Senior Legal Policy Officer

Work Type: Fixed-term - Full-time

Salary: $113,022 - $136,747

Grade: VPS 5

Occupation: Legal

Location: Melbourne - CBD and Inner Metro suburbs

Reference: VG/DJ6382DJ4242AUG25

At the Department of Justice and Community Safety, we're looking for people who want to make a difference. People who take pride in their work. People who get things done. People who are committed to making Victoria a safer place.

We embrace diversity and strive to have a workforce that reflects the community we serve. We're all about recruiting the best people, regardless of gender, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, or cultural background. If you think you can do the job and would be a good fit for our department, we'd love to hear from you.

The department is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and recognises that children's rights need to be respected, their views welcomed and valued, and their concerns taken seriously and acted upon.

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 get in touch with the contact person listed on this ad.

For more information on working with us and our recruitment process, please visit

We're proud of the important work we do across Victoria. Want to be part of it?

• 2 x fixed term VPS5 Senior Legal Policy Officer positions
• Use your strong legal and communication skills to develop policy and legislation within the Attorney-General's portfolio
• Contribute to a dynamic and busy team
• VPS Grade 5: $113,022 - $136,747 plus superannuation.

About Us:

Are you interested in being at the cutting edge of legislation and policy development for high profile criminal law reforms? If so, consider applying to join us in Criminal Law Policy, a unit within the Courts, Civil and Criminal Law (CCCL) group of the Department of Justice and Community Safety (DJCS).

Our work includes:

• Providing legal policy and reform expertise to the Attorney-General to deliver on their criminal law policy responsibilities and the legislative reform program
• Working collaboratively with key entities across the justice system and the department to ensure policy reform is strategic, relevant, holistic and people-centred
• Developing policy and legislative reform in a broad range of areas, including bail, summary crime, counter-terrorism, family violence, offence reform (including sexual offences), sentencing, criminal procedure (e.g. committal and appeal processes), jury directions and evidence.

About the Role:

The Senior Legal Policy Officer is responsible for the co-ordination, development, implementation, review and reform of policy and legislation across the Attorney-General's portfolio, whilst providing considered, informed and authoritative advice to the senior executives and government on key policy and legislation issues and system reform issues. You will be joining an inclusive and supportive group and will be provided with a range of training and development opportunities.

Some of your duties will include:

• Developing and implementing legal policy proposals and initiatives within the Attorney-General's reform program
• Providing considered, informed and authoritative advice to senior managers, senior executives and government on key policy and legislation issues and system reform issues
• Engaging, consulting and working collaboratively with our partners across the department, across government and the broader justice system to deliver on policy, strategy and reform projects.

To learn more about this role before applying, please read the attached position description.

About You:

As our ideal candidate you will:

• have legal policy and/or relevant criminal legal practice experience, with the ability to analyse complex policy and/or legal issues, interpret legislation and provide accurate legal solutions
• be resilient, flexible and adaptable to changing priorities
• be an excellent communicator, both in writing and orally
• have the ability to understand and take into account the priorities of various groups and individuals when developing options for responding to policy problems, and be a strategic thinker.

Qualifications/Requirements:

• A relevant tertiary qualification in Law is required.

How to Apply:

Please click the Apply button on this advertisement. Applications should include a resume and covering letter. Attachments can be uploaded in .doc, .docx, .pdf, .txt or .rtf formats.

The successful candidate will be required to undergo pre-employment checks which may include reference checks, national police checks and misconduct screening. Dependant on the role, other checks may include VicRoads checks, drivers licence checks, medical checks, Working with Children Checks, and Declaration of Private Interests (for executive and responsible officer roles).

Please note, the successful applicant may be required to work across different business areas within the department, in line with evolving operational priorities.

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 get in touch with the contact person listed on this ad.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

CHILD SAFE STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT:

The Department of Justice and Community Safety is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. We seek to prevent harm of any kind impacting children and young people and have zero tolerance for racism, child abuse and inequality. Children and young people's rights, relationships, identity, and culture must be recognised and respected, their voices heard, and their concerns acted upon. We aim to foster a culturally safe, child safe and child friendly environment for all children and young people we have contact with, deliver services to, or are impacted by our work.

Applications close Monday 8 September 2025 at 11.59pm

Posted

25 August 2025