Special Counsel

Victoria Police; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 194,000 - 264,000; Full time

Job summary

Victoria Police is seeking a Special Counsel to lead and manage the Specialist Prosecutions teams within the Courts & Prosecution Services Division of Legal Services. You will provide expert legal advice on high-risk prosecutions and represent the organisation in specialist advocacy matters.

The role requires lead collaborations with the judiciary, Office of Public Prosecutions, Victoria Legal Aid and Aboriginal Legal Service, and involves travel to Melbourne courts and ensuring compliance with

Qualifications

• Must hold current unrestricted Practising Certificate.
• Australian citizenship and National Security Vetting required.
• Willingness to travel to courts in Melbourne as needed.
• No recruitment agencies; flexible deployment within Legal Services.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage specialist prosecutions teams within the Division.
• Provide expert opinions and advice on complex prosecutions and legal issues.
• Represent Victoria Police in specialist advocacy and complex matters.
• Build relationships with government, judiciary, and external stakeholders.

Skills

Criminal Law

Law of Evidence

Procedural Law

Legal advisory experience

Education

Australian Practising Certificate

Job description

Victoria Police has a dedicated workforce of more than 22,000 employees including police, protective services officers, police custody officers, and public service staff. Their mission is to provide 24/7 emergency response ensuring the safety and security of over 6.5 million Victorians every day of the year. Their vision is for a community in which everyone is safe and feels safe, those affected by crime feel supported, those who break the law are held to account, police work with the community and partners to prevent crime, reduce harm and build a better, safer Victoria.

About the role

This is an exciting opportunity to progress your career and obtain experience working as a Special Counsel in the Courts & Prosecution Services Division of Legal Services, Victoria Police. Our vision is to be a centre of prosecutorial and legal excellence, with people who are recognised as being fair, just and valued partners in the Victorian justice system.

Legal Services provides legal services and advice to support policing, courts, and the Victorian community. Legal Services is led by an Executive Director (who is also the organisation's General Counsel) and employs over 800 staff spread across four divisions – the Office of the Executive Director; the Specialist Legal and Litigation Division; the Courts & Prosecution Services Division; and the Legal Business Operations Division.

Reporting to the Director, Courts & Prosecution Services Division & Deputy General Counsel, Legal Services, you are responsible for leading and managing specialist prosecutions teams within the Division (Specialist Advocacy Group, Specialist Sexual Offences Group, Youth Law Group, and Family Violence and Therapeutic Courts Group).

You will provide expert legal advice, on complex, high risk and significant matters arising from prosecutions and legal issues within the Division and will represent Victoria Police in specialist advocacy and complex legal matters.

Building and maintaining effective relationships with senior colleagues and external stakeholders including government, the judiciary, the Office of Public Prosecutions, Victoria Legal Aid and Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service. You will also contribute to legislative reform and policy change initiatives.

About you

• Excellent knowledge of Criminal Law, the Law of Evidence and Procedure and other relevant legislation.
• Ability to plan and manage high level projects and issues and provide outcomes at the executive level of the organisation.
• Demonstrated high level and professional written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated experience in providing reasoned opinions and advice on complex legal matters and ability to justify conclusions effectively and succinctly.

Requirements and relevant information

• VPS7 level: Remuneration Package range $193,946 to $263,771 (covering salary ranges VPSG7.1 and VPSG7.3) excluding superannuation. Although it is standard practice for selected candidates to commence at the base of the salary range, genuine consideration will be given to a commencement salary within the available range that is commensurate with the successful candidate's knowledge, skills and experiences. This will be subject to negotiations with the Hiring Manager in the course of the selection process and may include the provision of evidence of a higher income and/or supporting documentation (as required).
• Located in Melbourne with a requirement to travel to courts as required.
• The successful candidate will be required to undergo National Security Vetting, achieve and maintain a security classification as determined by the Department Head. To achieve this, candidates must be an Australian Citizen.
• The successful candidate will be required to undergo pre-employment checks which may include fingerprint checks and misconduct screening.
• As a member of Legal Services you will be located, on selection, at a specific office within a Division for a particular advertised opportunity. However, given occasional legal service demand issues you may be required at times to undertake varied work within the Department. This supports the Department's commitment to a flexible and deployable legal workforce and professional development opportunities in a range of legal domains.
• The successful candidate must hold a Current Unrestricted Practicing Certificate.

No recruitment agencies please.

We welcome applications from people with disability and aim to support an inclusive recruitment experience. If you require a copy of this advertisement and attached documentation in an accessible format or would like to discuss an access requirement/reasonable adjustment for the recruitment process (including an alternate method of submission of the application), please contact VPS Recruitment via email **************@police.vic.gov.au or on (03) 8335 6***.

About Us

Victoria Police has a dedicated workforce of more than 22,000 employees consisting of police, protective services officers, police custody officers, and public service staff. Each employee plays a vital role in providing the 24/7, 365 days a year emergency response and public safety capability the organisation delivers to its community. As a Victoria Police employee, you have a dedication and commitment to community safety.

Victoria Police is committed to creating a workplace that is safe and inclusive of all our people. We empower and expect our people, at all levels, to develop interpersonal connections and collaborate, use sound judgement, and create and innovate.

In alignment with the principle of self-determination, Victoria Police is dedicated to enhancing our collaboration with the Aboriginal community in Victoria as we build a culturally safe and inclusive workplace for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees. We continue to engage and build relationships with local Aboriginal communities and work closely with them to enhance opportunities and services aimed at empowerment, equality, and equal participation across all areas of the organisation.

We value the diversity and differences of our employees, including their age, gender, culture, religion, sexual orientation, abilities, and life experience. We celebrate these diverse experiences and perspectives as each person brings an informed and contemporary approach to our work which enhances the wellbeing of all. We aim to provide a safe place that is reflective of the community it serves, allowing everyone to bring their whole selves to work.