Managing Principal Solicitor, Inquiries and State Care

Victorian Government Solicitor's Office; Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 167,000 - 191,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

Career development

Work with high-profile matters

Job summary

Victorian Government Solicitor's Office in Melbourne is seeking a Managing Principal Solicitor to lead the Inquiries and State Care team within the WRASI Branch. You will oversee a team of solicitors, delivering high-quality litigation services across sensitive state care and personal injury matters.

The role requires significant leadership, strategic thinking and expert advice, with a focus on client outcomes, stakeholder engagement and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Senior legal practitioner with experience leading and managing complex civil litigation matters, with expertise in state care, historical institutional abuse and personal injury.
• Experience in criminal law, inquiries and/or large-scale litigation is highly regarded.
• Ability to lead, motivate and develop high-performing legal teams in a dynamic environment.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship management; understand government structures and decision-making processes.
• Provide authoritative advice on complex legal issues and contribute to strategic direction.
• Must be admitted to practice in Victoria and hold an unrestricted practising certificate.
• Previous experience handling civil litigation and personal injury matters is essential.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of solicitors and oversee delivery of high-quality litigation services and advice across state care and personal injury matters.
• Manage complex litigation from inception through resolution and develop litigation strategies.
• Provide expert legal advice, supervise research, and prepare Counsel briefs.
• Support client engagement, review precedents, and drive continuous improvement within the Branch.
• Foster wellbeing and development of the team and maintain strong client partnerships.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Management

Complex litigation

Education

Admitted to practice – Supreme Court of Victoria

Job description

Managing Principal Solicitor, Inquiries and State Care

Victorian Government Solicitor's Office – Melbourne VIC

The Victorian Government Solicitor's Office (VGSO) values diversity and seeks to attract and retain a diverse workforce with the best people for the role. We welcome applications from people of all ages, disability, ethnicity, family and caring responsibilities, gender, religion, sexual orientation and cultures including people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage. If you require a copy of this advertisement or any attached documentation in an accessible format, such as large print, please email ***************@vgso.vic.gov.au

• Senior legal role with strong client focus and strategic management capability
• Diverse, important and impactful work for the Victorian Community
• Specialised legal expertise in complex litigation is essential
• Hybrid work-enjoy the flexibility of office and remote work
• Ongoing | Full-time or Part-time
• VPS 6.2 | $166,939 - $191,084 per annum plus superannuation

About the VGSO

The Victorian Government Solicitor's Office (VGSO) serves the rule of law exclusively for the State.

Our place within government ensures we are at the centre of legal change, reform and problem-solving. We operate as a service-driven legal professional practice and strive for excellence in this competitive environment. We role-model the Victorian Public Sector values and VGSO's Our Compass pillars, which guides how we work together in everything we do: Proud of what we do; Value every voice; Learn, grow, thrive; Always evolving; Act with care.

About the branch

The Workplace relations, Regulatory, Administrative Law, Safety and Inquiries (WRASI) Branch of the VGSO provides specialist legal services and advice to the State in a broad range of practice areas. The branch has expertise in workplace relations, inquiries, administrative decision making and disciplinary reviews, prosecutions and regulatory proceedings and occupational health and safety matters and conducts complex litigation concerning state care, including historical institutional abuse, as well as personal injury and negligence claims.

This role sits within the Inquiries and State Care team.

About the role

We are seeking a highly experienced and strategic legal leader to join the Victorian Government Solicitor's Office as a Managing Principal Solicitor within the Inquiries and State Care team of our Workplace relations, Regulatory, Administrative Law, Safety and Inquiries (WRASI) Branch.

Reporting directly to the Lead Counsel, you will play a pivotal role in leading a team of solicitors and overseeing the delivery of high-quality litigation services and advice across a complex and sensitive portfolio of state care and personal injury matters. This includes claims involving former wards of the State, care leavers and historical institutional abuse matters, many of which are highly sensitive and attract significant public interest. As a senior leader within the branch, you will shape legal outcomes of strategic importance, strengthen client partnerships and foster a culture of excellence, collaboration and innovation.

In this role, you will provide professional leadership, management and mentoring to a team of legal practitioners, ensuring the delivery of exceptional legal services while fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration and continuous improvement. You will manage complex litigation matters from inception through to resolution, provide expert and authoritative legal advice on highly sensitive and high-profile matters, oversee legal research and analysis, and prepare Counsel briefs and litigation strategies.

Beyond your technical expertise, you will contribute to the strategic direction and ongoing development of the Branch, including supporting client engagement initiatives, reviewing precedents and practice resources, and driving continuous improvement opportunities. Building and maintaining strong relationships with government clients, legal practitioners and key stakeholders will be central to your success, as will promoting the wellbeing, development and performance of your team.

This position offers a unique opportunity to undertake meaningful and challenging legal work while contributing to the delivery of services that support the Victorian Government and the broader community.

About the successful applicants

You are a senior legal practitioner with significant experience leading and managing complex civil litigation matters, with demonstrated expertise in state care, historical institutional abuse and personal injury claims. Additional experience in criminal law, inquiries and/or large scale litigation will be highly regarded.

You have a proven ability to lead, motivate and develop high-performing legal teams in a dynamic and complex environment, supported by strong strategic thinking, business acumen and operational management skills. You are an influential and collaborative leader who can balance competing priorities while maintaining a strong focus on client outcomes and service excellence.

Your exceptional stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills enable you to build trust and credibility with clients, counsel, colleagues and external stakeholders. You bring a comprehensive understanding of government structures, policies and decision-making processes, together with the tact, discretion and judgement required to navigate complex and sensitive matters within the public sector environment.

As a professional leader, you will contribute to the strategic direction of both the Branch and the VGSO more broadly. You will also bring highly developed communication and advisory skills, the ability to provide authoritative advice on complex legal issues, and a commitment to developing people, fostering wellbeing and driving continuous improvement.

To be successful in this role, you must be admitted to practice as a lawyer of the Supreme Court of Victoria and hold, or be eligible to hold, a current unrestricted practising certificate.

Please note: Previous experience handling civil litigation and personal injury matters is essential.

Appointments are typically made at the base of the grade; however, remuneration may be negotiated commensurate with skills and experience.

Benefits

VGSO offers an inclusive, collegiate and collaborative work environment where you will be well-supported and mentored to develop your knowledge. You will also be given excellent career opportunities to progress and develop within the organisation.

VGSO embraces flexibility and recognises the importance of work-life balance. We offer a flexible hybrid work arrangement, allowing employees to spend half of their time working remotely and the other half in the office. This setup encourages collaboration and strengthens team connections, while supporting your ability to achieve a healthy work-life balance.

To find out more about this role, please view the position description attached. Alternatively, you can contact Kate Miller, Talent Acquisition Business Partner, on 0408 353 ***or email*******@vgso.vic.gov.au

Applications close at 11:59pm on Wednesday, 11 November 2026

Preferred candidates will be subject to pre-employment checks including but not limited to, reference checks, pre-employment misconduct screening and criminal record checks.