Managing Principal Lawyer - Criminal Law

Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission (IBAC) invites applications for a Managing Principal Lawyer in its Criminal Law team. The role provides authoritative criminal law advice across the organisation and leads IBAC's in-house prosecutions in coordination with the Office of Public Prosecutions.

The successful candidate will bring a minimum of 10 years post admission, hold a current practising certificate, and have proven leadership of a legal team, with strong court advocacy and

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Laws or equivalent legal qualification from a recognised tertiary institution.
• Experience in criminal law/prosecutions essential. Managing Principal Lawyers should ideally have a minimum of 10 years post admission experience.
• A practising certificate under the Legal Profession Uniform Law, or eligibility to acquire a practising certificate.
• Admission to practice as an Australian Lawyer, or eligibility to gain admission.
• Experience managing a team of legal practitioners.
• Due to the requirement to attain a Negative Vetting 1 security clearance candidates must be an Australian citizen at the time of application.

Responsibilities

• Provide authoritative legal advice to Operations, the Executive Director – Legal & Compliance, the Executive team and the Commissioner on all criminal law matters.
• Build and maintain a relationship with the OPP, the courts and other external agencies involved in prosecutions and be the key contact on all prosecutions.
• When appropriate, appear in court as advocate in IBAC's in-house prosecutions including (but not limited to) interlocutory applications, contest hearings, bail applications and sentences.
• Supervise and mentor other lawyers in Legal Operations with respect to criminal law matters.

Skills

Legal expertise

Team leadership

Court appearance

Criminal law practice

Education

Bachelor of Laws or equivalent

Job description

IBAC's work is vitally important to Victorians - we prevent and expose public sector corruption and police misconduct. Our vision is a public sector and police that acts with integrity for all Victorians. People who work for IBAC are expected to have a sound understanding of and ability to demonstrate the IBAC values when dealing with Government agencies, the community and colleagues. IBAC's values are incorporated in professional skills and behaviours for the position. We Lead by example, Act Impartially, Work Together, Behave with Respect, Strive for Excellence.

Your new role

This is an exciting time to join IBAC as it expands its work in preventing and exposing public sector corruption and police misconduct. We have an opportunity for an individual to join our Criminal Law team as the Managing Principal Lawyer on a full-time ongoing basis. Reporting to the Director – Legal Operations, the role will provide authoritative legal advice in relation to all criminal law matters within IBAC. As the lead lawyer within the legal team on these matters, they are the key contact for all criminal law advice across the organisation, in addition to being the key liaison with the Office of Public Prosecutions (OPP).

Duties include:

• Provide authoritative legal advice to Operations, the Executive Director – Legal & Compliance, the Executive team and the Commissioner on all criminal law matters.
• Build and maintain a relationship with the OPP, the courts and other external agencies involved in prosecutions and be the key contact on all prosecutions.
• When appropriate, appear in court as advocate in IBAC's in-house prosecutions including (but not limited to) interlocutory applications, contest hearings, bail applications and sentences.
• Supervise and mentor other lawyers in Legal Operations with respect to criminal law matters.

Additional duties are set out in the position description. To view this, please visit the IBAC Careers webpage and click on the appropriate vacancy.

Our requirements / Your skill set

• Bachelor of Laws or equivalent legal qualification from a recognised tertiary institution.
• Experience in criminal law/prosecutions essential. Managing Principal Lawyers should ideally have a minimum of 10 years post admission experience.
• A practising certificate under the Legal Profession Uniform Law, or eligibility to acquire a practising certificate.
• Admission to practice as an Australian Lawyer, or eligibility to gain admission.
• Experience managing a team of legal practitioners.
• Due to the requirement to attain a Negative Vetting 1 security clearance candidates must be an Australian citizen at the time of application.

Pre-employment testing

The preferred candidate will be required to undergo pre-employment screening as part of the recruitment process. This includes psychometric testing, a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC), and other relevant checks in accordance with Victorian public sector requirements and IBAC policy. Psychometric testing is completed online and assesses cognitive ability, personality, work values, and safety behaviours.

Applications close 30 October 2026.

We are committed to bringing together people with differing perspectives, lived experiences and skills to make choices that reflect our integrity and community, and to creating an inclusive work environment for all.

Visit: www.ibac.vic.gov.au for more information.