Principal Lawyer and Manager, Legislation and Government Law Unit

Fixed-Term/Full-Time (until 30 June 2027)

VPSG6 - $138,631 - $185,518

About the Department

The department provides a wide range of learning and development support and services.

The department provides policy leadership, plans for the future of education in Victoria and leads key cross-sector collaboration. The department plays an important system steward role by providing support, guidance, oversight and assurance across early childhood and school education systems, as well as directly providing school education and 50 new early learning centres.

About the Division

The Legal Division provides highly valued legal services to support the delivery of the department's strategic objectives, key reforms and to manage legal risk. In doing so, Legal Division provides direct, practical and strategic legal advice to portfolio ministers, the secretary, other senior staff and over 1,600 government schools, supporting approximately over 650,000 Victorian Government school students.

About the role

The Principal Lawyer and Manager, Legislation and Government Law Unit (LGLU) will lead the delivery of major legislative and regulatory projects and provide expert legal advice with a focus on government law issues, particularly the application of Victorian laws in relation to government administration and the school and early childhood education system.

The role will report to the Director, Commercial and Legislation Branch, and manages a team of lawyers together with a co-Principal Lawyer and Manager.

The successful candidate will:

• initiate, drive and contribute to innovative policy and legal policy projects to improve department practice in key areas of legal risk, including through drawing on the skills and expertise of others
• analyse complex issues and identify whole of department and whole of government issues where they arise.
• have strong specialist knowledge and experience in legislative drafting, law reform and the Victorian legislation processes and will provide quality legal services to departmental corporate clients in relation to the education and early childhood portfolios
• have specialist technical legal expertise and experience in the drafting of statutory interpretation and governance advice.

Why join us?

• Meaningful work that is varied, satisfying and rewarding - A career as a government lawyer provides opportunities that are unrivalled by the private sector. Scale, impact and richness of work sets the public sector apart from almost every other employer. To find out more about the wide range of opportunities for bright publicly minded lawyers visit Legal profession |

• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements - Part time, flexible start and finish times, work from home to help manage your work and personal commitments.

• Competitive salary - Annual salary increases in line with the Victorian Public Service Enterprise Agreement
• Diversity and inclusion - As one of Victoria's largest employers, the department is committed to creating an organisation that is inclusive and ensuring it has a workforce that represents the community it serves.
• Values - The department has adopted the public sector values which are set out in the Code of Conduct for Victorian Public Sector Employees, which are Responsiveness, Integrity, Impartiality, Accountability, Respect, Leadership and Human Rights. The department's Values underpin how we interact with colleagues, students and families, members of the community, suppliers and government.
• Employee assistance program - For emotional, mental and general psychological wellbeing and support

How to Apply

Applicants are required to submit a CV and a cover letter (no more than 2 pages).

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Further Information

For more details regarding this position please see attached position description.

The department values diversity and inclusion in all forms - gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQ+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. For more information about our work, working for the Department, diversity and inclusion, and our employment conditions visit the Department website and our Diversity and Inclusion page

Applicants requiring adjustments can contact the nominated contact person.

Information about the Department of Education's operations and employment conditions can be located at

For more information, please review the attached position description, or for a confidential discussion regarding the role, please contact Burton Reynolds, Director, Commercial and Legislation branch,

Please let us know via phone or email if you require any adjustments to ensure your full participation in the recruitment process or if you need the ad or any attachments in an accessible format (e.g large print) due to any viewing difficulties or other accessibility requirements.

Applications close 11:59pm on 30 October 2025