Work Type: Ongoing - Full-time
Salary: $113,668 - $131,153
Grade: WVR 4.2
Occupation: Legal
Location: Grampians - Ballarat
Reference: VG/VLA/RSD/1906566
About the role
As a Senior Advocate, you will provide high-quality legal services to clients, primarily in complex family law and family violence matters. Your work will include legal advice, duty lawyer services, complex casework, court representation, negotiation and dispute resolution. Where required, you will also provide referrals, initial advice and assistance in related areas such as child protection.
You will act as a duty lawyer in the Magistrates' Court of Victoria and the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, including through the Family Advocacy and Support Services (FASS) program. Additionally, you will mentor and supervise junior lawyers, contribute to community legal education, and participate in policy and law reform initiatives.
This role is based at our Ballarat office on Wadawurrung Country.
Regional experience – How far is it to Ballarat?
If you were interested in gaining regional experience, this is a great opportunity to help lead our service delivery and have exposure to working in a regional community.
Ballarat is only 1hr 15-30 mins drive from Melbourne and Bendigo, or 1hr 15mins drive from Geelong. Many of our staff do not live in Ballarat and commute. We have people who live in the West or Inner West of Melbourne and with our flexible hybrid working arrangements, it makes a commute a lot more manageable.
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 your CV doesn't align perfectly with our job description, we strongly encourage you to apply. You may be just the right candidate.
About VLA
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 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 benefits
How to apply
To be considered for this role, please submit your current resume and a cover letter addressing:
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 Erin Churchill, Regional Manager on (03) 5329 6222 or [email protected].
No agency applications will be accepted.
Applications close by 11.59pm on Wednesday 25 February 2026.
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.