• 2x full time ongoing positions (part-time considered)
• Salary range: $110,357 - $127,333 (pro rata) plus super plus salary packaging
• Up to $15,900 in salary packaging and hybrid WFH & office model

About the role
Join the Ballarat team at Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) and provide high-quality legal services to our clients. As a Senior Lawyer, you will lead, mentor, and work on complex cases in either criminal law or therapeutic courts, including our regional County Courts.

We have the following roles available, and you are welcome to apply to one or both roles:

• Senior Lawyer (ARC) - Coordinate and deliver VLA duty lawyer and casework services for the Assessment and Referral Court (ARC). This includes providing legal advice and representation for clients with mental health issues, intellectual disabilities, acquired brain injuries, or neurological impairments.
  
  
• Senior Lawyer (Crime) - Provide high-quality legal services in criminal law and family violence intervention order matters. This includes conducting complex casework and appearing as a senior advocate in various courts.

This is a great opportunity to contribute to the team, build relationships with community partners, and advocate for changes that improve access to justice in key areas of human rights law. Travel to provide community outreach is an essential part of this role.

This role is based at our Ballarat office on Wadawurrung County.

About you
As our ideal candidate, you will possess:

• Experience in criminal law and advocacy, with the ability to handle complex cases.
• Ability to work with vulnerable clients, such as those with mental health issues, disabilities, or brain injuries, showing empathy and understanding.
• Great communication skills to build relationships with clients, staff, and external partners.
• Experience mentoring and supporting other staff, helping them improve their skills and confidence.
• A commitment to social justice, with a passion for improving services and access to justice for vulnerable communities.
• A current Australian practising certificate that entitles you to practice in Victoria as a government legal practitioner (mandatory).

Regional experience - How far is it to Ballarat?
If you were interested in gaining regional experience, this is a great opportunity to help lead our service delivery and have exposure to working in a regional community.

Ballarat is only 1hr 15-30 mins drive from Melbourne and Bendigo, or 1hr 15mins drive from Geelong. Many of our staff do not live in Ballarat and commute. We have people who live in the West or Inner West of Melbourne and with our flexible hybrid working arrangements, it makes a commute a lot more manageable.

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.

About Victoria Legal Aid
We provide legal representation 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

• Focus on work-life balance including flexible working arrangements
• Hybrid work from home & office model
• Training and professional development opportunities
• Excellent salary packaging options including General Expenses up to $15,900, Meals & Entertainment up to $2,650 and Novated Leasing
• Access to discounted Private Health Insurance
• Relocation allowance if relocating for this role

How to apply
To be considered for this role, please submit your current resume and a completed candidate application form (listed within the file attachments).

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.

For further information, please review the attached position description or contact Erin Churchill, Regional Manager on (03) 5329 6295 or [email protected].

No agency applications will be accepted.

Applications close by 11.59pm on Sunday 3 August 2025.

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.