• Salary: $116,000 - 119,000 dependant on experience + Super + Salary Packaging
• Mentor lawyers, advocate for Aboriginal young people
• Full time, 12-month fixed term contract (strong potential for renewal)

• Preston, VIC

Lead the next generation of youth justice advocates. The Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS) is seeking an experienced criminal lawyer and people leader to help shape the future of Aboriginal youth justice in Victoria.

As Deputy Managing Lawyer, you'll play a key leadership role within our growing Balit Ngulu program, combining complex legal advocacy with mentoring, supervision, and practice leadership. Working alongside the Managing Lawyer and Principal Managing Lawyer, you'll help ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people receive culturally safe, trauma-informed legal representation while supporting the development of an exceptional team of lawyers.

If you're passionate about youth justice, committed to social justice, and ready to take the next step in your leadership career, we'd love to hear from you.

About VALS

The Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS) is an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO) and the state's only specialist legal and support service dedicated to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

For more than 50 years, we've delivered culturally safe legal representation and holistic support across criminal, family, civil and human rights law, youth justice, and specialist litigation. Our work is grounded in self-determination, cultural safety, and a commitment to achieving better outcomes for Aboriginal communities.

About Balit Ngulu

Balit Ngulu, meaning "Strong Voice" in the Woi Wurrung language, is VALS' specialist youth justice program supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people up to 21 years of age.

Our multidisciplinary team combines expert legal advocacy with wrap-around support, helping young people navigate the criminal legal system while remaining connected to family, culture and community. We work to reduce the over-representation of Aboriginal young people in the justice system through culturally safe, holistic legal services and strong community partnerships.

About the Role This is a unique opportunity to influence legal practice while continuing to appear in court and advocate for young people.

You'll maintain a strategic caseload of complex youth crime matters while providing day-to-day supervision, coaching and guidance to lawyers across the Balit Ngulu team. You'll also support operational planning, workforce development and quality legal practice as the program continues to grow.

In this role you will:

• Represent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people in complex youth crime matters.
• Appear regularly in the Children's Court, Koori Court, Magistrates' Court and other jurisdictions.
• Mentor, supervise and develop lawyers within the Balit Ngulu team.
• Support legal strategy, quality assurance and consistent practice standards.
• Assist with operational leadership, workforce planning and service delivery.
• Work collaboratively with Aboriginal Community Engagement Workers and multidisciplinary teams to achieve holistic client outcomes.
• Build strong relationships with courts, Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations and key justice sector stakeholders.
• Contribute to community legal education, advocacy and law reform initiatives.

About You

You're an experienced criminal lawyer who enjoys developing others as much as delivering exceptional legal outcomes.

You'll bring:

• Significant post-admission experience in criminal law, with strong advocacy in youth justice matters.
• Demonstrated experience appearing in the Children's Court, Koori Court and Magistrates' Court.
• Experience supervising, mentoring or leading lawyers.
• Sound understanding of legal practice management and service delivery.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• A commitment to culturally safe, trauma-informed legal practice.
• The ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary and values-driven organisation.
• A passion for improving justice outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people.

Why Join VALS?

Joining VALS means joining a purpose-driven organisation where your leadership will have a lasting impact on both young people and the legal profession.

We offer:

• Salary packaging to maximise your take-home pay.
• A senior leadership opportunity within one of Victoria's leading Aboriginal legal services.
• Meaningful work that creates positive change for Aboriginal children and young people.
• The opportunity to mentor and develop the next generation of youth justice lawyers.
• A collaborative, multidisciplinary and culturally safe workplace.
• Ongoing professional development and leadership opportunities.
• The chance to contribute to systemic advocacy and law reform.

Mandatory Requirements

To be successful, you'll need:

• A current unrestricted Victorian Practising Certificate.
• Demonstrated advanced post-admission experience in youth crime and criminal law.
• A current Employee Working with Children Check.
• A current Victorian Driver Licence.
• The ability to obtain a National Criminal History Check.
• Full Australian work rights.

Lead with purpose. Mentor future advocates. Help transform youth justice for Aboriginal children and young people. Apply today.

To submit your application please click 'Apply Now' by the closing date.