Associate to the Honourable Justice O'Sullivan

Court Services Victoria; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Court Services Victoria is seeking a legally qualified Associate to support the Honourable Justice O'Sullivan in the Commercial Court of the Supreme Court of Victoria. The role offers close collaboration with the judge, exposure to commercial litigation, and opportunities to observe senior advocacy and complex proceedings.

The successful candidate will demonstrate outstanding academic results, superior legal research and writing, meticulous organisation, and clear communication, with strong

Qualifications

• Strong academic record and admission to practice as a lawyer.
• Exceptional legal research and writing skills.
• Well organised with a clear and concise writing style.
• Excellent communication and time management abilities.
• High attention to detail in all work products.

Responsibilities

• Undertake substantive legal research for the judge and court.
• Assist with drafting reasons for judgment, papers and presentations.
• Draft Court orders and perform related administrative tasks.
• Manage judge‑managed lists and liaise with court staff, practitioners and public.
• Perform duties of an Associate in Court, including swearing in witnesses and handling transcripts.

Skills

Legal research

Legal writing

Attention to detail

Time management

Communication

Education

LLB/JD

Job description

About Us

Court Services Victoria provides corporate services and facilities to support the performance of the judicial, quasi-judicial and administrative functions of Victoria's courts and tribunal, Judicial College and Judicial Commission.

Collectively, Victoria's Supreme, County, Magistrates', Children's, and Coroners courts, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT), the Judicial College of Victoria, the Judicial Commission of Victoria, and Court Services Victoria (CSV) are referred to as the 'Courts Group'.

Our people enable the Courts Group to deliver on each jurisdiction's own strategic priorities while also pursuing strategic opportunities that are interconnected and deliver benefits more broadly.

SCV

The Supreme Court of Victoria is the highest court in Victoria and comprises the Court of Appeal and the Trial Division. The Court deals with major criminal and civil matters, plus appeals against decisions of lower courts.

The Supreme Court of Victoria recognises that its people are integral to its ability to meet and exceed community expectations and to achieve its goal of being an outstanding superior court. We continually strive to create a high-performance workplace that is characterized by creativity, innovation, flexibility, and quality delivery.

About The Role

The Honourable Justice O'Sullivan is seeking a legally qualified person to be her Associate commencing in November or December 2026. The commencement date will be confirmed in the application process.

Justice O'Sullivan undertakes a wide variety of work within the Commercial Court of the Supreme Court of Victoria. The successful applicant will have the opportunity to work very closely with Justice O'Sullivan, gain diverse experience across the Commercial Court and to observe the work of other judges and advocates.

The successful applicant should have a very strong academic record, exceptional research and legal writing skills, a strong work ethic and a genuine interest in commercial law. They should also be well organised, be able to communicate and write clearly and concisely, and have strong attention to detail.

The Commercial Court has judge-managed lists so the successful candidate will require an ability to manage work in chambers whilst juggling a variety of administrative demands. They should also possess commendable time management and organisational skills.

Duties Include

• Undertaking substantive legal research.
• Assisting with analysis and the production of reasons for judgment, papers and presentations, including proof-reading and editing.
• Drafting Court orders.
• Performing administrative tasks, including managing the demands of the judge-managed lists.
• Acting as chambers' first point of contact, liaising with Court staff, the public, the media, and the profession.
• Undertaking the duties of an Associate in Court – electronically and in person. These include communicating with practitioners; opening and closing the court; swearing in and affirming witnesses and interpreters; recording and maintaining a repository of documents and exhibits; and transcript related tasks.

Other Information

CSV is the employer of staff at Courts Group. CSV has a firm commitment through its Koori Employment Plan to increase participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across our workforce.

We value the unique backgrounds, experiences, and contributions that each person brings to our community and encourage and celebrate diversity. Those from the LGBTQIA+ community, women, people of all ages, with disabilities, culturally and linguistically diverse people, and those who are neurodiverse, are encouraged to apply.

We aim to create a workforce that reflects the community in which we live.

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 email the contact person listed in the advertisement.

As part of our commitment to a safe and respectful workplace, CSV conduct pre-employment checks, including reference checks, police checks and misconduct screening. These checks are handled confidentially, with care and are a standard part of our hiring process to ensure the right fit for both candidates and Court Services Victoria.