Principal Managing Lawyer - Police & Prison Accountability

• $140,000 per annum + Superannuation + Salary Packaging
• Preston, VIC
• Full-time - 12-month Fixed-term (strong potential for renewal)

Lead specialist litigation. Champion accountability. Drive systemic change.

Victoria Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS) is seeking an experienced Principal Managing Lawyer to lead our specialist Wirraway Police and Prison Accountability Practice.

This is a senior leadership opportunity for an exceptional lawyer who wants to combine complex legal practice, strategic leadership and advocacy for systemic change.

Wirraway supports Aboriginal people who have experienced police and prison harms. The practice provides legal advice, assists with complaints and brings proceedings against the State, including matters involving negligence, excessive use of force and unlawful detention. Wirraway also represents families in coronial inquests arising from deaths in custody and deaths following police contact.

About the role

As Principal Managing Lawyer, you will provide strategic and operational leadership to the Wirraway specialist litigation unit while maintaining a focused complex litigation caseload.

You will:

• Lead a specialist team of lawyers and paralegal staff, providing supervision, mentoring, professional development and strategic direction.
• Undertake high-level advocacy across civil litigation, criminal matters and coronial inquests.
• Provide specialist legal advice and guidance across VALS on complex matters affecting the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
• Develop and strengthen practice guidelines, legal strategies and high-performing service delivery.
• Build strong relationships with the judiciary, Coroners Court, Victorian Legal Aid, Aboriginal community-controlled organisations and other key partners.
• Work with Policy and Communications to raise awareness of police and prison accountability issues and support VALS advocacy and funding objectives.
• Lead work that contributes to meaningful change in the way Aboriginal people experience the justice system.

About you

You are an accomplished advocate and people leader who brings strong expertise in criminal law and civil litigation, particularly matters involving police, Corrections Victoria and other government entities.

You will have:

• A Law qualification and admission to the Supreme Court of Victoria, with a current unrestricted Victorian practising certificate.
• At least 5 years' post-admission experience (PAE).
• Highly developed advocacy skills and substantial experience appearing in the Coroners, Magistrates and higher courts.
• Strong knowledge of criminal law and civil litigation, with a focus on police torts.
• Demonstrated experience leading, mentoring and developing legal practitioners.
• Excellent strategic, analytical, negotiation, communication and relationship-building skills.
• The ability to provide independent and strategic specialist legal advice on complex legal and policy matters.
• A strong understanding of the social, legal and justice issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, including systemic racism and institutional harm.

Experience as a Law Institute of Victoria accredited specialist in Criminal Law and/or Personal Injury Law will be highly regarded.

Why join VALS?

At VALS, your legal expertise can make a direct difference.

You will join an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation with a long history of delivering culturally safe legal services and advocating for the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Established in 1973, VALS is Victoria's only specialist legal and support service dedicated to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Our work spans criminal, family, civil and human rights law, youth justice and specialist litigation, alongside broader community support and advocacy programs.

This is an opportunity to use your legal expertise, leadership capability and advocacy skills where they can have genuine impact.

Mandatory requirements

Successful applicants will be required to provide or hold:

• Current Employee Working with Children Check
• Valid Victorian Driver Licence
• National Criminal History Check
• Evidence of Australian work rights.

VALS strongly encourages applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, LGBTISBQ communities and people from diverse cultural backgrounds. We are committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process and welcome requests for reasonable adjustments throughout recruitment and employment.

If you are an experienced senior lawyer looking for an opportunity to lead specialist litigation while contributing to meaningful justice and systemic change, we would like to hear from you.