• Full time or part time maximum term position up to 21 May 2027
• Salary range: $113,668 - $131,153 plus super
• Up to $15,900 in salary packaging, flexible hybrid work arrangement

About the role

This is an exciting opportunity to work across a range of legal areas, including mental health, disability law, NDIS, tenancy, social security, and fines. You will play a vital role in advocating for the rights of vulnerable individuals, providing high-quality legal services, and contributing to meaningful change in the community.

In this role, you'll provide expert legal advice and represent clients in courts and tribunals, including the Mental Health Tribunal and VCAT. You'll also support clients by travelling to offsite locations, including community outreach programs and hospitals, ensuring that people who are unable to come to us still get the help they need.

Additionally, you will provide mentorship and supervision to junior lawyers, helping them grow their skills and delivering high-quality legal services together. This is a great opportunity contribute to a team, build relationships with community partners, and advocate for changes that improve access to justice.

This role is based at our Dandenong office on Bunurong Country. 

About the Dandenong office

The Dandenong team is the largest regional VLA office providing legal services across criminal law, family violence, child protection, youth crime, family and civil law. A large team of Independent Mental Health Advocates and an Independent Family Advocate are based in the region. Legal services are provided across two Magistrates' Courts (Dandenong and Moorabbin), the Specialist Children's Court (Dandenong), the Drug Court, the Mental Health Tribunal, the AAT, VCAT and the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia. The City of Greater Dandenong local government area is the most culturally diverse community in Australia, with residents from over 150 birth places and over 60% of its population born overseas.

About you

As our ideal candidate, you will possess:

• A current Unrestricted Australian practising certificate which entitles you to practise in Victoria as a government legal practitioner (mandatory).
• Substantial knowledge or practical experience in civil law and relevant court and tribunal procedures. It is not essential that you be an expert in all the key practice areas noted above, training and support will be provided.
• A passion for helping vulnerable clients and a strong commitment to community engagement.
• Effective communication skills and ability to explain complex legal matters clearly to disadvantaged clients.
• Ability to supervise legal work and to mentor and train staff and contribute to the development of individuals and their knowledge and skills in civil law.

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 our Employee Assistance Program, including confidential counselling and access to a range of mental health and wellbeing resources.

How to apply

To submit your application, please click 'Apply Now' by 11.59pm on the closing date.

To be considered for this role, please submit your current resume and a cover letter.

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 using the subject line: Senior Civil Lawyer enquiry via EthicalJobs.

For further information, please review the attached position description or contact Fatima Arjumand Mir, Acting Regional Manager on (03) 9767 7176 or [email protected].

No agency applications will be accepted.

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.