Senior Family Lawyer

Seeking two experienced Senior Lawyers to join the Ringwood office and provide high quality legal services, casework, and representation in family law and family violence, while mentoring junior staff.

• Senior Family Lawyer (4.1) full time maximum term position up to January 2027
• Salary range: $101,869 - $118,844 plus super plus salary packaging
• This role is a parental leave backfill position
• Senior Family Lawyer (4.2) full time ongoing position
• Salary range: $110,357 - $127,333 plus super plus salary packaging
• Up to $15,900 in salary packaging and hybrid WFH & office model
• Part time applications will be considered

About the roleThe Senior Family Lawyers will provide high quality legal services including legal advice (including pre court engagement with legal services), duty lawyer services, casework, representation and undertake negotiation and dispute resolution on behalf of clients in family law and family violence intervention order matters. This may include providing referrals, initial advice and assistance in other legal areas connected to the primary legal problem, such as child protection matters, as required.

In addition, you will act as a duty lawyer and advocate in the Magistrates' Court of Victoria, and the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia including in the Family Advocacy and Support Services (FASS).

You will also provide supervision and mentoring to junior legal staff and to engage with and participate in policy initiatives, VLA projects, law reform work and community legal education.

The Senior Family Lawyer (4.2) is a more senior role than the Senior Family Lawyer (4.1) role, reflected in the higher salary, higher level of experience required and more senior responsibilities of the role.

In your application, please indicate which role you are interested in, or if you are interested in both roles. If you are unsure which role your skills are more suited to, please contact us for a confidential discussion.

The Ringwood Office is one of VLA's largest metropolitan offices, providing services to Heidelberg and Ringwood Magistrates Courts, the Mental Health Review Tribunal, and various outreach services. The office is home to approximately 65 staff members and enjoys an excellent workplace culture.

This role is based at our Ringwood office on Wurundjeri Country.

About youAs our ideal candidate, you will possess:

• Strong knowledge of family law, family violence, and child protection law, with experience in relevant court processes.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with diverse clients, particularly those facing social and economic disadvantage.
• Ability to supervise and mentor junior legal staff and contribute to the development of training and educational programs.
• A current Australian practising certificate which entitles you to practise in Victoria as a government legal practitioner (mandatory).
• Entitled to practise in federal courts and courts exercising federal jurisdiction (entry on the High Court's Register of Practitioners) (mandatory).

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.

About Victoria Legal Aid

We offer legal representation, family dispute resolution and non-legal advocacy to those who need it most. With over 1400 staff employed in 16 offices across Victoria, we help people with their legal problems by providing information, advice and education with a focus on the prevention and early resolution of legal problems.

Our clients come from all walk s 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
• Access to discounted Private Health Insurance

How to applyTo be considered for this role, please submit your current resume and a cover letter addressing the key selection criteria.

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 Sonia Jolley, Deputy Managing Lawyer – North on or

No agency applications will be accepted.

Applications close by 11.59pm on Wednesday 8 October 2025.

Other relevant informationIt 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.