ABOUT US

Court Services Victoria provides corporate services and facilities to support the performance of the judicial, quasi-judicial and administrative functions of Victoria’s courts and tribunal, Judicial College and Judicial Commission.
Collectively, Victoria’s Supreme, County, Magistrates’, Children’s, and Coroners courts, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT), the Judicial College of Victoria, the Judicial Commission of Victoria, and Court Services Victoria (CSV) are referred to as the `Courts Group’.
Our people enable the Courts Group to deliver on each jurisdictions own strategic priorities while also pursuing strategic opportunities that are interconnected and deliver benefits more broadly.

The Principal Lawyer is responsible for providing high level legal and policy advice to internal and external stakeholders. The role engages with stakeholders regarding new legislation and proposed legislative reforms and assesses the implications of these reforms on the Tribunal.
You will work with key stakeholders and be responsible for assessing resource implications and for considering and advising on implementation strategies to ensure VCAT is compliant with new legislation.
The role may require you to exercise the legal and statutory duties and functions of the Prinicpal Registrar as delegated in the VCAT Act, VCAT Rules, regulations and other legislation.
The role acts as the supervising lawyer for other lawyers in the VCAT Legal team.

You will be required to:

• review and report on high priority legislative and policy issues, risks and trends
• prepare and present comprehensive reports, ministerial briefs and cabinet and agency submissions on complex and sensitive issues
• provide authoritative legal advice and comment on draft legislation and regulation
• monitor changes to legislation, respond to draft bills and assess implications of reform on the Tribunal
• work closely with leadership roles at the Tribunal to provide advice on legislative changes
• work closely with stakeholders to develop funding agreements and proposals to ensure VCAT is adequately resourced