centre (MHLC), and the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS). 

In this role, you will provide consumer-centred, trauma-informed legal services to individuals experiencing mental health issues and/or cognitive disability. Responsibilities will include delivering high-quality legal support, such as duty lawyer services, casework, specialised advice, and representation in civil law matters, with particular attention to mental health and disability law. 

This role is based at our Melbourne CBD office on Wurundjeri Country.

About you
As our ideal candidate, you will possess:

• Capacity to provide high quality legal advice and conduct case work in civil law matters. 
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to communicate with clients with mental health issues, disability and who are experiencing social and economic disadvantage.  
• Ability to work collaboratively with others and foster a supportive team environment.  
• A current Australian practising certificate which entitles you to practise in Victoria as a government legal practitioner (mandatory). 
• Entitlement to practise in federal courts and courts exercising federal jurisdiction (entry on the High Court's Register of Practitioners) (mandatory). 

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 1500 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 Charley Brumby-Rendell, Managing Lawyer on (03) 9269 0222 or recruitment@vla.vic.gov.au.

No agency applications will be accepted.

Applications close by 11.59pm on Tuesday 11 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.