Senior Public Defender or Public Defender

• Job Function: Legal
• Work Type: Ongoing - full time

• Full time ongoing position (part time applications considered)
• Salary range: Senior Public Defender: $170,181 - $186,421 (pro rata) plus super plus salary packaging
• Salary range: Public Defender: $138,909 - $162,060 (pro rata) plus super plus salary packaging
• Up to $15,900 in salary packaging and hybrid WFH & office model

About the role
This is a key senior advocate role in Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) Chambers. The Senior Public Defender or Public Defender, Civil Justice provides high quality advocacy to legally aided clients in complex Civil Justice matters in state and federal courts and tribunals across Victoria, including:

• matters involving the Crimes (Mental Impairment and Fitness to the Tried) Act 1997, Mental Health Tribunal hearings and reviews, guardianship and administration order matters
• applications for protection visas and judicial review of administrative decisions to cancel visas
• discrimination, sexual harassment, victims of crimes issues
• judicial review, administrative law and strategic litigation.

Reporting to VLA Chambers Chief Counsel, you will appear as counsel in complex civil justice matters. You will also provide expert and high-level legal advice on complex and strategic issues across VLA's Civil Justice program.

You will work with Civil Justice lawyers and leadership to identify and develop opportunities for strategic litigation. You will assist in the training and mentoring of lawyers to develop their advocacy skills and knowledge of civil law.

You will have the opportunity to work within a dedicated and highly skilled team of advocates, and to use your advocacy expertise to contribute to quality legal practice in Melbourne and regional areas.

The Senior Public Defender is a more senior role than the Public Defender role, reflected in the higher salary, higher level of experience required and more senior responsibilities of the role. In your application, please indicate which role you are interested in, or if you are interested in both roles. If you are unsure which role your skills are more suited to, please contact us for a confidential discussion.

This role is based at our Melbourne CBD office on Wurundjeri Country.

About you
You will have extensive experience, skills and ability as a civil law barrister or advocate. You will also have extensive and thorough knowledge, understanding and experience in the practice of civil law under both State and Federal legislation.

As our ideal candidate, you will possess:

• Substantial experience, skills and ability in advocacy and complex civil law litigation. You will be a member of the private Bar or a solicitor advocate, experienced in appearing as counsel in complex civil law matters.
• Thorough knowledge and experience in the practice of civil law under both State and Federal legislation.
• Demonstrated experience providing high level quality advice (oral and written) on Civil Justice legal and policy issues within time constraints, including an ability to perform duties without direct supervision and under a high degree of pressure.
• High level interpersonal, communication and negotiation skills and demonstrated ability to liaise and communicate effectively with staff, external stakeholders and clients with complex needs.
• Ability and aptitude for mentoring, training, and supervising legal staff.
• Ability to work collaboratively with others and foster a cooperative and supportive environment within VLA Chambers and the Civil Justice program.

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
• Supportive team environment in modern offices (including free gym and end-of-trip facilities at our CBD office)
• Access to discounted Private Health Insurance

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) addressing the role you are applying for.

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 Madeline Ryan, Associate Director – Chambers on (03) 9269 0482 or Renee Rao, Recruitment Specialist on recruitment@vla.vic.gov.au .

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.