Senior Federal Prosecutor

Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 170,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Unique & challenging work

Annual leave & Christmas close-down

Salary progression

15.4% superannuation

Flexible working arrangements

Wellbeing allowance

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Job summary

Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions in Melbourne seeks a Senior Federal Prosecutor to lead and support complex criminal prosecutions, provide strategic legal advice, and drive high-quality outcomes for public safety. You will work across sentences, trials, and appeals, guiding junior staff and partnering with internal and external stakeholders.

The role emphasizes independent judgment, effective communication, and a practical understanding of government legal work in a regulated

Qualifications

• Seasoned legal professionals with criminal litigation expertise preferred.
• Ability to distill complex evidentiary material into clear strategy and directions.
• Strong communication, courtroom command and relationship-building with partners.

Responsibilities

• Instruct Counsel in sentences, trials and appeals, and represent the Director in court and conferences.
• Lead and support significant prosecutions on behalf of the Director and advise partner agencies.
• Apply legislation, policy and procedures to frame charges and determine allegations for court.
• Use technology to assess briefs of evidence and improve legal capability.
• Develop positive, collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders; coach junior staff.

Skills

Criminal litigation

Courtroom advocacy

Legal judgment

Strategic thinking

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Mentoring juniors

Job description

We are seeking legal professionals with a focused, strategic, and collaborative mindset to lead and support complex, sensitive and at time high profile criminal litigation outcomes.

This is an opportunity to work on significant matters, not seen in any other environment, and develop your legal career in directions that most other government agencies cannot provide.

As a Senior Federal Prosecutor (SFP), you will:

• instruct Counsel in sentences, trials and appeals, also representing the Director in court, forums and conferences;
• use your extensive legal judgment expertise to make legal decisions and recommendations, within tight deadlines;
• lead and support significant prosecutions on behalf of the Director; providing legal advice to the Director and partner agencies to drive prosecution outcomes;
• apply relevant legislation, policy and procedures to frame criminal charges and determine how allegations of criminal wrongdoing are to be alleged before the court;
• use cutting edge technology to assess briefs of evidence;
• actively develop positive, productive and collaborative working relationships with internal and external stakeholders; and
• support the enhancement of the CDPP legal capability, including through the coaching and mentoring of junior legal staff.

What we are looking for

You are seasoned legal professionals, ideally with criminal litigation expertise, who thrive on complexity and can easily refine complex evidentiary material into clear, actionable strategy. Your communication and people expertise must match your legal technical skills —you will know how to command a courtroom, negotiate effectively with defence counsel, and build trusted relationships with investigative partner agencies.

Beyond your legal expertise, you are a problem solver, natural mentor and enjoy coaching junior lawyers to sharpen their litigation instincts.

You pride yourself on your integrity and identify with and will uphold the values and conduct expected in the Australian Public Services (APS).

We are looking for a lawyer who combines strong technical capability with sound judgement, initiative and a practical understanding of the complex regulated environment in which government legal work is delivered.

Why Join Us

This role offers the opportunity to combine technical legal practice with leadership, strategic advice, stakeholder engagement and meaningful improvements to the way prosecution work is done.

If you are looking for career and employer where your legal acumen directly shapes and supports effective, ethical and high quality criminal prosecutions and is critical to public trust and safety for the Australian community, then this opportunity at the CDPP is your next step.

No matter where you work with us, you’ll have access to:

• unique and challenging work;
• generous leave entitlements with additional paid time off during the Christmas close-down period;
• clear and transparent salary progression, and scheduled salary increases;
• 15.4% superannuation;
• flexible working arrangements that promote work-life balance;
• a $295 annual wellbeing allowance; and
• free and confidential 24/7 counselling through our Employee Assistance Program (EAP), available for staff and their family members.