Managing Principal Solicitor

Victorian Government; Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) in Victoria is seeking a Managing Principal Solicitor to lead the Statewide Child Protection Litigation Office in Melbourne. You will provide strategic legal advice, supervise solicitors, and appear in courts including the Children's Court of Victoria and the Supreme Court.

You will work with Senior Legal Counsel and the Executive team to improve service delivery, manage complex cases, and support child protection practitioners across

Qualifications

• Admitted lawyer in Victoria and eligible to practise.
• Experience leading a team in child protection matters.
• Ability to provide strategic legal advice to senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead delivery of high-quality legal services in highly complex and sensitive child-protection matters.
• Provide effective leadership and management to the CPLO team and drive improvement outcomes.
• Appear in litigation across courts including the Children's Court, Supreme Court, and Federal Circuit/Family Court as required.

Skills

Legal leadership

Litigation management

Child protection law

Education

Admitted lawyer in Victoria

Job description

Location: Melbourne - CBD and Inner Metro suburbs

Reference: VG/00683443

The Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) works hard to create equal opportunities for all Victorians to live a safe, respected and valued life.

Our areas of focus are child protection, housing, disability, the prevention of family violence, multicultural affairs, LGBTIQA+ equality, veterans, women and youth. The work we do benefits thousands of Victorians, particularly those who are disadvantaged and vulnerable.

We work in a variety of community based settings, including people's homes, residential facilities and secure settings across metropolitan, rural and regional Victoria.

We are committed to developing and supporting a workforce that is well equipped and highly motivated. All jobs can be worked flexibly, and we encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and people from diverse backgrounds and abilities.

If you're having any trouble viewing this ad and would like it or any attachments in an accessible format (such as large print), please don't hesitate to get in touch with the contact person listed on the ad.

For more information on working with us and our recruitment process, please visit Department of Families, Fairness and Housing Victoria | Jobs (www.dffh.vic.gov.au/jobs)

THE ROLE

The Managing Principal Solicitor leads and manages a team of solicitors within the Statewide Child Protection Litigation Office (Statewide CPLO) who are responsible for providing legal advice, support and representation in child protection litigation matters in various courts including the Children's Court of Victoria, the Supreme Court, Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT), and related jurisdictions.

The Managing Principal Solicitor plays a lead role in the management of staff and provides practical and strategic legal advice, conducts litigation, and instructs and appears, in person, on behalf of the Secretary to the department in various courts including the Children's Court of Victoria, the Supreme Court and related jurisdictions.

It is expected that the Managing Principal Solicitor works closely with Senior Legal Counsel and the Executive team in strategic and operational planning, including long term planning to improve legal services and client outcomes. The role will also manage highly complex cases and provide authoritative advice to child protection practitioners.

Accountabilities Include

• Lead the delivery of high quality, client focused and cost-effective legal services in relation to highly complex and sensitive matters.


• Provide effective leadership and management to a team of employees by:
  
  
  
  • Supporting individuals to achieve their potential while maximising their contribution to achieve their goals and outcomes.
  
  
  • Modelling behaviours integral to good people management and Departmental values.
  
  
  • Managing and monitor specific improvement objectives in annual improvement plans.
  
  
  
  


• Appear in litigation involving highly complex matters for the department in a wide range of courts and tribunals including the Family Division of the Children's Court and in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia and VCAT.

Applications close Wednesday 28 October 2026 at 11.59pm