Managing Lawyer (Criminal Law)

Lead people. Shape legal practice. Advocate for justice.

• Full Time | 12-month Fixed Term Contract | Strong potential for renewal
• Preston, VIC | $120,000 + Super + Salary Packaging

Are you an experienced criminal lawyer ready to take the next step in your leadership journey?

The Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS) is looking for a Managing Lawyer to lead and develop our Criminal Law team and help shape the delivery of high-quality, culturally safe legal services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

This is an opportunity to step beyond your individual practice and have a broader impact: develop lawyers, strengthen legal practice, influence service delivery and advocate for better justice outcomes.

You will combine your expertise as a criminal advocate with people leadership, practice management and strategic thinking. You will lead a team of lawyers, paralegals and client service staff while maintaining your own legal practice and appearing across Victoria's criminal jurisdictions.

If you are an experienced criminal lawyer who enjoys developing others, solving complex problems and making a meaningful difference, we would like to hear from you.

Why this role?
This is a senior role for someone who wants their legal expertise to have an impact beyond their own files.

As Managing Lawyer, you will:

• Lead and develop people, providing supervision, coaching, mentoring and professional development to lawyers and paralegals.
• Shape legal practice, supporting strong professional standards, quality assurance and continuous improvement across the Criminal Law Practice.
• Influence service delivery, working with the Principal Managing Lawyer to strengthen workflows, file allocation, court rosters and operational effectiveness.
• Remain connected to practice, undertaking your own complex criminal matters and appearing as an advocate.
• Build capability, supporting lawyers to develop their advocacy, legal knowledge and professional confidence.
• Contribute to systemic change, with opportunities to support law reform, policy development, advocacy and community legal education.
• Build partnerships, representing VALS with courts, government agencies, community organisations and Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations.
• Support innovative and culturally safe legal practice, ensuring the needs and experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients remain central to the work we do.

You will also provide leadership support to lawyers undertaking Bail and Remand Court (BaRC) work.

About the Criminal Law Practice
VALS' Criminal Law Practice provides specialist legal representation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people involved in the criminal justice system across Victoria.

Our lawyers appear across the General, Koori and Children's Courts, as well as the County Court, working across matters including bail, plea negotiations, sentencing and complex criminal proceedings.

We recognise that effective legal representation involves more than the legal issue in front of us. Our approach considers the broader social, cultural and systemic factors affecting our clients and works to provide services that are culturally safe, accessible and responsive.

About VALS
The Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service is an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO) and Victoria's specialist legal and support service for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Established in 1973, VALS provides legal advice and representation across criminal, family, civil and human rights law, youth justice and specialist litigation, alongside a range of support services and community programs.
Our work is grounded in self-determination, cultural safety and justice. We advocate not only for our clients, but for broader systemic change that improves outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Joining VALS means being part of an organisation with a long history of standing alongside Aboriginal communities and working to address systemic inequity within the justice system.

About you
You are an experienced criminal lawyer and advocate who is ready to make a broader contribution through leadership.

You will bring:

• Significant post-admission experience practising in criminal law.
• Strong experience appearing as an advocate across relevant criminal jurisdictions.
• Experience supervising, mentoring or developing lawyers and/or legal professionals.
• Strong legal judgement and the ability to provide advice on complex criminal matters.
• The ability to manage competing operational priorities while maintaining high professional and legal standards.
• Strong communication, relationship-building and stakeholder engagement skills.
• A collaborative and solutions-focused approach to leadership.
• A demonstrated commitment to culturally safe practice and improving justice outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
• The ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary, community-focused organisation.

Essential requirements
To be considered for this role, you will need:

• A current unrestricted Victorian Practising Certificate.
• Accreditation as a Criminal Law Specialist with the Law Institute of Victoria.
• A current Employee Working with Children Check, or the ability to obtain one.
• A current Victorian Driver Licence.
• The ability to successfully obtain a National Criminal History Check.
• Full Australian working rights.

What you'll get at VALS
At VALS, your work has purpose. You will have the opportunity to:

• Lead with impact - Make a genuine contribution to the development of lawyers, legal practice and justice outcomes.
• Do meaningful work - Use your legal expertise to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients and communities.
• Develop others - Help build the capability, confidence and advocacy skills of the next generation of lawyers.
• Influence change - Contribute to law reform, advocacy and initiatives addressing systemic issues within the justice system.
• Work in a purpose-led organisation - Be part of an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation where culture, community and self-determination are central to our work.
• Maximise your remuneration - Access salary packaging benefits in addition to your salary and superannuation.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants VALS strongly encourages applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

We are committed to building a workforce that reflects the communities we serve and to providing a culturally safe and inclusive workplace.

We also welcome applications from people from diverse backgrounds and people with disability. If you require adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process, please let us know.

Ready to make your next move?
If you are an experienced criminal lawyer who is ready to lead people, strengthen legal practice and contribute to meaningful justice reform, we would love to hear from you.

Apply now and bring your expertise to a role where your leadership can make a difference.