• Full time ongoing position (part-time considered)
• Salary range: $90,871 - $101,868 (pro rata) plus super plus salary packaging
• Up to $15,900 in salary packaging and hybrid WFH & office model

About the role
Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) is seeking a dedicated lawyer to join our Ballarat team. This is an excellent opportunity to work with a diverse and committed group of professionals, making a positive impact on the justice system and supporting vulnerable clients.

In this role, you'll provide legal services including duty lawyer support, casework (both summary and indictable), and advice, with a primary focus on criminal law and family violence. You'll advocate for clients in various courts and tribunals and help improve access to justice for those who need it most.

This role is based at our Ballarat office on Wadawurrung County with regular travel to various courts and tribunals and for community outreach.

About you
As our ideal candidate, you will possess:

• Experience representing clients in court, providing legal advice, and managing casework in criminal law, family violence, and related matters.
• Knowledge of criminal law, family violence, and/or child protection.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to liaise effectively with clients, staff, and external partners.
• A collaborative approach, working well with colleagues and stakeholders to achieve positive outcomes for clients.
• A current Australian practising certificate which entitles you to practise in Victoria as a government legal practitioner (mandatory).

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.

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.

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 cover letter addressing the key selection criteria (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 Gemma McInerney, Deputy Managing Lawyer on (03) 5329 6290 or [email protected].

No agency applications will be accepted.

Applications close by 11.59pm on Sunday 24 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.