Solicitor, Child Protection Litigation Office

Location: Melbourne | CBD

Job type: Full time

Organisation: Department of Families, Fairness and Housing

**Salary**: $72,751 - $88,336

Occupation: Legal

Reference: VG/DFFH/LES/566424

The Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) works hard to create equal opportunities for all Victorians to live a safe, respected and valued life.

Our areas of focus are child protection, housing, disability, the prevention of family violence, multicultural affairs, LGBTQI+ equality, veterans, women and youth. The work we do benefits thousands of Victorians, particularly those who are disadvantaged and vulnerable.

We work in a variety of community-based settings, including people's homes, residential facilities and secure settings across metropolitan, rural and regional Victoria.

If you’re having any trouble viewing this ad and would like it or any attachments in an accessible format (such as large print), please don’t hesitate to get in touch with the contact person listed on the ad.

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Are you:

- Able to provide well-reasoned legal advice, briefings and correspondence?
- Able to collaborate with departmental colleagues to deliver client focused legal services?
- Able to appear or instruct in litigation involving the department in a wide range of courts and tribunals?

An exciting opportunity exists for a Solicitor on an Ongoing basis in the Child Protection Litigation Office.

CPLO provides legal services to Child Protection teams within the department, including representation of the department in the Children's Court and appeals to the Supreme Court, as well as advice on the exercise of statutory powers.

The Solicitor role in the Child Protection Litigation Office (CPLO) is responsible for providing state-wide legal advice, support and representation in child protection litigation matters in various courts including the Children's Court, the Supreme Court, and related jurisdictions. You will work predominantly with one of CPLO's legal teams, however, in accordance with clause 19 of the VPS Agreement (where applicable), you may be asked to join a different team where business operations require this. The position will involve travel to metropolitan Children's Courts and Child Protection Offices and may require intrastate travel to attend/appear at courts in regional locations across Victoria to support the department and its clients.
- **Customer/client focus**
- **Integrity**
- **Statutory interpretation**
- **Communication, interpersonal and presentation skills**
- **Teamwork**

**VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS POLICY**

The department is committed to providing and maintaining a working environment that is safe and without risk to the health of its workers and clients. The department may require its employees to be fully vaccinated against preventable diseases such as the current coronavirus (COVID-19). The department's **COVID-19 Vaccination requirements policy** **(Word) outlines the requirements for existing employees, other workplace participants and prospective employees. Subject to exceptions, only employees or other workplace participants with up-to-date vaccination status (see definitions section of the policy) against COVID-19 and who provide evidence of their Vaccination Status are permitted to work for the department outside their ordinary place of residence. For this role, you are required to submit proof of vaccination prior to commencement. Please refer to the above link for more information.

Other mandatory qualifications or requirements for this opportunity include:
For more information on the accountabilities and key selection criteria, qualifications and/or requirements for the role please refer to the attached Position Description.

**HOW TO APPLY**

Applicants are required to submit a CV and Cover Letter (max 2 pages) outlining their suitability to the role in line with the Key Selection Criteria.

Applicants must be an Australian Citizen, Permanent Resident or hold a valid work permit or visa. Work eligibility will be checked as part of the recruitment process.