Senior Police Lawyer

at  Victoria Police

JOB DESCRIPTION

Location: Melbourne | CBD
Job type: Full time
Organisation: Victoria Police
Salary: $92,332 - $104,762
Occupation: Legal
Reference: VG/JE20042592

REQUIREMENTS AND RELEVANT INFORMATION:

• One (1) x full-time, ongoing position available.
• The salary range for a VPS4 role is $92,332 to $104,762. Although it is standard practice for selected candidates to commence at the base of the salary range, genuine consideration will be given to a commencement salary within the available range that is commensurate with the successful candidate’s knowledge, skills and experiences. This will be subject to negotiations with the Hiring Manager in the course of the selection process and may include the provision of evidence of a higher income and/or supporting documentation (as required).
• This position is located at Disclosure Support Unit, 456 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne.
• Applicants must be an Australian Citizen, Permanent Resident or hold a valid work permit or visa and be willing to undertake a Security Clearance Assessment.
• The successful applicant will be required to undergo pre-employment checks which may include fingerprint checks and misconduct screening.
• As a member of the Legal Services Department you will be located, on selection, at a specific office within a Division for a particular advertised opportunity. However, given occasional legal service demand issues you may be required at times to undertake varied work within the Department. This supports the Departments commitment to a flexible and deployable legal workforce and professional development opportunities in a range of legal domains.

CURRENT VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES MUST APPLY VIA JOBS AND SKILLS EXCHANGE (JSE).

For further information, please contact: Acting Inspector Dom Schmid on (03) 8335 7237 or dom.schmid@police.vic.gov.au. No recruitment agencies please.
We welcome applications from people with disability and aim to support an inclusive recruitment experience. If you require a copy of this advertisement and attached documentation in an accessible format or would like to discuss an access requirement/reasonable adjustment for the recruitment process, please contact VPS Recruitment via email VPSRECRUITMENT@police.vic.gov.au or on (03) 8335 8082.

ABOUT US:

Victoria Police has a dedicated workforce of more than 22,000 employees consisting of police, protective services officers, police custody officers, and public service staff. Each employee plays a vital role in providing the 24/7, 365 days a year emergency response and public safety capability the organisation delivers to its community. As a Victoria Police employee, you have a dedication and commitment to community safety.
Having a workforce that reflects the community we serve is important to Victoria Police. We want to attract and retain people of all genders, ages, religions, disability, sexual orientation, family and caring responsibilities, and cultures including people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage. If you are interested in a position, we encourage you to apply as we celebrate the benefit that diversity brings to our employees, our services, and our community.
Find out what it is like working as a Victorian Public Servant for Victoria Police: https://www.police.vic.gov.au/vp

ABOUT THE ROLE:

This is an exciting opportunity to progress your career and obtain experience working as a Senior Police Lawyer in the Courts and Prosecutions Services Division of the Victoria Police Legal Services Department (LSD). Our vision is to be a centre of prosecutorial and legal excellence, with people who are recognised as being fair, just and valued partners in the Victorian justice system.
Victoria Police’s LSD provides legal services and advice to support policing, courts, and the Victorian Community. The LSD is led by an Executive Director (who is also the organisation’s General Counsel) and employs over 800 staff spread across four divisions – the Office of the Executive Director; the Legal Practice Division (incorporating the Civil Law Division); the Courts and Specialist Prosecutions Division; and the Legal Business Operations Division.
The Disclosure Support Unit (DSU) sits within the Prosecutions Support Branch of the Courts and Prosecutions Services Division, Legal Services Department, and is a specialist team of experienced police prosecutors and Lawyers. The key objectives of the DSU are enhancing organisational capability around disclosure, promoting the effective and consistent management of and compliance with Victoria Police’s disclosure obligations, and supporting the organisation to acquit key recommendations from the Royal Commission into the Management of Police Informants (RCMPI) and the IBAC investigation into Operation Gloucester.
DSU works with external stakeholders including the Office of Public Prosecutions and Victorian Government Solicitor’s Office to provide a consistent approach to compliance with disclosure obligations in criminal proceedings.
Victoria Police is a contemporary and agile workplace and supports flexible working arrangements.

YOUR DUTIES WILL INCLUDE:

• Work within a specialist unit of experienced Prosecutors and Lawyers and support the implementation of policies and procedures subsequent to recommendations from the RCMPI and Operation Gloucester.
• Provide legal advice regarding disclosure obligations to Police Informants around complex investigations relating to serious crime.
• Identify and assess the level of risk associated with the disclosure of investigative material.
• Provide high level legal advice concerning viability of Public Interest Immunity claims and other legislative disclosure exemptions, to preserve community safety and protect investigative integrity.
• Provide ad hoc investigation specific legal advice to front line police members concerning disclosure obligations.
• Create and maintain strong working relationships with internal stakeholders to coordinate the assessment and management of highly sensitive internal documentation, with regard to disclosure.
• Coordinate and facilitate inter-organisational discussions to identify and address disclosure related issues, including matters of public safety, investigative integrity, and organisational obligations.
• Brief senior management in relation to disclosure obligations and complexities, proactively addressing organisational objectives, and legislative and judicial requirements.
• Assist and brief the Victorian Government Solicitor’s Office in the preparation of Court proceedings concerning matters of disclosure and applications for Public Interest immunity.
• Contribute to the development of policies and procedures relating to organisational compliance with disclosure obligations.
• Contribute to strategic planning to enhance organisational wide engagement with the Disclosure Support Unit.
• Assist with designing, developing, and delivering training to educate and promote disclosure understanding and compliance within the organisation.
• Conduct legal research and assist in the provision of timely expert and authoritative advice to the Divisional management team on issues which might affect performance, or which might impact Victoria Police complying with its disclosure obligations.