AddressVictoria Police provides essential services across Victoria, serving the community and upholding the law. Victoria Police does this by preserving the peace, protecting life and property, preventing offences, detecting and apprehending offenders, and helping those in need of assistance.
The Legal Services Department of Victoria Police provides essential support and legal expertise across the entire organisation. Legal Services provides advice and advocacy across a diverse range of complex and interesting legal fields, for and on behalf of the Chief Commissioner of Police.
The Legal Practice Division is comprised of various units including the Civil Litigation Unit, Discipline Inquiry Office, the Specialist Crime Lawyers team, the Counter Terrorism Legal Unit, Human Rights, and the Chief Examiner's Legal Unit.
The Managing Principal Solicitor Human Rights reports directly to the Director, Legal Practice Division, and is responsible for proactively identifying, and addressing, human rights legal risk across Victoria Police. This includes responsibility for providing high quality, timely and accurate written and oral legal advice to clients across the organisation, from frontline police through to executive command members. The focus of this advice is the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006, and on providing legal advice that assists clients to properly consider and act compatibly with the human rights protected by that Act.
A significant component of the proactive aspect the position holder is responsible for, is maintaining a strong, contemporary understanding of emerging human rights issues, and designing and delivering training and workshops on human rights to audiences across Victoria Police. The successful applicant will have significant responsibility in managing all aspects of this work independently, and as part of the team within the Legal Practice Division (the latter team is responsible for a broader range of legal advice responsibilities, and the occupant of this role will assist with this work when required).
This role is also required to support the development and provide supervision of junior lawyers in the team in developing advocacy and legal analytical skills with a particular focus on human rights and public law fields.
Victoria Police is a contemporary and agile workplace and supports flexible working arrangements.
Your duties will include:
- Providing expert and authoritative legal advice, both written and oral, on a variety of complex and sensitive matters across Victoria Police, with a particular focus on human rights and public law;
- Briefing counsel and liaising with clients from across Victoria Police;
- Maintain expert knowledge on contemporary and human rights law, and design and deliver training and workshops on human rights to audiences across Victoria Police;
- Provide support to other legal teams within Legal Services Department where required;
- Manage case and advice work independently;
- Build and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders and colleagues;
- Manage complex and sensitive advice work with professionalism and confidentiality;
- Mentoring and supporting junior lawyers in the team.
- The ability to review, manage and conduct complex and sensitive proceedings in state courts and tribunals, including a sound knowledge of relevant court practice and procedures;
- Experience providing written and oral legal advice in an ‘in house' legal function (preferably with some experience working in government in comparable roles);
- Sound knowledge of relevant areas of law, including human rights, equal opportunity, criminal law, administrative law and public law;
- Leadership and decision making skills;
- Emotional intelligence, self-awareness and resilience;
- Strong interpersonal skills and excellent stakeholder engagement experience; and
- A current unrestricted practicing certificate (or being eligible to obtain one on commencement in the role).
- One (1) x full-time, fixed term position available until 31 March 2023.
- This position is located at Victoria Police Centre, 311 Spencer Street, Docklands.
- Applicants must be an Australian Citizen, Permanent Resident or hold a valid work permit or visa.
- The successful candidate will be required to undergo pre-employment checks which may include fingerprint checks and misconduct screening.
- In accordance with the Acting Chief Health Officer's Direction – COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccination (Workers) Directions, you are required to be fully vaccinated (this includes a booster vaccination) and your employment with Victoria Police is subject to proof of vaccination.
- As a member of the Legal Services Department 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 Departments commitment to a flexible and deployable legal workforce and professional development opportunities in a range of legal domains.
- Resume
- Completed application form – the word document (2. Application form) for you to complete and attach to your submission, is attached to the job advertisement.
- A copy of your Australian Legal Practising Certificate.
Please Note: All applications will need to be submitted through one of the following platforms; Jobs and Skills Exchange (JSE) the Victorian Government careers website (Careers.vic) website or Seek. Applications will not be accepted via other platforms or email.
Current Victorian Government employees must apply via Jobs and Skills Exchange (JSE).
For further information on this role please contact: John Croker, Managing Principal Solicitor Human Rights on 8335 6189 or via email john.croker@police.vic.gov.au or Superintendent Craig Thornton via email craig.thornton@police.vic.gov.au.
If you have a disability/medical condition and require a copy of this advertisement and attached documentation in an accessible format or would like to discuss an access requirements/reasonable adjustment for the recruitment process, please contact VPS Recruitment via email VPSRECRUITMENT@police.vic.gov.au or on (03) 8335 8081.
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.
Having a workforce that reflects the community we serve is important to Victoria Police. We want to attract and retain people of all genders, ages, religions, disability, sexual orientation, family and caring responsibilities, and cultures including people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage. If you are interested in a position, we encourage you to apply as we celebrate the benefit that diversity brings to our employees, our services, and our community.
Find out what it is like working as a Victorian Public Servant for Victoria Police: https://www.police.vic.gov.au/vps
