Child Support Lawyer

About this role

• Full time or part time ongoing position
• Salary range: $90,871 - $104,924 (pro rata) plus super
• Up to $15,900 in salary packaging, flexible hybrid work arrangement

About the role
This role will provide legal information, referrals, advice and representation to separated clients seeking or paying child support, adult child maintenance, spousal maintenance or property, and in relation to associated children's issues. Additionally, you will conduct casework files and appear as advocate to represent clients in Courts and Tribunals as appropriate and participate in the provision of duty lawyer services in the Family Violence list at the Melbourne Magistrates Court.

You will also develop and implement community legal information and training sessions and contribute to law reform and other VLA projects on family law financial support matters.

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.
• Entitled to practise in federal courts and courts exercising federal jurisdiction (entry on the High Court's Register of Practitioners).
• Experience working as a caseworker in Child Support Legal Service matters such as child support, adult child maintenance and spousal maintenance and associated children's issues.
• Experience acting as advocate in family dispute resolution services, the Magistrates' Court of Victoria, Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia and in the Administrative Review Tribunal.
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills and ability to work with diverse clients and stakeholders.

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 following key selection criteria:

1. Capacity to work as a caseworker in Child Support Legal Service matters such as child support, adult child maintenance and spousal maintenance and associated children's issues, and act as advocate in family dispute resolution services, the Magistrates' Court of Victoria, Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia and in the Administrative Review Tribunal.
2. Knowledge or capacity to quickly gain knowledge of family and child support law, administrative law principles and court procedures.
3. Sound interpersonal skills and the capacity to communicate effectively with staff, clients and other persons and organisations impacting on the work of VLA.

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 Michelle Murphy Acting Deputy Managing Lawyer on (03) 9280 3798 or Renee Rao, Recruitment & Retention Consultant on recruitment@vla.vic.gov.au.

No agency applications will be accepted.

Applications close by 11.59pm on Monday 13 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.