Senior Lawyer

Department of Transport & Planning Victoria; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Transport & Planning Victoria, Melbourne, seeks a Senior Lawyer (VPS5) to provide strategic legal guidance, manage litigation, and mitigate risk across planning and transport portfolios. You will research complex issues, brief external providers, and collaborate to deliver client-focused, high-performing legal support.

Admission as an Australian lawyer with a practising certificate is mandatory, with experience in administrative law, statutory interpretation and planning or

Qualifications

• Provides clear, practical and risk-based legal advice on complex matters.
• Handles litigation, dispute resolution and negotiations with minimal supervision.
• Advises on planning, environment law, heritage, legislation development or enforcement.

Responsibilities

• Research complex legal issues and deliver timely client-focused advice.
• Manage disputes and coordinate external legal providers.
• Collaborate across the department to support planning and transport portfolios.
• Maintain strong stakeholder relationships and communicate clearly across teams.

Skills

Legal advice

Litigation management

Stakeholder relations

Research & analysis

Education

Australian practising certificate

Job description

Department of Transport & Planning Victoria – Melbourne VIC

We create thriving places andconnectedcommunities. We plan,buildandmaintainVictoria’s transport,planningand land services. We are committed to a safe,inclusiveand high-performing workplace.

We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds and are committed to creating a safe, inclusive workplace where our people can thrive and do meaningful work.

About the role

The Legal Division provides legal, legislative, commercial and information access advice to support the Department, Ministers and Secretary. Within this division, the Public Law and Information Access Branch advises on public law matters including litigation, legislation, administrative decisions, privacy, information access, planning and land use, and First Peoples matters.

The Senior Lawyer (VPS5) works within a specialist legal team, supporting planning and transport portfolios through strategic legal advice, litigation management and risk mitigation. The role involves researching complex legal issues, managing disputes, engaging external legal providers, collaborating across the department, and contributing to a client-focused, inclusive and high-performing team environment.

Whatwe’relooking for

You’resomeone who:

• Interprets and applies legislation, regulations and legal principles to provide clear, practical and risk-based advice.
• Delivers high-quality legal advice, identifies options and solutions, and effectively manages complex legal issues with minimal supervision.
• Handles litigation, dispute resolution and negotiations, including managing evidence, briefing external providers and achieving timely outcomes.
• Builds and maintains strong stakeholder relationships, manages expectations and communicates complex information clearly and persuasively.
• Uses critical thinking and sound judgement to analyse issues, solve problems, collaborate across teams and focus on achieving positive outcomes for Victorians.

Qualifications and experience

You'llbring:

• Admission as an Australian lawyer under the Legal Profession Uniform Law (Victoria), holding or eligible to hold an Australian practising certificate (mandatory).
• Demonstrated experience providing legal advice on complex matters, exercising sound judgement and working with minimal supervision.
• Proven capability in litigation management across one or more key practice areas, including administrative law, statutory interpretation, dispute resolution, planning and environment law, heritage, legislation development or enforcement.

Pre-employment checks and employment conditions

Relevant pre-employment screening and reference checks will berequired.

Applicants must be an Australian Citizen, Permanent Resident or hold a valid work permit or visa necessary for the nature of the position.

Recipients of Victorian Public Service (VPS) voluntary departure packages should note that re-employment restrictions apply.

Applications close at 11.59pm on Monday, 23 November 2026.

Please include both your resume and a cover letter addressing how your experience addresses each of the key selection criteria for the role. All applications must be submitted via the online portal, we’re unable to accept email or manual submissions.

For further information about the role, please contact Alanna Vivian, Director – Legal at *************@transport.vic.gov.au.

Redeployees

If you are a VPS redeployee, please state this in your cover letter and include your case manager’s contact details. This helps ensure your redeployment status is appropriately considered. For more information on redeployment, visit the Victorian Government policy

If you require any adjustments to fully participate in the recruitment process or need the advert or attachments in an accessible format (e.g., large print), please contact us.We'rehere to support you.