Legal Officer

• Join Funds in Court, an office of the Supreme Court of Victoria
• Provide the Senior Master and Judicial Registrar with legal advice
• Melbourne CBD, VPS4, Full-time Ongoing

Court Services Victoria provides corporate services and facilities to support the performance of the judicial, quasi-judicial and administrative functions of Victoria's courts and tribunal, Judicial College and Judicial Commission.

Collectively, Victoria's Supreme, County, Magistrates', Children's, and Coroners courts, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT), the Judicial College of Victoria, the Judicial Commission of Victoria, and Court Services Victoria (CSV) are referred to as the 'Courts Group'.

Our people enable the Courts Group to deliver on each jurisdiction's own strategic priorities while also pursuing strategic opportunities that are interconnected and deliver benefits more broadly.

Funds in Court -

FIC (Funds in Court) is an Office of the Supreme Court of Victoria. FIC administers funds held in Court, and assets purchased from them, for people with a disability.

People who have their funds held in Court are known as clients. FIC supports the Senior Master in managing funds and providing assistance for more than 7,000 clients. The Senior Master is an Associate Judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria.

The Office acts in a manner that is consistent with the law and in the best interests of beneficiaries of the Court.

About the Role

The Legal Officer is part of the FIC Legal Services team. Legal officers provide the Senior Master and Judicial Registrar with legal advice in relation to a wide range of legal issues affecting clients and their funds in Court. Such matters generally include property, domestic building law, deceased estates, consumer law, infringements, legal capacity, guardianship & administration, the National Disability Insurance Scheme, criminal law and family law.

As a Legal Officer, you will conduct legal research and prepare memoranda to provide legal advice and recommendations to the Senior Master and Judicial Registrar regarding a wide variety of legal matters affecting clients and their families and carers. You will also ensure that payments into and out of Court comply with organisational and legislative requirements, draft and review orders and assist with the development and maintenance of policies and procedures. You will use your strongly developed communication skills to engage with a range of internal and external stakeholders, including clients, their families, law firms, other courts and statutory bodies.

Key accountabilities include:

• Providing advice and recommendations to the Senior Master and Judicial Registrar.
• Verifying that payments into and out of Court comply with orders of the Court, relevant legislation, and organisational policies.
• Drafting Court orders, deeds, undertakings, statutory declarations and applications.
• Interpreting relevant legislation and policies.
• Consulting, liaising and negotiating with applicants, their representatives and other stakeholders on often sensitive legal matters.

About You

• Admission to practice as a Barrister/Solicitor or Australian Lawyer of the Supreme Court of Victoria is required.
• Knowledge and experience in: General practice and procedures of the Supreme Court of Victoria. Knowledge of relevant legislation affecting persons under a disability including family law, trusts, deceased estates, real property, domestic building law and/or victims of crime.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills – builds effective relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders and confidently argues complex concepts, negotiating with tact and diplomacy on difficult issues

How to apply

Click the 'Apply Now' button, ensuring you include the following in your application:

• resume
• a short cover letter

Other information

CSV is the employer of staff at Courts Group. CSV has a firm commitment through its Koori Employment Plan to increase participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across our workforce.

We value the unique backgrounds, experiences, and contributions that each person brings to our community and encourage and celebrate diversity. Those from the LGBTQIA+ community, women, people of all ages, with disabilities, culturally and linguistically diverse people, and those who are neurodiverse, are encouraged to apply.

We aim to create a workforce that reflects the community in which we live.

If you require adjustments to the recruitment and selection process or require an alternative format to any of the application material, please don't hesitate to email the contact person listed in the advertisement.

As part of our commitment to a safe and respectful workplace, we conduct pre-employment checks, including but not limited to, reference checks, police checks and misconduct screening. These checks are handled confidentially and with care and are a standard part of our hiring process to ensure the right fit for both our candidates and the organisation.