Work Type: Ongoing - Full-time
Salary: $110,357 - $127,333
Grade: WVR 4.2
Occupation: Legal
Location: Melbourne - Eastern suburbs
Reference: VG/VLA/RSD/1886667
About the role
The Senior Family Lawyers will provide high quality legal services including legal advice (including pre court engagement with legal services), duty lawyer services, casework, representation and undertake negotiation and dispute resolution on behalf of clients in family law and family violence intervention order matters. This may include providing referrals, initial advice and assistance in other legal areas connected to the primary legal problem, such as child protection matters, as required.
In addition, you will act as a duty lawyer and advocate in the Magistrates' Court of Victoria, and the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia including in the Family Advocacy and Support Services (FASS).
You will also provide supervision and mentoring to junior legal staff and to engage with and participate in policy initiatives, VLA projects, law reform work and community legal education.
The Senior Family Lawyer (4.2) is a more senior role than the Senior Family Lawyer (4.1) role, reflected in the higher salary, higher level of experience required and more senior responsibilities of the role.
In your application, please indicate which role you are interested in, or if you are interested in both roles. If you are unsure which role your skills are more suited to, please contact us for a confidential discussion.
The Ringwood Office is one of VLA's largest metropolitan offices, providing services to Heidelberg and Ringwood Magistrates Courts, the Mental Health Review Tribunal, and various outreach services. The office is home to approximately 65 staff members and enjoys an excellent workplace culture.
This role is based at our Ringwood office on Wurundjeri Country.
About you
As our ideal candidate, you will possess:
Don't meet every requirement? At VLA, we understand that your work and life experiences can be just as valuable. If you're excited about this role but your CV doesn't align perfectly with our job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or one of our many other opportunities.
About Victoria Legal Aid
We offer legal representation, family dispute resolution and non-legal advocacy to those who need it most. With over 1400 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 walk s 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 benefits
How to apply
To be considered for this role, please submit your current resume and a cover letter addressing the key selection criteria.
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 Sonia Jolley, Deputy Managing Lawyer – North on (03) 9259 5444 or [email protected].
No agency applications will be accepted.
Applications close by 11.59pm on Wednesday 8 October 2025.
Other relevant information
It 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.