Address
Form of work- Senior legal role with strong client focus, leadership and strategic management capability.
- Outstanding career defining opportunity to provide legal advice to government on public interest matters.
- Full-time / Part-time | Ongoing
- VPS 7 $175,731 - $238,997 p.a. + super eff. 1 March 2023
The Victorian Government Solicitor's Office (VGSO) is at the centre of the action in advising the Victorian Public Sector on interesting, cutting-edge and sensitive legal matters. Working within our office means that you will be able to grow and develop your legal career and to also serve the public, alongside bright, experienced lawyers who speak the language of and understand the needs of Government and who prioritise excellence in everything they do.
Our clients are exclusively the Victorian Government and public sector. Our place within government ensures we are at the centre of legal change, reform and problem-solving. While we operate on a fee-for-service model, we are not profit driven. Instead, in all aspects of our operations, we prioritise making a difference and role model and live by our values: Responsiveness, Integrity, Insight, Collaboration and Excellence.
About the branch and role
The Public Law & Planning (PuLP) Branch understands Victorian public law in a way that is unrivalled by its competitors. The branch consists of 3 teams, and our work involves providing advice and conducting litigation in relation to the development, application and interpretation of legislation (including in administrative decision-making); merits and judicial review of those administrative decisions.
We are currently seeking a senior and highly experience legal practitioner to join us as Special Counsel. This role will focus on providing specialised legal expertise and technical legal advice, and leading litigation, in high risk and significant public law matters. You will provide strategic leaderships to ad-hoc teams part of a team with deep experience in public law, but what you will bring is your capacity to lead the delivery of legal services in response to the diverse challenges of government practice.
About the successful applicant
The ideal applicant will be regarded as an expert; a senior and highly experienced legal practitioner with a strong understanding of the structure and culture of government and of the political and legal sensitivities of operating within the public sector.
Applicants will be flexible and adept at delivering legal services in a manner which is fit for purpose, whether that is providing robust written advice for a legal audience or explaining a litigation strategy to a ministerial one. You can lead teams and manage projects, whether their timelines are short or longer term. A key trait is the ability to rise to a challenge, and bring others along with you.
The ideal applicant will have the capacity to contribute strategic insight and drive continuous improvement. They will also have demonstrated business development and relationship management experience and have the ability to develop positive and effective client relationships in order to grow the VGSO and its practice areas.
Benefits
You will receive competitive remuneration, training and development opportunities and up to 17.5% annual leave loading, together with other benefits under the Victorian Public Service Enterprise Agreement 2020. The VGSO understands the importance of work-life balance and embraces workplace flexibility to help lawyers achieve this.
How to apply
If this sounds like the opportunity for you, apply now! Applications must include a cover letter and resume. Please note it is not required to respond to the Key Selection Criteria separately but applicants should outline their relevant experience in their cover letter.
To find out more about this role, please view the position description attached. Alternatively, you can contact Tim Morrison on 0409 370 185.
Applications close at 11:59pm on Thursday, 16 March 2023.
Preferred candidates will be subject to pre-employment checks including but not limited to, reference checks, pre-employment misconduct screening and criminal record checks.
The VGSO is committed to providing and maintaining a working environment which is safe and without risk to the health of its employees consistent with the VGSO's obligations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (Vic). Therefore, there is a requirement that all VGSO employees possess a COVID-19 Vaccination Status of Up-to-date or Excepted Person in order to attend a VGSO Workplace or Worksite. Prior to commencement of employment with VGSO you will need to provide evidence of your COVID-19 Vaccination Status as Up-to-date or an Excepted Person. Acceptable evidence includes:
- COVID-19 Digital Certificate or ATAGI Exemption Certificate (Medical Contraindication or a Temporary Medical Exemption) - available via your myGov account, or
- Your immunisation history statement -available via your myGov account.
