Work Type: Ongoing - Full-time
Salary: $113,022 - $136,747
Grade: VPS 5
Occupation: Legal
Location: Melbourne - CBD and Inner Metro suburbs
Reference: VG/DE/PES/1908890
About the role:
An exceptional opportunity has arisen for a senior lawyer to further progress their legal career working in an outstanding legal team, in the Children, Families and Education Law (CFEL) Unit of the Workplace and Education Law branch in the Legal Division of the Department of Education.
The role of Senior Lawyer offers an exciting opportunity to make an impact and undertake rewarding work. You will be providing high quality, fast paced, and practical advice to Victorian government schools, regional offices and corporate staff in the Department of Education across a variety of areas of law including family law, intervention orders, child protection, child safety school community safety orders, trespass, privacy and information sharing, duty of care, subpoenas and witness summonses and other school-related legal matters in accordance with the VPS values. You will also have opportunity to mentor and support junior lawyers and law clerks.
The CFEL unit also manages proceedings, inquiries and investigations such as those conducted by the Coroners Court of Victoria and Commission for Children and Young People. The succesful candidate will have the ability to manage these matters with sensitivity and compassion whilst also managing the impact of this work on their own wellbeing. The unit also provides legal review of Department policies and guidelines, correspondence and Cabinet documents and assistance in legal policy issues related to early childhood, schools and higher education.
The successful candidate will be able to prioritise matters, be motivated to work collabortively in a team environment with lawyers who are passionate about their work and genuine about supporting career aspirations.
Multiple Full - Time, Ongoing and Fixed-term roles available
Why join us?
About us
The Department of Education (the department) is responsible for delivering and regulating state-wide learning and development services to approximately one-third of all Victorians across the early childhood and school education sectors. The department is also one of Victoria's biggest employers, with approximately 80,000 teaching staff and around 5,000 public service employees.
The Legal Division provides highly valued legal services t
o support the delivery of the department's strategic objectives, key reforms and to manage legal risk. In doing so, Legal Division provides direct, practical and strategic legal advice to portfolio ministers, the secretary, other senior staff and over 1,600 government schools, supporting approximately over 650,000 Victorian Government school students.
How to Apply
Applicants are required to submit a CV and a cover letter summarising their skills and experience (no more than two pages).
Visit http://www.careers.vic.gov.au/vacancies/tips-for-applying for guidelines and tips for applying for government positions.
Further Information
For more details regarding this position please see attached position description for the capabilities to address in application.
The department values diversity and inclusion in all forms - gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQ+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. For more information about our work, working for the Department, diversity and inclusion, and our employment conditions visit the Department website and our Diversity and Inclusion page
Applicants requiring adjustments can contact the nominated contact person.
Information about the Department of Education's operations and employment conditions can be located at www.education.vic.gov.au.
For further information pertaining to the role, please contact Katherine Johns, Principal Lawyer and Manager, (03) 7022 5795.
Preferred applicants may be required to complete a police check and may be subject to other pre-employment checks. Information provided to the Department of Education will be treated in the strictest confidence.
Please let us know via phone or email if you require any adjustments to ensure your full participation in the recruitment process or if you need the ad or any attachments in an accessible format (e.g large print) due to any viewing difficulties or other accessibility requirements.
Applications close 11:59pm on Sunday, 08 March 2026