Managing Principal Lawyer

Victoria Police

Melbourne VIC (Hybrid)

Corporate and Commercial Law (Legal)

Government to State (Government and Defence)

Full time

142,790 to 191,084 pa + super

Legal Services

Professional Legal Practice

Legal Advice

Victoria Police's Legal Services provides legal services and advice to support policing, courts, and the Victorian community. Legal Services is led by an Executive Director (who is also the organisation's General Counsel) and employs over 800 staff spread across four divisions to the Office of the Executive Director; the Specialist Legal and Litigation Division; the Courts and Prosecution Services Division; and the Legal Business Operations Division.

The Managing Principal Laywer 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. Among other areas of legal advice, this will include 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

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 legal advice 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

Manage, mentor and support junior lawyers in the division.

As the successful applicant, you will have: 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).

Requirements and relevant information: One (1) x full-time, ongoing position available.

The salary range for a VPS6 role is 142,790 to 191,084 (covering salary ranges VPSG6.1 and VPSG6.2).  Although it is standard practice for selected candidates to commence at the base of the salary range, genuine consideration will be given to a commencement salary within the available range that is commensurate with the successful candidate's knowledge, skills and experiences. This will be subject to negotiations with the Hiring Manager in the course of the selection process and may include the provision of evidence of a higher income and/or supporting documentation (as required).

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 applicant will be required to undergo pre-employment checks which may include fingerprint checks and misconduct screening.

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.

Your application must include:

Resume

Completed application form to the word document (2. Application form) for you to complete and attach to your submission, is attached to the job advertisement.

Current Practicing Certificate

Applications close midnight, 6 July 2026.

Please Note: All applications will need to be submitted through one of the following platforms: Victorian Government careers website (Careers.vic) or Seek. Applications will not be accepted via other platforms or email.

NOTE: Never make payment to any employer, person, company, contractor or agency to get hired for a Job.

Contact: Director Ben Reade on 0385330119 or via benjamin.reade@police.vic.gov.au