Senior lawyer

About this role

• Full time ongoing position (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 are seeking a highly motivated Senior Lawyer to join our Morwell team in providing high quality legal services with a focus on criminal law and family violence matters to clients.

In this role, you will provide expert legal services in criminal law (summary and indictable) and family violence intervention order matters. You will advocate for clients in complex cases, represent them in court, and mentor and supervise junior lawyers. Additionally, you will contribute to legal education programs and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders.

This role is based at our Morwell office on Gunai Kurnai Country with travel to other Gippsland location for community outreach.

About you
As our ideal candidate, you will possess:

• Experience in complex criminal law, and ideally family violence intervention order and youth crime matters, including casework and advocacy in local courts and tribunals.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with clients who are socially and economically disadvantaged, as well as with colleagues and external stakeholders.
• Strong ability to supervise, mentor, and train junior staff, helping them develop their skills in criminal law and family violence matters.
• The ability to work collaboratively and foster a supportive team environment.
• A current unrestricted Australian practising certificate which entitles you to practise in Victoria as a government legal practitioner (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 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
• Relocation support if relocating for this role

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

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 Matt Ryan, Deputy Managing Lawyer on (03) 5126 6424 or recruitment@vla.vic.gov.au.

No agency applications will be accepted.

Applications close by 11.59pm on Sunday 30 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.