Associate Public Defender, Civil Justice 17/8/2025

Associate Public Defender, Civil Justice

Provide high quality advocacy for legally aided clients in Civil Justice matters of legal importance or complexity at various state and federal courts and tribunals across 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 the role
We are seeking an Associate Public Defender to join Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) Chambers and provide high quality advocacy for legally aided clients in a range of Civil Justice matters in all courts and tribunals, including:

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

You will provide expert legal advice on complex and strategic issues across VLA's Civil Justice program, and work with Civil Justice lawyers to identify and develop opportunities for strategic litigation. You will also assist in the training and mentoring of lawyers to develop their advocacy skills and knowledge of civil law.

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

About you
As our ideal candidate, you will possess:

- Demonstrated experience, skills and ability in advocacy and civil law litigation.
- Thorough knowledge and experience in the practice of civil law under both State and Federal legislation.
- Ability to provide high quality advice (oral and written) on Civil Justice legal and policy issues within limited time constraints.
- 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 assisting in the development of legal staff.
- Ability to work collaboratively with others and foster a cooperative and supportive environment within 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 1300 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).

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 – VLA Chambers on (03) 9269 0482 or recruitment@vla.vic.gov.au.

No agency applications will be accepted.

Applications close by 11.59pm on Monday 31 March 2025.

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