Senior Family Lawyer

About this role

• Multiple full time or part time roles available
• Salary range: $90,871 - $131,153 plus super
• Up to $15,900 in salary packaging, flexible hybrid work arrangement

About the role
Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) is recruiting for multiple family lawyers to join our Horsham office on Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Wergaia and Jupagalk Country, supporting individuals and families across the region. We are taking a flexible recruitment approach, meaning appointments may be made anywhere within the VLA3.2 – VLA4.2 salary range, with ongoing or fixed-term roles available depending on experience.

We have the following roles available:

• 1x full time ongoing Senior Family Lawyer (4.2)
• 1x full time Family Lawyer (3.2) – parental leave coverage up to 12 months
• 1x full time Family Lawyer (3.2) – maximum term up to 2 years

Flexible working & relocation

• Flexible arrangements can be discussed, including part-time, agreed work-from-home days, or commuting from nearby towns such as Stawell, Ararat, or Hamilton.
• Relocation support may be available. Horsham offers a high quality of life, with affordable housing, short commutes, local schools, cultural and sporting activities, and proximity to the Grampians National Park. This is a great opportunity to make a real difference in a regional community while enjoying a balanced lifestyle.
• If you are interested, we encourage a conversation with the Regional Manager to discuss flexible arrangements/relocation support.

What you'll do
As a Family Lawyer (3.2) (salary range: $90,871 - $104,924), you will:

• Deliver high-quality legal services in family law, family violence, and child protection matters
• Represent clients in court and tribunal matters including the Magistrates' Court, Children's Court, and Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia
• Provide duty lawyer services, legal advice, casework, negotiation, and dispute resolution
• Work with community organisations and justice partners to support clients

As a Senior Family Lawyer (4.2) (salary range: $113,668 - $131,153), you'll do all of the above plus:

• Provide technical leadership and advanced advocacy in complex family law, child protection, and family violence matters
• Supervise, mentor, and support other lawyers in the office
• Lead strategic legal initiatives, law reform, and practice development projects
• Act as the primary senior family law expert in the Horsham office

About you
As our ideal candidate, you will possess:

• Have experience, or a strong interest, in family law, family violence or child protection matters.
• Demonstrate advocacy, negotiation, and client-focused legal skills.
• Work collaboratively in a team environment and, for senior roles, provide mentoring and guidance.
• A current Australian practising certificate which entitles you to practise in Victoria as a government legal practitioner.
• Entitled to practise in federal courts and courts exercising federal jurisdiction (entry on the High Court's Register of Practitioners).

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
• Individual learning and professional development opportunities, tailored to your role and career goals
• Free annual flu vaccinations
• 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 advising which role you are applying for.

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 Karla Randle, Regional Manager on (03) 5381 6000 or recruitment@vla.vic.gov.au.

No agency applications will be accepted.

Applications close by 11.59pm on Tuesday 7 April 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.