Principal Solicitor Advocate

Office of Public Prosecutions; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 200,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

The Office of Public Prosecutions (OPP) is seeking an exceptional and highly experienced advocate to join our Advocacy Division as a Principal Solicitor Advocate. This senior role focuses on complex criminal proceedings in the Magistrates' and County Courts, with frequent court appearances and leadership across the division.

Based in Melbourne, the role involves mentoring junior advocates, driving early resolution through negotiation, providing expert legal analysis, and contributing to

Qualifications

• Admission as an Australian Lawyer.
• Current Victorian Practising Certificate.
• Current Australian Driver Licence (desirable).

Responsibilities

• Appear in court in the Magistrates' and County Courts.
• Independently prepare and appear in complex criminal proceedings.
• Mentor and develop junior advocates and solicitors.
• Drive early resolution outcomes through negotiation with defence practitioners, police and stakeholders.
• Provide expert legal analysis and advice on complex issues.
• Contribute to innovation and continuous improvement within the division.

Skills

Criminal law

Advocacy experience

Negotiation

Stakeholder engagement

Leadership

Legal research

Communication

Job description

Location: Melbourne - CBD and Inner Metro suburbs

Reference: VG/OPP/LP/1953937

The Office of Public Prosecutions (OPP) is seeking an exceptional and highly experienced advocate to join our Advocacy Division as a Principal Solicitor Advocate.
This is a unique opportunity for a senior criminal lawyer with extensive advocacy experience in both the Magistrates' and County Courts to undertake challenging and high-profile criminal matters while playing a key leadership role within Victoria's criminal justice system.
Appearing in court for the majority of your time, you will independently prepare and appear in complex criminal proceedings, working closely with Crown Prosecutors, instructing solicitors, Victoria Police and other justice stakeholders to achieve fair and timely outcomes.

The OPP is seeking a highly skilled Principal Solicitor Advocate to join our Advocacy Division. This senior role offers the opportunity to appear regularly in the Magistrates' and County Courts, managing complex criminal matters including committals, plea hearings, bail applications and appeals.

About the role

Reporting within the Advocacy Division, you will:

• Appear in court for approximately 80% of your time.
• Conduct complex committal hearings, plea hearings, appeals and contravention matters.
• Drive early resolution outcomes through effective negotiation with defence practitioners, police and key stakeholders.
• Provide expert legal analysis and advice on complex and emerging legal issues.
• Mentor and develop junior advocates and solicitors.
• Contribute to innovation and continuous improvement across the division.

This role is based in Melbourne and includes occasional regional travel.

Fixed term position until 30 September 2028.

About you

You will bring:

• Extensive knowledge of criminal law, criminal procedure, evidence law and related legislation.
• Significant experience advocating in complex criminal matters.
• Exceptional legal research, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong negotiation and resolution-focused advocacy capabilities.
• Outstanding communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Demonstrated leadership capability and experience mentoring legal practitioners.
• The ability to adapt to changing priorities and navigate complex legal issues with sound judgement.

Requirements

• Admission as an Australian Lawyer.
• Current Victorian Practising Certificate.
• Current Australian Driver Licence (desirable).

About Us:

The Office of Public Prosecutions (OPP) is an independent statutory authority responsible for conducting serious criminal prosecutions across Victoria on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Our team, consisting of over 475 skilled professionals, supports the work of the DPP, the Chief Crown Prosecutor, and Crown Prosecutors. We strive to be a criminal justice system leader and a dynamic organisation, continually adapting to deliver effective outcomes for our people and the community.

At the heart of the criminal justice system are people – practitioners and the community we serve. Our vision is to lead in legal excellence, fostering an innovative, supportive environment with a commitment to innovation, collaboration, and professional excellence.

The OPP is committed to building a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. People from all cultural backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply, particularly applicants of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage, or those who may experience disability related barriers in securing employment.

Applications close Sunday 15 November 2026 at 11.59pm