Senior Legal Specialist, Prison Law

About this role

• Full time maximum term position up to 2 years
• Salary range: $131,154 - $155,000 plus super
• Up to $15,900 in salary packaging, flexible hybrid work arrangement

About the role
Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) is seeking an experienced lawyer with specialist knowledge of prison law to lead work to enhance access to justice and strengthen VLA's services to people in custody. Situated in the Appeals and Strategic Litigation, Criminal Law team, this role will work closely with internal and external stakeholders to build VLA's organisational capacity to respond to the needs of people in prison.

The role will also provide advice, advocacy and casework to people in prison relating to prison law matters, identify systemic barriers and opportunities for advocacy and strategic litigation.

This role will be anchored at our Melbourne CBD office on Wurundjeri Country, however may negotiate to work flexibly at a VLA office that has connections to local prisons (such as Bendigo, Ballarat, Geelong, etc)..

About you
As our ideal candidate, you will possess:

• Capacity to high quality written and verbal legal advice on complex legal issues, particularly in relation to legal issues impacting people in prison.
• Experience working with people in prison and thorough knowledge of the experiences unique to custodial settings and policies and legislation governing prison operations.
• Leadership capabilities including experience in coordinating complex legal projects and successfully developing, supervising and motivating a team and fostering a cooperative and supportive team environment.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with an ability to influence and negotiate with people across all levels, to engage and build collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders and to communicate effectively and respectfully with people from diverse backgrounds.
• A current 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 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, detailing your interest in the role and 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 Hui Zhou, Associate Director, Appeals and Strategic Litigation on (03) 9269 0591 or recruitment@vla.vic.gov.au.

No agency applications will be accepted.

Applications close by 11.59pm on Wednesday 25 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.