Senior Civil Lawyer

State of Victoria; Geelong; Hybrid; AUD 114,000 - 131,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary packaging up to $15,900

Hybrid work arrangement

Generous leave benefits

Annual salary review

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Victoria Legal Aid in Geelong is seeking a Senior Lawyer to lead high-quality civil law services and advocate in the Mental Health Tribunal. You will manage complex case work across tenancy, social security, NDIS and fines while mentoring junior lawyers and contributing to policy initiatives.

The role emphasizes regional community engagement, collaborative stakeholder work, and strategic legal advice. A flexible hybrid/office arrangement supports work‑life balance.

Qualifications

• Substantial knowledge of civil law and relevant court and tribunal procedures.
• Ability to provide strategic legal and policy advice and engage with partner agencies.
• Excellent interpersonal and collaborative skills with diverse stakeholders.
• Mentorship and guidance to junior and senior lawyers.
• Unrestricted Australian practicing certificate to practise in Victoria (government legal practitioner).
• Eligible to practise in federal courts and courts with federal jurisdiction.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality civil law legal services and advocate in the Mental Health Tribunal.
• Manage complex civil case work including tenancy, social security, NDIS and fines as needed.
• Lead community legal education and stakeholder engagement in the Geelong region.
• Mentor and train junior lawyers to build team capability and expertise.
• Contribute to policy initiatives and law reform efforts.

Skills

Civil law

Advocacy

Policy advice

Interpersonal skills

Mentorship

Legal practice in Victoria

Job description

Full-time ongoing position (part-time considered)Salary range: $113,668 - $131,153 plus superUp to $15,900 in salary packaging, flexible hybrid work arrangementAbout the roleYou will act as a senior advocate by providing high-quality legal services, managing complex civil law case work and advocating in areas that affect people's rights.A key focus for this role will be mental health and disability law and providing high-quality legal services in the Mental Health Tribunal. Other areas of work may include tenancy, social security, National Disability and Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and fines. You will also participate in community legal education and develop collaborative relationships between VLA and local stakeholders. Availability on Mondays and Tuesdays is essential, as these are key duty lawyer service days in the office.As a Senior Lawyer, you will also play a key role in developing the capability of our legal team through mentoring, supervision, and training of junior and senior lawyers. You will contribute your subject matter expertise to policy initiatives, law reform, and VLA projects, ensuring our services remain responsive to the needs of the community.This role is based at our Geelong office on Wadawurrung Country.Why Geelong?The Geelong office is just over an hour drive from Melbourne and Ballarat.All the amenities of a city, without the extended commute to work.Residents in parts of Geelong and the greater region face some of the highest levels of disadvantage in Australia.Exposure to multiple practice areas including summary crime, indictable crime, youth crime, child protection, family violence, and family law.Opportunity to lead the delivery of community legal education and stakeholder engagement in the region.Feel a sense of connectedness and community from working in regional Australia.About youAs our ideal candidate, you will possess:Substantial knowledge or practical experience in civil law and relevant court and tribunal procedures with the capacity to work as an advocate and caseworker, particularly in the Mental Health TribunalAbility to provide strategic advice on legal and policy issues and positively engage with key partner agencies to appropriately manage referrals.Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively with others and communicate with a diverse stakeholder group.Strong interest and capability in providing mentorship and guidance to junior team members in enhancing their skills and knowledge in civil law.A current unrestricted Australian practicing certificate which entitles you to practise in Victoria as a government legal practitioner (mandatory).Entitled to practise in federal courts and courts exercising federal jurisdiction (entry on the High Court's Register of Practitioners).Don't meet every requirement? At VLA, we understand that your work and life experiences can be just as valuable. If your CV doesn't align perfectly with our job description, we strongly encourage you to apply. You may be just the right candidate.About VLAWe 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.Employee benefitsA focus on work-life balance, including flexible working arrangementsHybrid work from home & office modelGenerous leave benefits, including:Three days paid seasonal leave (to be taken between Boxing Day and New Year's Day public holidays)Paid gender affirmation leaveFive days both paid reproductive and fertility leave per calendar yearAnnual 3% salary increase each December plus performance-related salary incentivesAttractive salary packaging options including General Expenses up to $15,900, Meals & Entertainment up to $2,650 PLUS Novated LeasingDiscounted annual Myki public transport passesIndividual learning and professional development opportunities, tailored to your role and career goalsFree annual flu vaccinationsAccess to our Employee Assistance Program, including confidential counselling and access to a range of mental health and wellbeing resources.How to applyTo be considered for this role, please submit your current resume and a cover letter.If you require adjustments to the recruitment and selection process or need an alternative format to any of the application material, please don't hesitate to get in touch with our team.For further information, please review the attached position description or contact Marquita Nolan, Regional Manager on [phone] or [e-mail] agency applications will be accepted.Applications close by 11.59pm on Sunday 27 September 2026.Other relevant informationIt is a requirement that staff attend for office-based days at their primary work location. In line with this requirement, interstate applications will be considered only where the candidate is able and willing to relocate to Victoria, unless part of a border community.VLA is committed to putting the safety and wellbeing of children first.