Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service – Preston VIC

Full time, Contract

3d ago , from Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service

- Salary: $116,000 to $119,000 + Super + Salary Packaging
- Location: Preston, VIC
- Employment Type: Full Time | 12 Month Fixed Term (with strong potential for renewal)

Lead a specialist youth justice practice and help shape the next generation of advocates.

At the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS), we believe every Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child deserves access to exceptional legal representation and culturally safe support.

We’re looking for an experienced criminal lawyer to join our specialist Balit Ngulu Youth Justice team in a key leadership role. As the Deputy Managing Lawyer (advertised as Supervising Lawyer), you’ll continue appearing in court while leading, supervising and developing a team of lawyers delivering high-quality legal services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people.

Working closely with the Managing Lawyer and Principal Managing Lawyer, you’ll help shape legal practice, strengthen capability across the team and contribute to better justice outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

If you’re an experienced advocate looking to take the next step into legal leadership while maintaining a rewarding court practice, we’d love to hear from you.

Why join VALS?

VALS is Victoria’s only specialist Aboriginal Community Controlled legal service. For more than 50 years, we’ve provided culturally safe legal representation while advancing self-determination, justice and human rights for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.





Joining VALS means joining an organisation where your leadership and advocacy will have a lasting impact on clients, colleagues and the broader justice system.

What we offer

- Salary of $116,000 to $119,000 plus Super
- Increase your take-home pay through salary packaging of up to $15,900
- 25 days annual leave plus 17.5% annual leave loading
- A genuine leadership opportunity within one of Victoria’s leading specialist youth justice legal practices
- The opportunity to supervise and develop a passionate team of lawyers
- A reduced but meaningful advocacy practice with regular Children’s Court appearances
- Professional development and leadership opportunities
- A collaborative, values-driven workplace committed to cultural safety
- The chance to contribute to policy, law reform and systemic advocacy that improves outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people

About the role

This role combines legal practice with leadership and supervision.

You’ll maintain a strategic criminal law practice while supporting the Managing Lawyer with the day-to-day leadership of the Balit Ngulu Youth Justice team.

You’ll:

- Provide high-quality legal advice, advocacy and representation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people in criminal law matters, including complex cases
- Appear regularly in the Children’s Court, Koori Court, Magistrates’ Court and other relevant jurisdictions
- Maintain a reduced but strategically significant caseload
- Supervise, coach and mentor lawyers, supporting high standards of legal practice and culturally safe service delivery
- Review legal advice, court strategy and legal documents to support quality practice across the team "? ...

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📌 Supervising Lawyer (Youth Justice) (Melbourne)
🏢 Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service
📍 Melbourne