Lawyer, New Lawyers Program

Victoria Legal Aid; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 86,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Flexible working arrangements

Generous leave benefits

Job summary

Victoria Legal Aid invites early‑career lawyers to join the 2027 New Lawyers Program (NLP). Over two years, you rotate through three eight‑month placements across criminal, family, civil justice, and access‑to‑justice services, with a path to an ongoing lawyer role in VLA.

You’ll practice in multiple offices statewide and support vulnerable clients. Starting salaries are competitive, with a clear emphasis on social justice, professional development, and regional exposure, culminating in a

Qualifications

• Eligibility to hold a Practising Certificate by 31 January 2027 with less than 12 months’ post‑admission experience.
• Commitment to building a sustainable, socially impactful legal career.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills to explain complex law clearly.
• Resilience and self‑leadership to manage high‑stakes, distressing work.
• Willingness to relocate for regional placements.

Skills

Communication skills

Adaptable

Social justice

Resilience

Willingness to relocate

Education

Bachelor of Laws

Admission to practice in Victoria

Job description

• 11 x Full-time, ongoing positions commencing February 2027
• Starting salary of $95,187 + superannuation and generous salary packaging (up to $15,900p.a.)
• Structured two-year graduate pathway with ongoing role offered on completion
• Diverse placements across Victoria, including regional offices

Launch your legal career with purpose

The 2027 New Lawyers Program (NLP) is your chance to begin your legal career with one of Victoria's most dynamic and diverse legal practices, Victoria Legal Aid (VLA). Over two years, you’ll rotate through three placements, each eight months long, gaining hands‑on experience in different areas of law and working directly with clients who need your support most.

This is more than a graduate program - it’s the start of a career where your skills and commitment will make a difference every day.

About the New Lawyers Program

The NLP is a structured two-year pathway designed to accelerate your career while making a real difference for Victorians.

Through three set placements, you’ll gain practical experience across areas such as criminal law, family violence, family law, child protection, youth crime, civil justice, and access to justice services.

Each move means stepping into a new office and community, adapting to different teams, clients, and requirements. At the end of the program, you’ll transition into an ongoing lawyer role within VLA, continuing a rewarding career within social justice.

Why this work matters

As an NLP lawyer, you’ll represent some of Victoria’s most vulnerable people, including clients with experiences of trauma, family violence, child protection involvement, mental health issues, disability, substance dependency and systemic disadvantage.

The work can be challenging and emotionally demanding - but also incredibly rewarding. You’ll see the direct impact of your advocacy every day and contribute to shaping a fairer, more just Victoria.

We’ll also support you every step of the way with:

• Expert supervision from senior lawyers and practice leaders (including 60+ accredited specialists)
• Dedicated mentors and structured training to grow your legal, advocacy and leadership skills
• Development in resilience and wellbeing strategies to sustain a long-term legal career

Placement Pathways

The program is designed to give you breadth of experience and prepare you for your career at VLA. Placements may include:

• Metro or Regional office locales, practicing across a variety of the legal disciplines.
• Criminal Law - summary crime, youth crime, family violence matters, therapeutic justice approaches or indictable crime.
• Family, Youth and Children's Law - child protection, family law, child support, or youth justice.
• Civil Justice Law - equality law, civil and administrative justice, economic and social rights, or specialist advocacy.

• Access to Justice Services - first contact client services such as Legal Help and integrated service models.

Regional placements are a unique career opportunity.

As part of the 2027 New Lawyers Program, we are offering three pathways in regional locations. Our regional pathways offer the opportunity to gain experience as a generalist lawyer and complete placements in criminal law, civil justice law and family law. New lawyers must be willing to relocate regionally if required.

Regional placements offer:

• Broader casework and faster responsibility in smaller teams
• Closer connection with clients and communities, where your work has visible impact
• Stronger mentoring relationships with senior lawyers and leaders
• A chance to develop professional resilience and adaptability in new settings

These placements are often career-defining experiences, and we strongly encourage applicants to preference an outer regional pathway.

Each placement pathway includes three rotations and is linked to a home directorate, where you’ll be placed permanently after completing the program.

Full details of the available 2027 placement pathways can be found here: https://www.legalaid.vic.gov.au/new-lawyers-program

About you

We’re looking for early‑career lawyers who are passionate about social justice, are adaptable, and ready to grow. You’ll bring:

• Eligibility to hold a Practicing Certificate that entitles you to practice law in Victoria by 31 January 2027, with less than 12 months’ post‑admission experience at the time of application
• commitment to building a sustainable, socially impactful legal career
• strong communication and interpersonal skills - you can explain complex law in plain English, connect across cultures and build trust with clients and colleagues
• resilience, reflection and self‑leadership to manage the demands of high‑stakes, potentially distressing work
• interest in working across diverse legal areas and flexibility to relocate for regional placements (if you preference a pathway that requires relocation)

We strongly encourage applications from Australian First Nations lawyers and from people of diverse backgrounds and with lived experience.

About Victoria Legal Aid

We offer legal representation, family dispute resolution and non‑legal advocacy to those who need it most. With over 1500+ 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 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.

At VLA, we offer more than just a job - we offer a career with purpose. You’ll be part of a diverse, inclusive organisation that values your ideas and perspectives.

Employee benefits

• A focus on work‑life balance, including flexible working arrangements
• Hybrid work from home & office model
• Generous leave benefits, including:
• • Three days paid seasonal leave (to be taken between Boxing Day and New Year's Day public holidays)
  • Paid gender affirmation leave
  • Five days both paid reproductive and fertility leave per calendar year
• Annual 3% salary increase each December plus performance‑related salary incentives
• Attractive salary packaging options including General Expenses up to $15,900, Meals & Entertainment up to $2,650 and Novated Leasing
• Discounted annual Myki public transport passes
• Individual learning and professional development opportunities, tailored to your role and career goals
• Access to our Employee Assistance Program, including confidential counselling and access to a range of mental health and wellbeing resources

Important eligibility information

• Applicants must reside in Victoria or a nearby border community and be available for regular in‑office and at‑court attendance. Interstate candidates are welcome to apply if willing to relocate.
• Placements are confirmed in advance to support workforce planning and lawyer development. While occasional adjustments may be required to meet business requirements, you’ll know your rotations ahead of time.

• Access to personal transport is required for many placements (especially regional), as public transport may not be available.

• All positions require a valid Working with Children Check and may be subject to a police check.

VLA is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and to building a workforce that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve.

For further information:

• Review the attached position description
• Review the attached 2027 NLP Pathways information sheet
• Read our New Lawyers Program webpage
• Contact VLA's Early Careers Specialist at [e-mail]

No agency applications will be accepted.

Applications close by 11.59pm on Sunday 11 October 2026

Other relevant information It is a requirement that staff attend for office‑based days at their primary work location. Interstate candidates are welcome to apply if willing to relocate.

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