Criminal Law Public Defender roles in Chambers

Associate Public Defender (Criminal Law)

• Full time or part time ongoing or contract positions available
• Salary range: $113,668 - $131,153 (pro rata) plus super plus salary packaging

Associate Public Defender (Youth Crime)

• Full time or part time ongoing or contract position available
• Salary range: $113,668 - $131,153 (pro rata) plus super plus salary packaging

Public Defender (Criminal Law)

• Full time or part time ongoing or contract term positions available
• Salary range: $143,076 - $166,922 (pro rata) plus super plus salary packaging

Senior Public Defender (Criminal Law)

• Full time or part time contract position up to February 2027
• Salary range: $175,286 - $192,014 (pro rata) plus super plus salary packaging

VLA Chambers is a specialist group of in-house advocates led by Chief Counsel Julia Munster.

Our team is made up of barristers and solicitor advocates who are briefed by lawyers from VLA, VALS, Djirra, CLCs and private firms to provide high quality representation and advice to legally aided clients.

Chambers advocates also undertake strategic litigation, policy and law reform work and train, support and mentor lawyers across Victoria to develop advocacy and practice skills.

• Associate Public Defenders provide high quality advocacy for legally aided clients in criminal matters including summary contested hearings, committal mentions and committal hearings, bail applications, pleas and appeals in the Magistrates, County and Children's Courts.
• The Associate Public Defender (Youth Crime) is a new role that will prioritise services to children and young people in those courts.
• Public Defenders (Criminal Law) provide high quality advocacy for legally aided clients in complex criminal matters, including trials, committal proceedings, pleas, bail applications and appeals in the County and Supreme Courts, as well as quasi-criminal law matters, inquests, civil law, human rights litigation and strategic and public interest litigation.
• Senior Public Defenders (Criminal Law) provide high quality advocacy for legally aided clients in high level, complex and legally important criminal matters, including trials in the County and Supreme Courts, complex committal proceedings, bail applications, pleas and appeals including in the Court of Appeal and judicial review, as well as quasi-criminal law matters, inquests, civil law, human rights litigation and strategic and public interest litigation.

These roles are based at our Melbourne CBD office on Wurundjeri Country. All Chambers advocates travel for court and tribunal appearances.

About you

As our ideal candidate, you will possess:

• A current, unrestricted Australian practising certificate which entitles you to practise in Victoria as a government legal practitioner.
• Entitlement to practise in federal courts and courts exercising federal jurisdiction (entry on the High Court's Register of Practitioners).
• Advocacy experience. For the Public Defender role this includes experience and ability to conduct criminal trials (unled in the County Court). For the Senior Public Defender role this includes experience and ability to conduct complex trials and other hearings in the County and Supreme Courts and Court of Appeal.
• Thorough knowledge, understanding and experience in the practice of State and Federal indictable criminal law and procedure and the laws of evidence.
• Demonstrated experience working with Australian First Nations people and understanding of cultural norms and communication styles.

Please see the individual position descriptions for more information.

Don't meet every requirement? At VLA, we understand that your work and life experiences can be just as valuable. If you're excited about this role but your CV doesn't align perfectly with our job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or one of our many other opportunities.

Our clients come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds and foster a work culture that's inclusive as well as diverse. Your unique ideas and perspectives are valued so that we best represent the people we serve.

Employee benefits

• Focus on work-life balance including flexible working arrangements
• Hybrid work from home & office model
• Training and professional development opportunities
• Excellent salary packaging options including General Expenses up to $15,900, Meals & Entertainment up to $2,650 and Novated Leasing
• Opportunity to join Myki Commuter Club (and salary package the cost)
• Supportive team environment in modern offices (including free gym and end-of-trip facilities at our CBD office)
• Access to discounted Private Health Insurance

How to apply

To be considered for this role, please submit your current resume and a cover letter.

In your cover letter, please outline why you have applied for this role/s and your relevant skills and experience. Please keep your cover letter to two pages, clearly state which role/s you are applying for (you may wish to apply for multiple), and note:

• for the Associate Public Defender (Criminal Law): please highlight your experience appearing in indictable crime, complex and contested criminal law matters and court advocacy
• for the Associate Public Defender (Youth Crime): please highlight your experience appearing in complex and contested criminal law matters, court advocacy and your experience working with children and young people
• for the Public Defender (Criminal Law): please highlight your advocacy experience appearing in trials, contested and other complex criminal law matters
• for the Senior Public Defender (Criminal Law): please highlight your trial advocacy experience in the County and Supreme Courts and your experience in appeals, judicial review, strategic litigation and other matters of complexity and legal significance.

If you require adjustments to the recruitment and selection process or need an alternative format to any of the application material, please don't hesitate to get in touch with our team.

For further information, please review the attached position description or contact Madeline Ryan, Associate Director – Chambers on or Renee Rao, Recruitment Specialist on

No agency applications will be accepted.

Applications close by 11.59pm on Sunday 7 December 2025.

Other relevant information

It is a requirement that staff attend for office-based days at their primary work location. In line with this requirement, interstate applications will be considered only where the candidate is able and willing to relocate to Victoria, unless part of a border community.

VLA is committed to putting the safety and wellbeing of children first.

Job Reference:

VG/VLA/VLAC/1896143

Location:

Melbourne - CBD

Work Type:

Ongoing - full time or part time

Job Function:

Legal

Classification:

WVR LO5A

Salary Range:

$175,286 - $192,014

Job Duration:

Ongoing & up to February 2027

Date posted:

19-Nov-2025

Application Close Date:

07-Dec-2025