Senior Legal Counsel

• Join a high-performing, collaborative and supportive in-house legal team 
• Act as a trusted and senior adviser to the University's Research & Impact portfolio to drive the University's research initiatives 
• Based at our Footscray Park campus with flexible working arrangement 

Victoria University (VU) is seeking an exceptional, collaborative senior commercial lawyer to play a critical role within the Office of the General Counsel (OGC) in providing expert legal advice to the University's Research & Impact portfolio. As a senior lawyer within OGC, the successful candidate will partner with, and act as the day-to-day contact for, senior leaders within the Research & Impact portfolio to provide pragmatic and responsive legal services that support VU's research initiatives.

About Us:

At VU, our vision is to be one of the leading impact-driven universities in the world by 2030. Join us on the journey and help us achieve our strategic drivers embedded in our strategic plan. One of the drivers "Thriving place to Study and Work" will enable us to continue to create places that our students and staff love to belong and feel immense pride. Our research with impact is strongly aligned to our TAFE and higher education offerings. These include Sports and Exercise Science (ranked 7th in the world) as well as Policy Studies, Water, Green Research translation, Immunology and Early Childhood Education.

About the Role:

Reporting to the General Counsel in the OGC that sits in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor, this critical role serves as a trusted advisor and partner to VU's Research and Impact portfolio, offering expert legal advice and support to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Impact), Executive Director, Research Services, and senior leaders and internal stakeholders relating to research matters. 

This is a full-time, ongoing role offering a competitive salary. If this role has grabbed your interest, we would love you to be part of VU's talented in-house legal team and encourage you to apply for this exciting opportunity.

For a detailed copy of the position description please click here: Senior Legal Counsel (Research). For more information about the role, please contact Lisa Filippin, General Counsel, on or  

About You:

VU's collaborative working environment will help you thrive and achieve the best outcomes for yourself, the solutions you lead and the high-quality outcomes you deliver.  You will have:

• A tertiary qualification in law and a current Victorian legal practising certificate (unrestricted) with at least eight years' post-admission experience in an in-house setting or in private practice. 
• Extensive experience in commercial contracting and intellectual property.
• Excellent ability to work autonomously and independently, as well as collaborate with team members, escalate matters where necessary, and contribute to a culture of continuous improvement.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to interact effectively with a range of stakeholders, both internal and external, and interact with and influence senior leaders. 
• Outstanding time management and organisational skills, with demonstrated ability to manage multiple legal matters simultaneously, and maintain up-to-date files.
• Previous experience in the tertiary sector or with research-related matters will be well regarded but those with extensive transferable front-end experience are encouraged to apply. 

Why Join VU?

Victoria University is a leader in applied learning and industry engagement, offering a blended learning model and real-world training environments. We are committed to providing exceptional education, industry engagement and student support. 

For information on our employee benefits, flexible working, discounts in private health insurance and gym memberships and salary packaging please visit .

How to Apply:

To view the job advert and to submit your application please click on the Apply button.

Applications must be submitted as a single document comprising:

• A cover letter outlining your motivation to apply for this opportunity
• Your curriculum vitae/resume
• Your responses addressing the selection criteria located in the position description of no more than 3 pages.
• Evidence of applicable qualifications, licences and registration

Applications will close 19 November 2025 at 11:59pm.  Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.  This role requires for applicants to have full and permanent working rights in Australia.

Why Join Us:

VU provides competitive salaries, excellent superannuation, and a variety of benefits. The university fosters an environment where staff can excel, achieve their goals, and develop their careers. With a focus on diversity, inclusion, and family-friendly policies, VU supports both professional and personal well-being. For more information, please visit our Jobs at VU Webpage

Our Commitment to Protecting Country: 

Victoria University honours its deep diversity as a foundation for collaboration and social progress. We will demonstrate sensitivity in respecting First Nation perspectives. We will ensure that we respect our Indigenous voices and commit to sustainable Protecting Country. We will take leadership responsibility, in all that we do, to improve the health and wellbeing of our local and global communities, and the planet that we share. 

Our Commitment to Progressive Inclusivity:

VU is an equal opportunity employer and proudly committed to progressive inclusivity. We welcome and celebrate diversity in all its forms including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability, culturally and racially marginalised communities, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and people of all ages and socio-economic backgrounds. We strive to reflect the communities we serve and foster an inclusive, respectful, and supportive environment where everyone feels they belong. We are proud be an WGEA Employer of Choice for Gender Equality.

Our Commitment to Inclusive Recruitment:

VU is committed to providing a positive and barrier-free recruitment experience. If you require adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process, including accessible formats of documents, please contact us at  or call  .