Senior Lawyer

at  Victoria Legal Aid

JOB DESCRIPTION

Location: North West Region | Bendigo
Job type: Full time / Ongoing
Organisation: Victoria Legal Aid
Salary: $98,902 - $123,624
Occupation: Legal
Reference: VG/VLA/RSD/1840779

Provide expert legal services and advocacy for First Nations and mainstream across the Loddon-Campaspe regions of Victoria.

• Full time ongoing position (part-time applications considered)
• Salary range: $98,902 - $123,624 (pro rata) plus super plus salary packaging
• Up to $15,900 in salary packaging and hybrid WFH & office model

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 (mandatory).
• Demonstrated experience and understanding of cultural norms in working with Australian First Nations clients (mandatory).
• Significant criminal law experience, including complex litigation and the use of therapeutic and problem-solving approaches in the justice system.
• Demonstrated understanding and knowledge of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities in Victoria, with awareness of the social, economic, and health issues affecting access to justice.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to build relationships with diverse stakeholders, including First Nations clients, non-legal colleagues, and external partners.
• Excellent leadership and mentoring skills, with experience in supervising and mentoring staff.

Don’t meet every requirement? At VLA, we understand that your work and life experiences can be just as valuable. If you’re excited about this role but your CV doesn’t align perfectly with our job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or one of our many other opportunities.

We are seeking a Senior Lawyer with a proven track record of advocating for First Nations clients and stakeholders to deliver high-quality legal services to First Nations and mainstream clients.
As the Senior Lawyer (Koori Court), you will coordinate the provision of duty lawyer and casework services to the Koori Courts in Bendigo, Echuca and Swan Hill (Magistrates and County), act as an advocate and provide high quality services for First Nations clients in the Koori Courts and other courts, as appropriate.
You will also identify strategic litigation and policy opportunities and, with the First Nations Services Directorate, work towards achieving better outcomes for First Nations clients in contact with the criminal legal system.
Additionally, you will provide legal supervision, mentoring, training and contribute to the professional development of junior lawyers in criminal law and Koori Court matters.
This role is based at our Bendigo office on Dja Dja Wurrung Country.