Lawyer, General Advisory

About this role

• Full time and part time (0.8) maximum term positions up to 12 months
• Salary range: $90,871 - $104,924 plus super
• Up to $15,900 in salary packaging, flexible hybrid work arrangement

About the role
Victoria Legal Aid's (VLA) Legal Help service is the main entry point for Victorians seeking legal assistance, supporting over 152,000 clients over the telephone and live chat each year, by providing information and legal advice on a wide variety of legal matters and referrals to legal and non-legal services. We assist clients who are vulnerable, stressed and often in circumstances where their safety is threatened.

In the role of Lawyer, General Advisory, you will play a crucial role in delivering legal help to our clients either via phone, webchat or in person. This is a unique service providing accessible and holistic intake and referral aimed at ensuring Victorians are provided with the appropriate services to support their legal needs.

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

About you
As our ideal candidate, you will possess:

• A current Australian practising certificate which entitles you to practise in Victoria as a government legal practitioner (mandatory).
• Practical knowledge of law and procedure in criminal, civil, family, or child protection law gained from experience in a legal environment.
• Demonstrated high level legal diagnostic and problem-solving skills with an ability to use appropriate questioning techniques to accurately assess and address client needs in a trauma-informed way.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and communication skills with the ability to clearly articulate information and confirm understanding.
• Prior experience gained within a high-volume helpline, community legal centre or practice will be highly regarded.

Don't meet every requirement? At VLA, we understand that your work and life experiences can be just as valuable. If your CV doesn't align perfectly with our job description, we strongly encourage you to apply. You may be just the right candidate.

About VLA
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

• A focus on work-life balance, including flexible working arrangements
• Hybrid work from home & office model 
• Generous leave benefits, including:
  • Three days paid seasonal leave (to be taken between Boxing Day and New Year's Day public holidays)
  • Paid gender affirmation leave
  • Five days both paid reproductive and fertility leave per calendar year
• Annual 3% salary increase each December plus performance-related salary incentives
• Attractive salary packaging options including General Expenses up to $15,900, Meals & Entertainment up to $2,650 PLUS Novated Leasing
• Discounted annual Myki public transport passes
• Individual learning and professional development opportunities, tailored to your role and career goals
• Free annual flu vaccinations
• Access to gym and end-of-trip facilities at our CBD office
• Access to our Employee Assistance Program, including confidential counselling and access to a range of mental health and wellbeing resources.

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 Beck Johnston-Ryan, Managing Lawyer on (03) 9606 5202 or recruitment@vla.vic.gov.au.

No agency applications will be accepted. 

Applications close by 11.59pm on Sunday 15 March 2026.

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.